For the last several days I’ve been using the practice described by Catherine Price in this New York Times article (and I’ve ordered The Book of Delights by Ross Gay, too!)
“The basic premise of a delight practice (which I learned about in the essay collection “The Book of Delights” by Ross Gay) is simple: You make a point to notice things in your everyday life that delight you. This could be anything — a pretty flower, a smile you share with a stranger, the sight of a person playing a trumpet while riding a unicycle down a major Philadelphia thoroughfare (true story). Nothing is too small or absurd. Then whenever you notice something that delights you, you lift your arm, raise your index finger in the air and say, out loud and with enthusiasm, “Delight!” (Yes, even if you’re alone.) Ideally, you share your delights with another person.”
This is an embodied practice (because of the the motion of pointing up) and a practice that creates a “delight radar” as we begin to look for moments of delight during the day. Not surprisingly, as you notice more moments of delight, you feel grateful… and as your gratitude increases your life becomes lighter, happier, and more meaningful.
“This year, like all of them, will be filled with conflict and tragedy. But it will also be filled with delights. Resolve to notice them.”
p.s. I do limit myself to pointing up and just thinking “Delight!!!” if I’m in the middle of the grocery store 🙂