I’ve been practicing what I call The Delight of the Day. Each day I watch for moments that inspire a strong feeling of gratitude and joy within me. I mentally label the strongest such moment The Delight of the Day. The practice encourages what psychologists call “positive scanning.” I’m waiting for good things to happen and, when they do, I notice and celebrate them. The more I understand what brings me joy, the more I can drop into it.
It has been a week at sixes and sevens… Just of kilter without much explanation. I have not been keeping good track of my Delights of the Day. There may be cause and effect there, but I don’t know which direction it goes.
On Wednesday, a friend visited and I expected that it would be a delight. It wasn’t. I whined too much, with his encouragement. I wanted to add that visit to my delights log, but I really couldn’t. Things that you anticipate will be a delight aren’t always. You can’t should a delight.
On the other hand, I went for a mammogram yesterday and, while the actual process was no joy, the experience was a delight. The Piper Breast Center is a beautiful place – lovely colors and art on the walls. Efficient staff and caring volunteers who find coloring books for children and ask old ladies if they can do anything to make the visit more comfortable. It was a surprising delight, which is the best kind.
Can we allow for surprise delights while letting go of expected ones?
My delights for this week:
My husband returned from a business trip.
I had a “me too” conversation with a new friend.
The aforementioned elegance of the Piper Breast Center.
May you move toward your joy and find delight in each day.
