Little moments of joy

As I was preparing for bed, I started thinking about the moments that spark joy in every day life. These are the unexpected but beautiful things that happen in one's environment. One recent moment that brought me joy was when I was out walking and I heard birds chirping through my AirPods in a particular location in my neighbourhood. I have come to learn that lots of birds tend to be there and chirp. I took my AirPods out to listen to them. Their song was wonderful.

A few days prior, in around the same spot, I saw a bird that was sitting on a branch but it didn't flinch as I walked past. The bird looked around a bit but didn't fly away. For a few moments, I was able to get a close look at the bird, a special moment since I often struggle to identify where smaller birds are around me even if they are singing. I enjoyed being there, doing nothing but watching this bird sit on a branch, with the sound of bird song around.

These little moments happen everywhere: the serendipitous discussion you overhear in a cafe that makes you laugh; a stranger offering to carry someone's bags without being asked. Another moment of joy that comes to mind was when I heard "Baby Shark" playing on someone's phone on a train. There was nothing I could do but listen to the music, a song I had not heard in a while. I thought: 'I remember that song.' In that moment, I felt a little bit of joy.

What moments have brought you joy lately? For me, it's often the smallest interactions or observations.