1000 Moments of Joy

Sometimes in the midst of our busy lives we lose track of the simple treasures in life. A smile exchanged on the sidewalk with a stranger, laughter shared with friends, smelling the fresh air after a rainstorm. As the 85-year-old Nadine Stair put it, “I’ve had my moments, and if I had it to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another.

Think of your last week. Looking back, where do you see opportunities to enjoy the moment? Jot down the possibilities you realize now. Look at your list. Is there a common theme? Is it time to re-connect with a friend? Time to get out those inline skates that are sitting in your garage? Time to jump over a big puddle. What will you do today to simply enjoy the moment.

My goal is to collect 1000 MOMENTS OF JOY! Would you like to add yours?

Scroll down to the comments section below and add your Moment(s) of Joy to the list. You will have to register first … a necessary step to prevent spamers from taking over! All we ask for is your user name and email. We will NEVER share your email address with anyone for any reason.

Moments of Joy

1. Smelling fresh cut grass.
2. Taking a swing-ride in a local park.
3. Picking blackberries – and eating lots.
4. Jumping over a big puddle.
5. The smell of fresh sheets.
6. A good cup of your favourite tea.
7. Holding the door for someone.
8. Reading a good book in bed.
9. Hugs.
10. Kisses.
11. Savouring your favourite desert.
12. Receiving a compliment.
13. Giving a compliment.
14. Acknowledging someone special in your life.
15. Receiving a hand-written card in the mail.
16. Opening your window wide in the morning and taking a deep breath of fresh air.
17. Taking a relaxing bubble bath.
18. Listening to your favourite piece of music.
19. Exchanging a smile with a stranger.
20. Giving directions to a lost tourist in your city.
21. A piece of dark chocolate, melting in your mouth.
22. Rubbing a cats ears and feeling her pure pleasure. (Melrock)
23. Looking up into a star filled sky and experiencing no separation between you and the universe. (Melrock)
24. Walking my dog in the morning even on a rainy day and seeing the birds feed in my garden while dancing to the next tree and seeing flowers open to reveal their color in spring (Naomi)
25. Laughing with friends. (Cat)
26. Discovering your favourite pleasure on the menu. (Cat)
27. Dancing in the flow. (Cat)
28. Riding my bike just after a tune-up.
29. Seeing a beautiful tree in full blossom. (dogwood trees are one of my favourites with big white flowers that almost cover all the green from the leaves)
30. Watching the beautiful landscape roll by on a train ride.
31. Experiencing the elements outside.
32. Learning a new word in a foreign language.
33. Fresh, local strawberries…with real whipped cream. Yummh
34. Buying flowers for a friend.
35. Having breakfast in the garden with friends.
36. Looking at a pond filled with water lillies in blossom.
37. Skinny dipping in a beautiful mountain lake.
38. Relaxing in a soothing bubble bath.
39. Receiving a loving voice-mail while staying in a hotel.
40. Seeing a rainbow against the dark, cloudy sky.
41. Dew drops on flowers in the early morning.
42. Receiving appreciation and support from family and friends.
43. Listening to the fresh and happy sounds of a mountain creek.
44. Going for a walk in the forest with a friend.
45. Enjoying the view from the mountain top.
46. Enjoying an open air concert on a city square and being part of a happy crowd of people.
47. Dancing to the beats of Latin music with a ticket controller in the aisle of a bus in Chile.
48. Listening to the beautiful sound of a nearby river, while falling asleep in the tent.
49. Watching a crying child calm down as you give her/him your full attention.
50. Stepping out of the house for a breath of fresh air.
51. Fresh cut flowers.
52. Hearing the rain fall on the window sill, while falling asleep! What a gift to be warm and cozy inside.
53. Skipping down the street.
54. Receiving a compliment.
55. Seeing the full moon on a clear, crisp night.
56. Hearing the voice of a good friend, who you haven’t spoken with in a long time.
57. Sharing a good laugh with a stranger.
58. Seeing a shooting star and making a wish.
59. Rollercoaster’s. (Jill)
60. Going for a swing ride and feeling like a little kid again.
61. A bite into something unexpectedly delicious. (Jill)
62. Laying down on the ground in the fall and taking turns in burying each other under heaps of fallen leaves.
63. Learning a new dance. (Jill)
64. A stranger offering help. (Jill)
65. Discovering the first crocuses pushing through the soil in the early spring.
66. Playing with your kids (or your friend’s or relative’s kids) and feeling like a kid again.
67. People being touched deeply by something I’ve created (a poem, a painting, advice). (Jill)
68. Seeing a laughing child.
69. Cooking dinner for friends.
70. Tasting different flavours in a gelato place and choosing your favourite.
71. A spoon full of honey when your throat is sore.
72. Looking into the eyes of the man/woman you love.
73. Hearing the kids play in the school yard across the street.
74. Being up before sunrise, witnessing the beginning of a beautiful new day.
75. Being there when a friend needs your support.
76. Helping your neighbour.
77. Seeing the smiling children on the streets of Cusco, Peru.
78. The smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning.
79. Playing board games with friends.
80. A walk at night under the starlit sky.
81. Singing your favourite song on the top of your lungs.
82. A walk around the block to smell the roses.
83. Watching your favourite movie for the fifth time and discovering something new.
84. Apple crisp served hot with vanilla ice cream.
85. Raising money for the charity you believe in.
86. Walking barefoot through a meadow in the heat of the summer and feeling the grass tickle your legs.
87. Laying in a hammock watching the cloudscape above.
88. Day dreaming.
89. Sharing a moment of silence with the man/woman you love.
90. The smell of the air after a summer rain. (Laurie)
91. Feeling the warmth of the sun while relaxing in a glass solarium. (Laurie)
92. Hearing nothing but the birds sing on a calm summer morning. (Laurie)
93. Watching the thick frost on trees twinkle in the sunlight. (Laurie)
94. Smiling for no reason.
95. Smelling the blossom in early springtime.
96. Sending a loving message to a friend.
97. Hearing the voice of an old friend.
98. Taking in the smell of my friend’s baby.
99. Seeing a sleeping child.
100. Watching the sunrise from my living room.
101. Sharing a good belly laugh.
102. Enjoying the peace and quiet of my home after a full day.
103. Closing my eyes while listening to my favourite relaxing music.
104. The flavour of chocolate spice cake.

Copyright 2010 A SPARK of Inspiration. All rights reserved

• About Julia James
• 1000 Moments of Joy