Pieces of Joy

Sometimes a good day does not have to be perfect. It just happens to have certain pieces of joy unique to you. Whether it be lack of traffic, a moment of tranquil nature gazing, or simply waking up on time, small joys like these quietly keep us okay. What are yours?

We all have grander joys throughout our lives—the dream job, the perfect wedding, the new house—connected with one another simply as a side effect of being human. Many of our grand milestones are similar in roots, but a unique thing about individuality are the pieces of joy special to us. This isn't necessarily about what makes the perfect day but rather the small things that subtly determine whether a day works at all. Personally, it's a great day when I can solve the freaking Minute Cryptic. It's a daily puzzle game created by the lovechild between the Devil and the Riddler because it's so difficult to solve and designed to make you want to hurl your phone against a wall. Days I can solve it are days I should play the lottery. I also love days when I can sleep in, or days I am able to come home and the sun is still out. A good day is almost never perfect, so what makes a good day are small things that, together, keep a day from falling apart. Not milestones, not highlights—just the quiet, repeatable moments that make the day feel like it's working. The pieces of joy you don't notice until they're missing.

Have you ever had a moment to look around at others and wonder who they are and what they want? You wonder what their aspirations are and who they care for and how their day went. This concept is called sonder and, to be frank, it emphasizes how little we are on the vast planet. This profound understanding that every random bystander has a life just as colorful, intricate, and genuine as your own, tailored with their own goals and tales, and that you are an 'extra' in their story as they are in yours. I was reminded of this concept when I conducted my usual blog poll. For friends I have known for years, and I couldn't help but smile to see what their pieces of joy were. Some were nature based; having a relaxing moment gazing at nature or an idyllic sunset, or when you see a dog on your way to work. I once saw little pig roaming a field I drive by and it sure made my day. Others responded with work related pieces of joy, waking up early, working with your best coworkers, even successfully importing an excel spreadsheet—which I can also agree with because I hate excel.

Not to sound like a 4th-grade reading comprehension question but, ask yourself, what are your pieces of joy? Days when you find a parking spot, days when there's lighter traffic for some reason, days when someone brings donuts, anything that makes you smile throughout your day. Something small that you would miss one day if you didn't have it anymore. Pieces of joy tend to keep you grounded more than you might think. If you were to suffer through a horrendous breakup, or losing your dream job—if you were to face the loss of a grand joy, it's the smaller pieces that keep you steady. You power through by appreciating your pieces of joy more than you have. You enjoy the company of your friends more often, you savor the taste of your favorite foods, you make the most of your free time, you hug your family a little tighter. When life throws you off balance, it's your unique pieces of joy that catch you.

P.S. This entire post reminded me of the song "Steady" by Vacations, you should listen and before you ask, yes they did write it about me ;P