1. Morning walks. It’s starting to get a bit colder, but still no snow. 😭

2. Celebrating the new year with friends. We gathered with friends on New Year’s Eve to eat snacks and play games. We had planned to only stay until 10 pm, but were having so much fun, we stayed until after midnight — and paid for it the next day, when I barely made it off the couch for more than ten minutes at a time. Then a few days later, I got to go to lunch with Carrie to celebrate her upcoming birthday (which is actually today!) and visit Tony the Tiger, who is a full grown dog now and still as good a boy as he ever was, except apparently he hates baths and nail trims and having his teeth brushed.

3. Twinkle lights. On the Christmas tree, in the window, in the yard, and on other people’s houses. 

4. Comfort. In hustle and grind culture, comfort gets a bad rap. For me, it’s absolutely necessary for survival, and can be found in the simplest things: a soft blanket, clean sheets, a good pillow, a good book, a dog sigh, a text from a friend, a poem, a shared meme or reel, my favorite podcasts and songs, a hot cup of tea, a good meal or a snack, a glass of cold clean water, a hug.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. This is my home. I am content here. There’s no place I’d rather be.

Bonus joy: being retired (only working when I want to, doing what I want to), being in the pool, sitting in the sauna, training with Shelby and the gang, writing with my Friday morning group (even when only two of us can make it), seeing other people happy, comedy, true crime, my Shakti mat, remembering that when I practice yoga on my own I get to do what feels good to me, wool, down, mint, caramel, chicken noodle soup, roasted veggies, being able to start over as many times as necessary, eggs, gummies, salt, chocolate chip cookies with walnuts, my weighted blanket, heating pads, new calendars, having my own space, cuddling with Ringo and Eric on the couch, libraries and librarians, poets and poetry, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.