Being happy at others' news. I think possibly the best thing about happiness is our capacity to feel it for other people. Someone let me know today that she is happy for something in my life, and knowing that made me happy too. I am happy for various things in the lives of friends and family, but most of all today, I am so so so so happy for the friend whose baby was born this morning, and for the presence of this long anticipated new little person in the world.
The small surprise and delight of finding things you weren't looking for. Like emptying pockets for the laundry and finding forgotten cash, or looking in a bag for a particular mechanical pencil and instead finding a favorite earring that had been lost since May.
Slight, welcome changes in temperature. Like staying out on the balcony long enough to shiver, and then coming inside to the room-temperature warmth of the living room, as if the air had draped a light towel around me. Or toting the weight and heat of two just-dried loads out of the laundry room into the refreshing cool of the evening air.
Using things up. Emptying and tossing a detergent bottle. Sauteing the last of that huge onion in today's mishmash lunch. Finally giving myself permission to throw away one of Mom's teatowels, which has been used and loved to tatters.
And a specific sixth, which I've mentioned before and which no doubt will come up in rotation again, and which sometimes falls into the category of hospitality to oneself: clean sheets on the bed.
What are you anticipating?
or Whose news has made you happy?
or What once was lost but now is found?
or How have you recently lightened your load?
or Last but not least, is it time to change your sheets?
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