Joy List

What brings you joy?  Makes you happy?  Be specific.  Think back over a few weeks or months and make a list.  Sometimes I feel like I don't know what makes me happy.  I am going through this exercise.  

Next....Plan to do more of what makes you happy.

Another holiday season has just passed.  I've been traveling and with family.  Thinking about my list.  Not only what made me happy but gratitude as well.

1. I made Christmas dinner for sixteen people.  Everyone was really happy with the dinner.  It brought everyone together.  I always try to surprise the group with new side dishes and desserts.  This year I added a three cheese mac and cheese, beets with goat cheese, and white chocolate cheesecake with  raspberry sauce.  I have two widowed aunts who came.  They would have no where else to go.  We were surprised that one of them didn't go to her daughter's house, but she told us "I don't want to go where I'm not wanted". 
2. I was traveling to Boston for my next flight.  On the way there I received a text that my flight was cancelled and I was rescheduled to the next afternoon.  I thought about my options.  Backtrack and return to my father's house?  Painful option.  Get a hotel in Boston?  I quickly found a good hotel option in Boston.  I spent a comfortable, restful night and then had a short bus ride to the airport.  I am grateful it was so easy for me to do this.  Easy to get a hotel from my phone.  Cost not a big concern.  
3. I spent ten days in Toronto with my bf.  A simple ten days.  Went to a few restaurants.  Watched movies together.  Met some friends for dinner.  You can imagine what else.  It was a good visit.  Positive feelings for me.
4. In Toronto it was cold and icy on many days.  We took public transportation and walked everywhere.  I saw numerous older people, most in bad physical shape, shuffling along the icy sidewalks and using walkers.  I feel so fortunate this is not me.  I could take Uber if I wanted to.  I live in a place where it never gets very cold and it's rarely icy.  I am grateful.

Thinking back a few months.   

1. Trip to Asia.  Great adventure.  Kept me present.
2. Planning the trip.  This was surprising to me.  Looking at all the various options, getting the best deal and deciding the best plan.  I really enjoyed this.
3. Shopping for small things.  This one also surprised me.  Sometimes I'm looking for something very specific that I want or need.  These are just small, inexpensive items.  I have everything else I need or want.  I can look at so many options online.  I don't want to do this all the time, but I do enjoy it.
4. Just walking around a city.  Block to block to block.....walking, observing, discovering.  NYC is my favorite, hands down. 

I can't do any long travel for the next six months.  So I'm planning some short trips.  Mexico, NYC and back to Toronto.  Toronto and NYC are great in warmer weather -- just my preference.  NYC is always going to be a short trip because of cost and five days is the max I can handle.