So, I guess we’ll just plan on me being late with every “three moments of joy” entry, and then when I’m on time, it will be an unexpected moment… of joy.  See what I did there? Yeah, okay. Onward, then.

Yesterday was a much better day than Tuesday, that’s for sure. Still… it’s interesting to discover that moments of joy are often elusive creatures to pin down. As I mentioned before, I’m trying to stay away from moments of gratitude – of which, there are many – to focus purely on sparks of joy. What sparks joy?  It’s a thought-provoking question.  Joy can be something as simple as a baby’s laugh, which, as we all know, can light up a room. Or it can be that first barefooted step onto a white sandy beach, knowing that work remains two weeks off in the future.

Well, I didn’t visit any white, sandy beaches yesterday … but I did see and hear a baby laugh, and I’ll tell you, it was infectious. My other moments of joy were brief – and perhaps small, but looking back, they were the glue that made the day not just bearable, but oh-so-pleasant.

Moment of Joy #1:
An unknown-to-me baby’s infectious laugh which broke through a moment of not quite sadness to engulf the world in delight.

Moment of Joy #2:
Coffee.  Need I say more?  Coffee, coffee, coffee. First thing in the morning, too. I rarely have time to make a cup of coffee for myself before I go to work, and this one was there, just waiting for me, so yeah, it was a joyful way to start the day.

Moment of Joy #3:
My dog. It occurred to me yesterday, that perhaps I’ve taken advantage of it all these years, but my dog loves me. His wiggly butt and his “mommy’s home!” dance at the door when I come home after work just brightens my day… no matter what kind of day I’ve had. Oh sure, he gets treats all day long and I tell him what a good boy he is (cause let’s face it, he is), but I vow to better appreciate this unconditional love going forward. Dogs, like people, aren’t here forever, and we need to soak up their affection for as long as we have them with us.

So, spill… what were YOUR three moments of joy?