There are often small delights popping up in our day-to-day from which we might benefit from acknowledging, like the passing fluffy clouds in an azure sky or the way a breeze gracefully moves the curtain lace. Nothing earth-shattering but just enough to remind us of the delights in life. This week I am grateful for the Tiny Little Joys that rise like a wave of happy straight into the heart. Of course, finding a pair of swings with an ocean view, and a grandson who is just as thrilled as I am to reach the sky, makes for a great start towards feeling fortunate.

How about an afternoon at the ocean? my Fundamentals of Sketching teacher proposed. My reply was an immediate Yes. He sketched while we watched, and then he let us find our own spots along the coastline, checking in and drawing along side of us during the most beautiful day. I must admit, I did lots of bird watching and listening as the waves hit the rocks, all before picking up a pencil. Happily observing felt like a luxury I couldn’t miss.

Once a week I get together with four women to play pickleball. Yes, pickleball is a competitive and fast sport, great exercise and all of that, but we play for fun. Each of us is adamant about that priority. Something else happens too, as you play together on the court and chat between games and support each other to do your very best, a community forms. Today, as the birds were singing, the wind was rustling the giant Bird of Paradise leaves, we chuckled and giggled all the while hitting killer shots, and those other whacko ones too. Indeed, friendship is a tiny little joy that I value as priceless.

There are few posts of mine that don’t include something about water or swimming or both. Finding your own place, free from distractions, where you can push yourself, or not, is perhaps more than a tiny little joy. It is akin to miraculous. I can lean towards worry, but here, in my lane, I allow myself to dream of what-if possibilities that have fabulous results. Of course, I know that I am extraordinarily privileged to have 40 minutes to let go of the immediate disasters descending from those robed racists and the spineless republicans who are allowing our entire planet to spin into ruin, but for the sake of everyone around me, I’ll take the minutes to not think of that. Instead, I know that come November their criminal run will be over. I recommend that you too carve out a time and place to free yourself from their negativity and fear. You’ll be standing strong in no time.

Perhaps the best and biggest joy this week was meeting the cover of my upcoming novel in person. Getting to hold what has been rolling around in draft after draft, along with my dreams and imagination for eons, felt surreal. Yes, of course, there will be plenty of upcoming posts with all the pre-order information before the midsummer launch of Crazy String, but I am just too overjoyed to keep it under wraps any longer!