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Feeling Blue? These 10 Simple Pleasures Will Remind You Of The Joy In Life.

A two-photo collage. The first shows a family of seven have a group hug, smiling. The second photo shows a view of a path in a forest that's covered in beautiful fall leaves in both the trees and on the ground. A person can be seen in the distance walking away from the camera.

There are so many wonderful aspects of life to appreciate — but it can be oh-so easy to take them for granted. The stress in our day-to-day can take over our focus until we’re left struggling to see what we have to be grateful for. That’s why so many mental health professionals recommend having a gratitude practice, like keeping a journal.

Another way is by taking mental note of all the little joys there are in life. That might sound silly, but you’d be surprised at what all you’ll notice when you take the time to look around. In fact, I’ve created a list of 10 simple joys in life to help you get started!

1. Experiencing the change in seasons.

View of a path in a forest that's covered in beautiful fall leaves in both the trees and on the ground. A person can be seen in the distance walking away from the camera.
Andreas Rasmussen/Unsplash

2. The feeling of getting a hug when you need it most.

A family of seven have a group hug, smiling.
August de Richelieu/Pexels

3. Getting engulfed by a good story, whether it be in the form of a book or TV show.

Someone sits on a couch with their back on the seat and their legs dangling over the back. They're reading a book. From our view we see the inside of the pages.
Matias North/Unsplash

4. Conversations with people who understand you like nobody else.

Two young women smile as they sit on playground swigs to where they are facing each other. They're both smiling wide.
Bewakoof.com Official/Unsplash

5. The delightful pitter-patter animals make when they scurry on the floor.

A small orange and white cat looks curiously at a small duck about their size. They are standing near some indoor plants.
Tường Chopper/Pexels

6. Witnessing the beauty of a sunrise or sunset.

A beautiful sunset over the ocean with a lighthouse in the distance.
Ray Bilcliff/Pexels

7. Moments of peace with a good cup of coffee or tea.

Top-down view of someone holding a mug of tea. Their sweater is so long it covers much of their hands.
Kira auf der Heide/Unsplash

8. Laughing so hard you can’t stop.

Close up of a man laughing hard. His eyes are closed and his mouth is wide open. He's standing outside.
Brian Lundquist/Unsplash

9. The sight, sound, and feel of a rainy day.

View of a window from a bedroom. It's raining and there are trees in the distance.
Nadia Valko/Unsplash

10. Belting along with your favorite songs.

A woman wearing glasses sings passionately with her eyes closed as she holds onto the headphones she's wearing.
Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

In a world as complex and vast as ours, there’s no shortage of wonders to appreciate. It may not always be easy to spot them, but they’re always there when we take a moment to search for them.

You can find the sources of this story’s featured image here and here!

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