Joy Bytes

I’m creating a new phrase- joy bytes. I’m so grateful that there are reasons to be grateful every day. A friend recently called them “bits of joy”. In her illustration, she likened grief to fog rolling in over the Golden Gate Bridge- cold, heavy, and obscuring the beauty; but thankfully grief ebbs and flows and there are still times when the sun shines and the sky gleams blue. The search for sunshine in life can feel like a treasure hunt. When we find it- let’s call it a joy byte, and savor it for at least 8 seconds ☺️ (because according to google, a byte of information is 8 decimals long functioning as a unit)

I’ve been on the treasure hunt for joy bytes lately, seeking to stop and be present in the moment as it occurs. I’m hoping you’ll join me on the journey and that my list will spring board your own. Perhaps we can help each other see additional reasons to experience joy!

A friend recently gave me an awesome bright pink T-shirt that says, “JOY- noun- gladness not based on circumstances, 1 Peter 1:8-9”. It was so cute that I made sure my new daughter-in-law and I both have one and we had a twinsies day 😄 (see photo) It’s remarkable that as humans we can feel two opposite emotions at the same time. So, even if life is hard or the news is hard to watch, joy can be present because-

There are still happy dog wiggles

Kitty cat purrs

Happy dog smiles

Birds chirping

Fruit trees blooming

Irises springing forth to herald the change of seasons

Roses starting to bud

The smell of lilacs wafting

The taste of dark chocolate

Fresh popped popcorn in 3 min in a microwave

Funny books that someone actually finished writing

The smell of just mowed grass

Hot coffee to help start the day

A silly cat & dog who join me in “greeting” each new day with a prayer of thanksgiving 😻

A public pool in which to swim laps

A field of forget me nots discovered on a drive at sunset

The Pacific Ocean is just 30 min away from my house

The smell of the ocean

The feel of kitty cat fur

Hot chocolate chip cookies with melty chocolate chips 😋

Ice cream!

A meal shared with friends

The encouragement of a listening ear

The warmth of a hug

Soft sweaters

Fun music that makes you just have to sing along or dance however imperfectly

Life giving hobbies

The feeling of euphoria after exercise

The colors in the sky at sunset

Puffy clouds rolling by

An unexpected rainbow reminding that God does keep His promises

Purchasing an item on sale!

Hair to brush & curl & color 🤣

Fresh eggs from a friend

FaceTime so you can see someone far away

The thoughtfulness of a text

Laughing with a friend (and crying too)

Being creative

Work that brings purpose & $

Heartfelt generosity

Jeans that fit ☺️

A clean house

Fresh flowers on the table

Recliners and fuzzy blankets

Time with family

The power of prayer

The “steadfast love of the Lord never ceases”

And His “mercies are new every morning” (Lam 3:22-23)

And the list goes on… feel free to post some of yours. We’d love to be encouraged by your joy bytes💗