3 Little Things That Bring Me Big Joy

Summary

The author finds joy in simple daily experiences, such as caring for her goldfish, creating rangoli art for her front door, and indulging in nail art, which all contribute to her sense of well-being and optimism.

Abstract

The article "3 Little Things That Bring Me Big Joy" reflects on the author's appreciation for the small pleasures in life that elevate her spirits. She begins by acknowledging the magical quality of December, attributing it to her birthday, the holiday season, and the pleasant weather in her tropical hometown. The author then introduces Pablo and Pedro, her goldfish, who represent resilience and renewal after the previous generation succumbed to fish lice. She takes pride in their playful nature and growth, comparing them to golden retrievers of the aquarium world. Next, she describes the importance of Vaastu in Indian homes and her personal practice of creating rangoli art, which not only aligns with this tradition but also serves as a creative and fulfilling start to her day. Lastly, the author shares her journey of self-love through the unexpected hobby of nail art, which she finds personal, precise, and a form of miniature art that she can admire constantly. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing the small joys in life that contribute to our emotional well-being.

Opinions

The author views goldfish as more than simple pets; they represent bravery and honor due to their predecessors' fight against fish lice.
She believes in the power of Vaastu

3 Little Things That Bring Me Big Joy

It’s time to enjoy the human experience

There’s something about December that makes it magical isn’t there?

Maybe because it’s my birthday month. Or the holiday season. Or because it’s cool and pleasant in my otherwise hot tropical hometown.

Or maybe because some of us are just ready to move on from 2023 and try our luck next year.

I’ve been feeling good and optimistic lately.

1/ Pablo and Pedro

Who are these two heart-throbs?

They’re my goldfish. I feed them first thing in the morning every day. It’s kind of hard not to do that because as soon as I’m in their line of sight, they dance and wiggle at me.

“Food! Food! Food!”, they loudly hint at me.

These guys are special because they’re the first of a new generation of fish in my aquarium. The last generation all died from an attack of fish lice.

Fish are more than just simpletons to me now. It’s because the last-gen earned my respect. They fought bravely against their enemies (the lice) and died honorably.

Now, it’s time for the new generation of the aquarium society to thrive. I always get good vibes when I look at these guys. They’re so playful, and chubby and also take naps in the noon (as in, they just float in one place).

They get growth spurts too and sometimes ask for more food than usual. They’re getting bigger by the day.

Goldfish are the golden retrievers of the aquarium. They always put a smile on everyone’s face.

They’re known to be foodies even otherwise, so they’ve each grown big bellies which is adorable. I’m happy to see them thriving each morning.

2/ Art for my front door

‘Earth’ without ‘art’ is ‘Eh’

In India, a lot of importance is given to the attributes of our home. “Vaastu” is one of those — a mystical science that explains the flow of energies and how to optimize it to bring prosperity into your home.

Vaastu is an inherent element of Indian home construction, right from laying out the first pillar to the last drop of paint.

Everything has a reason and a place.

For example, the front door, its direction, and decoration play a big role. After all, it’s the entry into your home — your most vulnerable and intimate space.

We want it to attract and welcome the best vibes.

Rangoli is one way to do that. It’s an intricate, symmetric artwork that is done on the floor/ground right outside your door. It brings beauty and warmth to the entry point of your home. It’s a part of my morning routine these days and it’s a great start to my day.

My favorite designs are animal-themed. Swans, birds, and fish all represent prosperity and I love animals anyway. I forgot to click pictures of most of them but here are some of my favorite designs I recreated from online tutorials over the weeks:

3/ Self-love habits

I didn’t realize the true meaning of self-love until I started doing a little extra to prioritize myself every day, apart from my usual self-care.

I started doing things that the inner child in me would love. That the inner teen girl in me would feel pretty about. And that the adult in me would appreciate.

That for me these days is nail art.

It’s an unexpected hobby that I picked up recently. There’s something so special about doing miniature art and that too, on your nails, which are a part of your body. My finished little artwork is so accessible for me to view. I mean, it’s literally on my hands at all times!

It’s so personal. And precise. Two things I love.

And its precision takes some breath-holding because one time, I messed up art just because I dared to breathe.

A word from me

Some days, I’m sad for no reason (or maybe, it’s my hormones)

But there are also days when I just feel good and pumped up for no reason.

The truth is, there’s always a reason for both. You just have to look for it.

The responsibility of regulating our moods and emotions is ultimately, always on us.

The things that bring us joy are so small and easy to overlook. Like a little hug from my nephew. A dance from my fish. A colorful, floral nail.

Holidays are meant for us to count those little blessings. That’s the beauty of the human experience.

I hope you remember to notice the little things that bring you great joy.

Happy holidays my dear Medium friends! Stay blessed ♥️