These chilly wintry days have me seeking choices that provide me warmth, both inside and out.

Here we are deep into January where many of us cut back on excess. I decided to trim the fat and give up on oat milk. I experimented with other milks.  I really tried, sort of. Eventually, I went black—no milks, just straight coffee. I loved the taste of Equator coffee and figured I could do this.

Several days passed. Alas, I slipped back into my old familiar. But rather than beating myself up, I turned to self-compassion. I realized having oat milk in my coffee was one of the simple joys of my daily life. And at a time when the world is going crazy, that counts for a lot.

Not one to keep things simple, I decided to identify  some simple daily joys I find delightful.

• Move. Take a walk right after or better yet during a light rain to feel the effects of a downpour. I sometimes pull off my hat and scarf, breathe, and sink into the air’s coldness.
• Look for portals i.e. windows, doors, through the trees and up in the sky. I see them as thresholds to new messages. Love taking mindful images of these symbols, like the one pictured above. 
• Make a telephone call and most likely leave a heartwarming message to a friend I haven’t communicated with in eons. 
• Explore one section of my space each day and notice every item that occupies it. Ask, “Does it bring me joy?” If not, into the giveaway bag it goes.
• Buy potato chips for the street person outside my market because that’s what he requested when I offered to buy him coffee and a treat.
• Extend kindness through a smile, a gesture, whenever, wherever.
• Be still. Try it for 5 minutes. Amazing.

What simple ways make your heart sing today?