one thing about the current state of things--it's been easier to write, in fact, I've HAD to write. And I'm sharing here because sometimes the realizations are so comforting it's impossible not to share.

After a volunteer shift at my local food pantry and I found tears running down my face as I read it:

I’m not done yet. I didn’t have a plan. I just picked out all the colors that were speaking to me today and started. And then I kept layering and mixing and not caring if I ever found the same color again I mixed again. I sprinkled salt on the wet paint because the path is wet with tears

I’ve had a thing for care bears for pretty much forever. Bought friend bear for my friends new baby, got cheer bear for Xmas and bought grumpy bear just because well, sometimes it feels right to make this face and still feel cute.

As a UX designer who worked on government projects for years, "moments of delight" wasn't in my regular vocab; I was more focused on how to add clarity and direct paths to services. But I sure appreciate these real life moments that ARE delightful, placed by someone focused on "delight"

The trail follows a small creek; the small cascading water provides lovely background sounds and the walk feels contemplative. There are a couple places where neighbors have placed metal benches and why you sit on one next to the creek, another surprise is now at eye level.

There's a small nature walk loop near my neighborhood and just recently explored it and realized something delightful--someone has been adding and sometimes relocating small, wooden birds.

We use lights and change to colors! I keep the trees (yep plural) up until the gloominess of winter is fading. Some decorations are put up over a couple months but honestly twinkly lights just bring joy so why not (photo of artificial Xmas tree with pink and orange twinkly lights in dark room)