Since she got an iPad for her 80th birthday, my mother regularly emails the family pictures she takes on it of her yard, flowers, icicles or the snowy road. She’ll send some commentary about the photo, usually a glimpse of why it is a source of joy for her. It’s inspirational to experience with her the simple joys that fill her moments. She delights in each season as if it’s the first time: the beauty of roadside weeds, the intricate colors of tree fungus, the fun of a sweetgum seed ball, the luxury of freshly harvested mint. We get pictures of all sorts of things that we wouldn’t have noticed as interesting until she presents them as a treat. She demonstrates how easy it is to experience joy—just look around you with an open heart.
Today’s picture and message, though, was priceless. “The snow is evaporating, and that means I see “things” not previously visible. Such as deer turds. There is a path from right to left in the photo – and – locating the “Y” shape of the driftwood to the left – beyond – technically in my neighbor’s yard is a “pile” of turds.” Now if the image of an 82-year-old lady describing to you how to locate the deer scat in the photo of her neighbor’s yard doesn’t bring a smile to your face, what will?
Simple joys
