My Everyday Happy List

Small Good Things Add Up Too

Sometimes the big stuff feels like too much — the to-do lists, the worries, the things we can’t control or even name. On those days, I call my mom. Because sometimes, all we really need is our mom. She’d tell me to stop, get up, and walk around the house touching the things I’m grateful for, one by one. I mostly roll my eyes or feel resistance rise in me, but it helped more than I care to admit. So today, I’m doing just that. I’m pressing pause on the noise and focusing on what’s holding me together — the little joys that matter more than they let on. Because if small bad things can pile up and snowball into a really hard day, then maybe the small good things can too.

So this week, I’m holding onto:

The sound of my boys laughing — that wild, full-bellied kind of laugh that bounces off the walls and somehow makes the chaos feel like home.
Our growing garden! — I just planted pumpkins a few days ago and they’re already sprouting! I have no idea what I’m doing, but I absolutely love it.
The summer thunderstorms — the pounding of the rain, the way it cuts through the awful summer heat, and how everything feels just a little easier when the air finally cools down.
Reading — because it really does bring me joy. It quiets the running thoughts and hushes the stress just enough to breathe.
My boys’ drawings — especially Jeremiah, who has taken such a sweet interest in being a little artist. Their creativity is pure magic.
Chickens being weird — especially Petey, our only rooster, who’s totally stolen my heart. He actually likes my cuddles and comes to me — which just makes him my favorite. And of course, the girlies are doing their own thing, loving their space and the new toys they got this week like it’s the best gift ever.
My husband making me laugh when I didn’t feel like smiling — the kind of laughter that sneaks up and reminds me I’m not alone in any of this.

Nothing fancy. Nothing huge. Just the everyday kind of magic that holds me up when I didn’t know I needed holding.

What are your pocket-sized joys this week? I’d love to hear them.

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