The Art of Finding Joy in Everyday Life
This is an edition of The Wonder Reader, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a set of stories to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Sign up here to get it every Saturday morning.
Last spring, my colleague Elaine Godfrey wrote about finding joy in mundane places. She posed a question that generated dozens of replies from our readers: “How do you add small, delectable moments to your everyday life?” The responses are as specific as they are inspiring.
Some readers said they spent time with their pets: “The dog and then the cat get their morning pets and rubs, from nose to tail,” Denise L. wrote. “I inquire how they slept, about the day’s plans, and if breakfast was to their liking.” Others said they turned to tried-and-true morning rituals: “Is it a cliché to point to morning coffee as an immediate, life-affirming delight?,” Meg Z. S. asked. “Each day contains exactly one first sip and no more. You need to make it through a whole day to earn another—and then it starts all over again.”
Spend time with Elaine’s and our readers’ recommendations below. I hope you find some delight in your Saturday, however you’re spending it.
On Moments of Joy
How to Make Life Feel a Little Nicer
By Elaine Godfrey
Readers give their tips for seeking out small moments of joy.
An Easy Summer Project Worth Doing
By Elaine Godfrey
Finding small moments of joy can make every day feel—at least a little—like vacation.
The Quiet Profundity of Everyday Awe
By Dacher Keltner
That feeling—of being in the presence of something vast—is good for us. And, counterintuitively, it can often be found in completely unremarkable circumstances. (From 2023)
Still Curious?
- When was the last time you felt truly happy? In 2021, our How to Build a Happy Life podcast heard from people around the world who had an answer to this question.
- The infrastructure of joy: In 2019, Ian Bogost asked: “Will building delight into cities make them more cloying or more fun?”
Other Diversions
- The sports conspiracy that’s too easy to believe
- The upside of professional rejection
- In praise of snow (From 1995)
PS
I recently asked readers to share a photo of something that sparks their sense of awe in the world. “You can find wonder even when you are merging onto the highway in the evening. The sky was awesome,” Maureen T., 75, in Toronto, Ontario, writes.
I’ll continue to feature your responses in the coming weeks. Reply to this email with a photo and a short description. Send us the original, unedited photos from your phone or camera as JPGs—no cropping or shrinking is needed. We may share your answer, including your first name and last initial, age, and/or location, with fellow readers in a future edition of this newsletter or on our website.
— Isabel