MICRO-JOY

My son Alex and I were sitting on the back deck eating lunch when I saw a robin in our birdbath. “Well he’s certainly having a micro-joy right now!” I couldn’t help but laugh as we watched him splashing about in the water.

Alex looked over at me with a confused look on his face. “Micro-joy?”

“I read an article about it. It’s when you find and appreciate the tiny joys in your day. Like this!” I picked up my roast beef sandwich and pointed to the different layers. “A slice of rare roast beef with some sharp provolone, lettuce, tomato, a slice of red onion, topped with some mayo and a little bit of salt and pepper.” I held it out to him. “Now this is definitely going to be a micro-joy.” I said before taking a bite.

Alex picked up his sandwich. “It does look like a good sandwich.” He nodded before taking a bite himself.

I placed the sandwich back on it’s plate, leaned back in my chair and slowly chewed. “Absolutely a micro-joy.” I said as I finished chewing. “Although I did go a little heavy with the red onion.”

Alex laughed. “Yeah, I skipped that ingredient.”

“But isn’t it nice when you can stop and enjoy the little things?” I asked as I picked up my sandwich again. “I’m usually eating just to get it over with so I can move on to more important things I need to get done.” I began looking around the deck. “Just look at how beautiful the geraniums are this year!” I reached over and snapped a dead flower. “This entire summer there wasn’t a day that all of them weren’t filled with flowers.”

“Well, the hummingbirds are sure liking them.” Alex went and took another bite of his sandwich.

“Don’t we have four hummingbirds this year?” I looked over at their feeders to make sure there was still enough nectar in them.

Alex nodded his head. “I’m pretty sure it’s two couples.”

Just then one of the hummingbirds buzzed past our table, headed for the feeder, only to have another hummingbird chase him away.

I had to laugh as they both zoomed past us, headed for the woods. “Clearly they’re not having a micro-joy right now.”

“They spend most of their day chasing each other away.” Alex took another bite of his sandwich.

I leaned my head back closing my eyes enjoying the feeling of the sun on my face. “Ah…it’s the little things like this.” I sighed.

I heard the kitchen door open and turned to see who was coming. “Hey, welcome home.” I said as my husband Steven came out of the kitchen door and onto the deck.

“Well we didn’t win the lottery.” He sighed as he held up the losing ticket, not looking very happy.

“That’s all right.” I said. “It wouldn’t have fit into our plans right now anyway.”

Steven looked confused. “Winning the lottery wouldn’t fit into your plans right now?”

I nodded my head. “Alex and I are enjoying micro-joys right now.” I looked over at Alex then back to Steven. “Winning the lottery would have been a major joy.” I pointed to my sandwich. “Eating this sandwich and looking around our backyard is the micro-joys we’re satisfied with right now.”

I got up and began walking towards the house. I stopped next to him to give him a quick kiss. “Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll make you one. You can eat with us.”

Steven nodded his head and smiled. “That sounds good to me.”

“See you’re smiling again! Welcome to a micro-joy.” I called over my shoulder.

“I don’t care what she calls it.” I could hear Steven say to Alex. “I’m just hungry.”

“I heard that!” I called back.