We all experience different seasons in life and those seasons are accompanied by emotions —joy and sadness and everything in between. 

We aren’t always in control of how our seasons unfold. We may find ourselves in a season we never would have chosen. Sometimes life is hard. 

But even in the toughest times, I believe it’s important — paramount even — to make a conscious choice to look for moments of joy. They may be fleeting at first. They may be so tiny they are hardly perceptible.

But they are there — if we look and allow ourselves to feel them. And these tiny moments, if acknowledged and cultivated, will grow over time until the tiny moments of joy aren’t so tiny anymore. Nothing good comes without practice and commitment. I am committed to finding joy in the small moments. They are what we all have: moments. Right here. Right now. 

Moments like:

Sticking your leg out of the covers to cool off.

Getting the last bit of peanut butter from the jar.

Putting the final piece of the puzzle in place.

A free hotel breakfast.

Wearing a warm pair of mittens on a cold day.

A comfy sofa and a warm blanket.

Conquering a clogged bathroom drain.

When the light turns green just as you come up to the intersection.

A long and windy night while you are under the covers.

Laughing so hard that your eyes water and your stomach hurts.

The unadulterated belly laugh of a 2-year-old.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee — even if you don’t drink coffee.

Chocolate — any kind of chocolate.

Sharing your innermost thoughts with your daughter.

Listening to your sons talk about things that sons talk about when they think you aren’t listening.

Waking up two hours before you have to get up and going right back to sleep.

A phone call from your best friend on your birthday.

Calling your best friend on her birthday.

The gift of grand babies.

Laughing with your sons about farts, flushing toilets and football.

A hot shower on a cold day.

A cold drink on a hot day.

Reading your favorite book — again.

A morning walk.

An evening walk.

Seeing something so beautiful that it literally makes you catch your breath. 

Achieving your exercise goal for the week.

Learning something new.

Having a spirited yet respectful discussion with a person whose political viewpoints differ from yours.

Seeing a robin or an owl or an eagle or a blue jay or a cardinal. You get the gist.

Sitting down to a regular Wednesday evening dinner with your family.

Hearing a favorite song.

Saying, “I love you.”

Hearing, “I love you.”

When a good memory returns.

Being grateful for what you have and understanding it is enough.

Every situation in life is temporary. When you feel joy, appreciate the moment fully. When you encounter obstacles and difficulties, remember that change is on the horizon. Tomorrow is another day. Choose to seek the joy in it. I know I’m going to try.

— Jill Pertler’s column Slices of Life appears regularly in the Times. She can be reached at jillpert@mediacombb.net.