Open-hearted joys 開開心心 49

Thank you to everybody that reached out after my last couple of posts – I’m doing so much better and am ever-grateful to have this community. It has been such a joyful fortnight and much of that has to be from consciously spending less time online. Slowly, we’re getting more warm weather and I love nothing more than being able to step out – in the garden; in the park; by the lakes – sans coat, sans jacket, with a book and blanket-to-sit-on in hand.

There’s a lot to be said for appreciating the smaller, not necessarily finer, details of the everyday mundane. Here’s to another list of petite, open-hearted joys, the moments that’ve brought and woven poetry to my days, this fortnight:

一. A weekend walk at Pegsdon Hills Nature Reserve with my boyfriend. Great trails, we befriended red kites and grazing sheep, and the views from its steep chalk hills were glorious.

二. Having just-enough oat milk left to make a much-needed matcha latte.

三. Commemorating nine years since my boyfriend and I first met. I forever love our story.

四. Early evening journalling sessions, unpacking particularly rough days and readying myself for a more relaxed night ahead.

五. When you find little connected threads in your everyday life: between books you read, places you visit, and beyond. (The law of attraction and divine timing are real, pals.)

六. How great an office kitchen catch-up feels after a long weekend and WFH days.

七. The long – and incredibly in-depth – catch-up and conversations that Kristabel and I enjoyed over dinner at Itadaki Zen. It’s so special to have OG blogging friends, even now that our paths have moved a fair bit.

八. Walks in the sun to Holland Park on a lunch break.

九. The Sunday reset.

十. Being part of the sunbeamsjess Patreon community – the digital book club of dreams! Now that I’ve really found my reading groove and genre/author preferences, it feels even more fun to delve further into my bookish love.

What are some little joys from your world recently?