Writing prompts

I have a list of writing prompts that help give me ideas on what to write about (that isn’t political. Ha). So, from time to time I like to take a look at the list, use one, and write away! This one stuck out for me today…

What are 5 simple joys that are worth getting up for each day?

Do you have 5? Or maybe more?

It’s important to wake each morning with a positive look towards the day ahead. It’s not always easy if you don’t get enough sleep, or feel sick, or feel bored. Thankfully I rarely have them.

1. My first immediate thought for a simple joy each day was getting messages, pictures, and videos, from my daughters and the grandchildren. We keep a family text thread going all the time and each day we share sweet moments, or something funny, or a comment or two we’d like to pass on. I especially love love love seeing all pictures and videos of my grandkids!

2. Each morning I wake and make a cup of my favorite hot coffee: Cafe Francais from International Coffees. I savor it each morning. I drink it while I do the daily Wordle puzzle. Each day I then share my results with family members and with my bestie Sue. We compare answers. It gets my brain working first thing in the morning. I also work on The NY Times daily crossword online. Mondays and Tuesdays puzzles are my best chance of getting them fully filled in. If you do crosswords you know that each day of the week gets harder, with Saturday being the toughest one. Sunday puzzles are double in size. I love them! I’ve been addicted to crosswords most of my life.

3. My final online morning activity is getting on to Facebook (and Instagram) to check in with family and friends who share there. I love to see their posts. I also read political posts and inspiring messages, and I follow a few writers of essays. It is a ‘simple joy’ for me to take time in the morning, get caught up, with no need to rush out the door.

4. If I am home all morning I will go out and tend my garden. I’m a flower person. Not vegetables. I love watching my perennials come back each year. I love to weed. I love to water my flowers. I love to see growth and beauty in the blooms.

5. My fifth simple joy is for ‘car time.’ If I am going anywhere I put on a podcast now. I have my favorites to listen to each day and week. I look forward to longer trips now because I enjoy listening to them. Some are just fun to listen to, some are political, some actually teach me a thing or two.

Four out of five of my simple joys are techie, aren’t they? I am thankful for all the good I get from my connections via my IPad and my IPhone. If I went on listing more, beyond just 5 simple joys, I would say reading. All kinds of books. Historical fiction, biographies, inspiring stories, and more. I would also say dancing. I would say pets – of course! These are daily joys, and reasons for me to get up and going each morning.

I hope you can find at least five simple joys each day. Today is Earth Day so we can’t forget about the beauty of where we live, and the impact getting outdoors can do for you physically and mentally. I love to piddle outside, to experience what is around me.

What are your simple joys?? Comment and let me know. It’s a good exercise to consider what is wonderful in our lives – that don’t cost much, that take little preparation, and that help you smile throughout the day.