I’m going to try something new on Tuesdays, something I’ve been thinking about for months. I collect quotes, as you may have noticed; and it is an eternal source of joy for me to help people find their own paths. Whether it’s my work as a La Leche League leader, a homeschooling parent, or in my paid work as a Weight Watchers’ leader, I love to empower people to realize they are the experts on their own lives and to energize them to work at what is important to them.
On Tuesdays I’d like to do a regular feature I’m calling ‘A Quote and A Question’. The two will play off each other or relate in some fashion. Teasing out how will be the way that you make them your own. We’ll all take different things from them – even with familiar quotes I can find new wisdom that matches new moods and situations.
This is a way for me to give back to all of you who come to read, comment, or send me emails. You can do what you want with the Q and Q – use it to journal, answer it on your blog, answer in the comments, or just think about it for a moment and then continue blog surfing. The themes for the quotes and questions will be a mixture of the same themes that are part of my blog: parenting, creativity, mindfulness, homeschooling, etc.
So, without further ado…
“A multitude of small delights constitute happiness.” Charles Baudelaire
What small, common things delight you? Have you stopped to notice them lately?
Handmade Homeschool 
I keep a gratitude journal of the many small joys in my life – I find mostly I write down sweet moments with my daughter and husband and the beauty of the world around me.
Fun post!
Steph
An unexpected hug.
Eye contact and a smile from a stranger when passing each other on the street.
A clean kitchen.
Late afternoon sun.
A wink from my hubby.
The sound my son makes when contentedly breastfeeding.
My toddler daughter singing a song by herself.
Red.
A photo that turns out how I hoped.
Fresh sheets.
A meal someone else has made.
My daughters’ stories, my husband’s smile, my parents’ love, my dogs’ friskiness, the sky right before a rain storm, the golden-brown leaves as they fall from the trees, anyone’s laughter, soft wooly yarn hand-rolled into a ball.
Snuggling into the sheets my cat’s been warming up for me!
The older I get, the more I try to always remember to take in the little joys each day in order to counteract the fact that ‘gravity hurts’
These joys, these days, are:
-trees with vivid orange, red and yellow leaves here in the desert. yep. here too.
-Christmas surprises that only I know about.
-hot coffee with heavy cream after months of hot weather and starting out my day with cold iced tea.
-my lovely daughter who will be twelve soon and is finally beginning to find some confidence in making a friend.
-the sweet, “I’m sorry mommy” from my growing boy who flip flops between acting rudely independent
and charmingly small and on my lap.
-a new schedule for us all which we can finally settle into after several months of upheaval and uncertainness about our future.
Great idea, Sarah.
Watching someone look at a newly snapped photograph
Dew on petals
People meeting up and smiling at each other
Early morning walks
Hearing my kids voices for the first time each day
Ladybugs
Hot tea and fresh toast
Scarves any and all – linen, wool, fringed best of all
Dangling earrings – esp ones that make just a teeny sound only I can hear
Cuddles, cuddles, cuddles
Cuddles and reading with my children while cuddling
Uncluttered kitchen
clean kitchen
everyone cleaning up dinner at the same time and pleasant music in the background
prarie home companion
playing with the kids while hubby cooks something from the most recent Saveur
the one soft table lamp being on in my bedroom when it’s dark outside
it’s so lovely to reflect on these things. instantly, just thinking about them, helps me be more in the moment to see the beauty in this moment. thank you! what a good exercise.
I love the photos that accompany these Tuesday quotes… (this one and the current one… today 11/25)