“Smile lines, a Hawaiian beach shack, podcasting, children at recess, garden gnomes, downward facing dog in yoga, comfy chairs in large bookstores, potstickers, bobsledding, painting the ceiling sky-blue, guitar lessons, and one perfect day.”
I have a little book called 14,000 things to be happy about. It is by Barbara Ann Kipfer and is a collection of things that made Mrs. Kipfer happy over the years. She started in the sixth grade and collected these happy thoughts (joy bombs!) for 40 years! She encourages you to conjure up your own list in the first pages and to start smiling at the little things.
My little book was a gift from my grandparents, given to me almost 10 years ago. The book itself is a joy bomb to me in this way. And lo and behold, the fifth item in her list is Holland cheese (for those of you that don’t know, my grandfather is from Holland).
More than anything, I find myself laughing at Barbara’s list of silly randomness. “Dermatologists” in page 15 makes me wonder who her doctor is that she’s happy to go. “Breathing space” on page 224 has me picturing she spent one too many days on a packed subway car. And “TV football on mute” on page 307 leads me to believe she’s finally able to finish the book she’s reading in peace and quiet, as her and her husband came to a living room agreement.
Not everything on her list is relatable, and I don’t think it’s meant to be. Instead, I think it’s meant to have us realize how many “joy bombs” we’re overlooking in our lives. I’ve come up with some joy bombs that I’ve decided to keep in my own list. And maybe in 40 years, I’ll have silly little memories to look back on like Mrs. Kipfer does now.
- Crackling candles
- Fetch with my dogs
- Rain echoing through the fireplace
- TJMaxx coffee mugs
- Shopping for collectibles
- Book recommendations
- Wall murals
- Christmas ornaments
- The rainbow foam in car washes
- Green smoothies
- IKEA plants
- Tiny coffee spoons
- Pink Himalayan Salt
What’s on your list of things to be happy about? Have you thanked God for them today? Share some of your joy bombs with us in the comments!
Until next time,
Harlie
A few joy bombs on my list:
*Breakfast with my sister and some of my kids
*Christmas lights & decorations in my home
*Eye contacts
*Keto Apple crisp leftover from Thanksgiving
*Wassail
*Sherpa blankets
*Looking at videos of when my babies were born