Simple Joys

Welcome to Simple Joys on Chief 187 Chatter. My children return to school after a long, lazy, fun-filled summer. It is always a difficult transition back to routines, schedules, homework, and expectations, but there is also a sense of awe, excitement, and wonder when a new school year commences. My approach is to help my children find the Simple Joys surrounding their school experiences. Although it may seem too sophisticated a concept for a child to be perceptive enough to find the Simple Joys that exist amid stress and mundanity, I would counter that children are actually the experts in seeking out Simple Joys. In fact, many times our children are punished for indulging in Simple Joys at school and thus are sent to the principal or their behaviors warrant a call home to the parent. The only thing children need to learn is how to incorporate Simple Joys into their “working” life so the one does not suffer because of the other! Now, without further ado, is this week’s Simple Joys.

Fakesgiving. Every year my husband and I roast a huge turkey with stuffing and gravy, prepare cranberry sauce with fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, and have an intimate group of friends over to celebrate how thankful we are they are in our lives. The friends each bring a great side dish that will complement the meal and we share a “Thanksgiving” meal at the ‘unofficial’ end of summer. We find this to be a most rewarding event because not only do we get to indulge in some of our favorite foods prepared by many hands, but we get to share a very special day with friends as the Thanksgiving in November tends to be more about extended family. Eating outside (weather permitting), laughing and dining with friends, and telling them how important they are to us, makes Fakesgiving an annual Simple Joy.

Back-to-school shopping. The supplies creep into the discount and stationary stores just after Fourth of July firecracker remnants are being swept away. I roll my eyes and feel momentarily incensed that the stores are rushing my seasons, but I am still pulled inexplicably to the brand new supplies. From ten cent notebooks to packages of pens, organizational binders to freshly sharpened pencils, I am drawn to these items like the proverbial bees to honey. Of course, the fact that, after twenty years of being a student I chose to continue to start my year in September and end it in June as a public school teacher tells you a lot about my personality, the pull is just as strong now that I am nearly a decade away from that career. Having my children in school now, of course, keeps my addiction fed. Highlighters, index cards, rulers, and crayons get purchased in bulk. Fortunately, the prospect of getting new supplies keeps my fourth grader interested in returning to school which is a very good thing. Back-to-school shopping is a necessary evil, but, in this family, it is more of a Simple Joy!

Connecting. There seems to be little more in life that is more electric and wonderful than connecting with another human being. I live a dichotomy of being isolated, hiding in my home and surrounding myself with my family, and being gregarious and outreaching, making new friends whenever possible. When I am in a zone, feeling confident and extroverted, I put feelers out far and wide for new friends. My job keeps me in constant contact with new and fascinating people. I conduct a lot of interviews and that involves spending a chunk of time with a person. Some interviews go well but there is no personal connection. And then, sometimes, the connection formed is so strong, so chemical, that a solid and mutual friendship forms instantly. That has happened to me recently. A very dynamic, multi-faceted athlete was my subject and we had definitely hit it off when I interviewed him on our radio show. We exchanged information, I interviewed him, and then we started a friendship that is based on mutual trust, interest, and affection. Making new friends with strong connections is a timeless and wondrous Simple Joy!

I hope you join me in finding Simple Joys. My list appears on this page weekly, but my sincere hope is that it inspires you to write or, at the very least, think of all the Simple Joys that surround your day. When we open or mind and heart to the wonder that is Simple Joys, our lives become all the more positive and, well, joyful!

Please join me tomorrow when I wax poetic on an entirely new subject. Happy New {School} Year!