The first piece of land on the other side of the sea I saw when I came here 3 months ago.
This is my gift for Thanksgiving.
And this is probably the biggest joy I have ever felt in any of my days here.
I don't think I have looked forward to something in my whole life as much as I do now.
Not just seeing her, but showing her the new place I live.
We don't need fancy restaurant treats or any big shopping (honestly just a teeeeeny bit in the Disney store!!) - but what we need is just to walk through the streets of Manhattan, arm in arm, just talking and laughing.
We need a night all to ourselves with 3 cups of tea in a row on my roof top.
And I just can't help smiling at all of this.
It makes me think - it's the small joys of the day that create the full picture that makes our life wonderful.
We should remember to take in these small joys, because they pass us by every day. All these things are what makes us smile and realize how blessed we are.
IT made me realize that some people, or sadly sometimes ourselves, only focus on seeing that full picture of a wonderful life. So we don't stop to think about the small joys around us in life. The ones you breathe in, in small portions, the smiles, the hugs, the smells and tastes, the kind words, the cozy candles, the movie night, the snow falling, the funny joke, the scriptures.
If we don't think about taking these small joys in - we miss the full picture... because these are the things that create it.
The joys come unexpected in our time. When you get butterflies in your tummy, when you feel warm all over your body, when your face bursts into laughter, and when your heart smiles.
These are reactions that we get from what happens around us, not what happens to us in 10 years.
So the small joys in life that we have now, should be embraced, because we never know how long they last and when they change.
I don't want to encourage to fear time from the worry of when the joys end - I want you to embrace time for its capability of continuously bringing richness to you!
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My small joys of the day, these past couple of days have been this:A slice of chicken pie: When I stayed with the Wittenberg's last weekend, Susan made a chicken pie for dinner, which was so good. My joy was having a piece of the pie for my lunch at school the following day. Best of the kind I've ever had, and it gave me a good deal of energy for the following 3 hours of dance!
Flying in dance class: For the first time, since I started school, I felt like I was flying in dance. This was the best feeling. There's something about flying in dance - your whole body soars, not just your voice.
- What I like about my art is that, when it comes from the heart, it feels like my soul is flying.
In dance I was just happy to feel it being more evident that day. My joy was the rush of it and the feeling
Rehearsing dance: My joy of the day Tuesday was 2,5 hours rehearsal and workout. This was after dancing 3 hours in school that day. My joy was feeling the engagement to work work and work on my dance skills. My joy was accomplishing the best double pirouette I've ever done. My joy was feeling good about myself when I worked out (parts of it: 200 sit ups, 50 push ups, 3 minutes plank).
Rain over Manhattan: We have been dry for a long time, the air and ground needed cleansing. It was so refreshing to walk in the rain. My joy of the day was feeling the rain drip on my face, and seeing how the rain's intention of marking a fresh new start was visible all around me; on the ground, of the trees and in my soul.
Letters from cousins: One afternoon, coming home from school, I found two letters in my mail box! My English cousins had sent me a letter each. It was such a joy reading a handwritten letters and being thought of.
Christmas decorations: Walking through Penn station seeing the big Christmas decorations hanging from the ceiling. The joy of the day was feeling jolly from the Christmas mood the whole city was setting up for me and everyone around me.
Reading the psalms: I read psalm 119 with Susan in the afternoon, after school. of the day was reading the psalms with Susan in the afternoon. My joy of the day was sharing great thoughts of the verses and being acknowledged in that.
Assurance: My joy of the day was re-seeing this figure my mum once gave me. It is so beautiful in so many ways, and it's a figure I feel there for protection and assurance.
Mum got another hot drink at a Christmas fair we
found at Bryant Park!
Disney store: I went into the Disney store with my mum, at Times Square. When you have someone even older than you with you in the Disney store, it is suddenly easier to run around in the store like a wild child, going crazy about the things you see and wish for. I had a good chance of letting my mum know what was on my wish list! I ran inside the princess castle upstairs and hugged my favorite princesses. My joy of the day was not caring who saw me go crazy in the Disney store!
Jasmin and Jasmine <3
Entering the fire place: Tonight for thanksgiving with my mum, and any other time I'm at the Wittenberg's, my joy of the day is always that moment entering the living room, when the fire place is lid.
Talking in the cozy Wittenberg place: We - Phil and Sue, The Pengelleys (Susan's sister and husband), my mum and I - sat in the living room with tea talking in the cozy place. My joy of the day was sharing my family from home with my family here, and seeing how well they got along.
Gazing into the fire: It makes me so calm to stare into the fire place, just switching off your brain and storm of thoughts and watching the flames.
I also found this very special candle that I wanted to give to Susan personally from me, in memory of all our cozy candle/fire place moments together. I knew she would love it and that it would look perfect in the room with the fire place.
I have always loved giving. Making people happy by giving them something without wanting anything in return, and surprising them with your thoughtfulness is the best thing I know.
The joy of my day was seeing the look on Susan's face when she opened my gift.
Listening to Christmas music: You've been waiting to hum along to the tunes all year - now the holiday has finally come! There was Christmas music playing non-stop at the Wittenberg's, and it was deliscious!! All the American classics played and it was awesome. Totally set the mood for December, which is only Sunday away.
Dessert: Seriously - dessert just makes you happy! I am not a person who allows sugar or fat in my dietary. However, holidays are a time of letting go of that rule, and eating whatever you want in whatever sizes. This makes the holiday treats even better.
Tonight, Kelly Pengelley had made an incredible apple pie (yuuum, one of my favorite desserts) and Susan had made a new specialty 'Pumpkin gingerbread trifle' and it was sooo good - almost think it's one of my new favorites. ;)
Proud Susan in showing off her masterpiece
Celebrating thanksgiving: I am lucky to be have found a family here that I could celebrate thanksgiving with. The greatest thing I was thankful for, was my mum being here with me. This was the first time in my life celebrating thanksgiving. I tried all the special dishes for the first time, and it was very delicious.
My joy of the day was being part of this Thanksgiving celebration, having quality time with my family and being made aware of the things I should be thankful for. X
I want to hear about your joys in life. Comment on my post, then you'll make me happy!
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