Small Joys: A Buzzfeed 'Amazing New Book You Need to Read ASAP'

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I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Small Joys. It is Elvin James Mensah's debut novel. This is a story about the loving friendship between Harley and Muddy. The story is raw, touching, and heartfelt. Despite each character's unique traits, they come together in meaningful scenes. This beautiful story of imperfect friendship left a lasting impression on me as a reader. It is a wonderful debut and I look forward to reading more. And the same goes for being happier and experiencing more joy and less stress. You have to be intentional about looking for those simple moments or feelings. It happens 365 days a year. But how often do you make a point of seeing it? Watching the sun rise is actually an ancient method of healing. And there are numerous other benefits, like enjoying a beautiful show of color and light, and having quiet moments of stillness and reflection. 4. Go to the Theater The book explores life, love, friendship, toxic masculinity, identity, depression, vulnerability, unconditional love and just what it means to have someone fighting for you every step of the way - the family you choose. The author handles some pretty dark topics sensitively and with real empathy, humour and heart. The dialogue is snappy and very funny at times. I loved the 90s and 00s music references.

Soda can cause heartburn. It's linked to osteoporosis. It increases your risk of kidney stones. It contains unhealthy artificial ingredients. It destroys your teeth. It makes you fat. Think about all that the next time you reach for a Coke. 99. Stop Procrastinating

Life’s simple joys are often things that can’t be bought, but also things that you would pay BIG money for… ironic, I know! And as the self-proclaimed “stress management extraordinaire”, I can confidently say that recognizing the small joys of life and counting them as blessings has helped me to become so. 38 Examples of Simple Joys of Life Receiving a compliment has the same effect on our brains as receiving cash. And while we can't force others to compliment us, when we give compliments to others we also reap some reward. That's because we feel good when we make other people feel good. It's a win-win! 93. Practice Monogamy The simple joys of life are often overlooked in today’s fast-paced world, but they’re so important for your happiness! Here are 38 examples of the simple pleasures of life and tips for recognizing small joys in your own life. Peas, beans, and peanuts are full of magnesium, a mineral that keeps our bodies pumping with energy.

Don’t be afraid to say “no” to volunteering for another PTA event or hosting a big family gathering. In fact, I think that’s why I’m so happy all the dang time… because I’m not afraid to decline invitations and requests in pursuit of more free time. Take a Photo Each Day of Something That Makes You Joyful There really is such a thing as an ice cream sundae that's truly good for you. Studies show that drawing pictures of junk foods like ice cream, cupcakes, and mashed potato pizza gives us the same sense of satisfaction as if we had eaten it — but without all those extra calories. 85. Play in the DirtLike Lester Bangs, who wrote as if his life depended on it, whose thoughts would lie like lead in his brain if he didn’t get them down on paper, Abdurraqib’s writing is full of urgency. In the final essay, Surviving on Small Joys, one of the book’s quieter, meditative pieces, he writes: “Let the children have their world. Their miraculous impossible world where nothing hurts long enough to stop time. Let them have it for as long as it will hold them…” I use social media for two main reasons: 1) to stay current on important work-related information and 2) to look up local garage sales and random household items for sale in the local buy/sell groups. Now it’s time to create your list of simple joys in life that make you smile. I’d love to hear some of them. Making a big, long to-do list might seem daunting. All those unfinished tasks staring you in the face. But research has found that we get a buzz of accomplishment and satisfaction each time we cross an item off the list — no matter how big or small the task. 28. Stop and Smell the Roses

There are many books in Japan devoted to ikigai, but one in particular is considered definitive: Ikigai-ni-tsuite (About Ikigai), published in 1966. A harmless bacteria commonly found in soil has been found to have a similar effect on humans as antidepressant drugs. It's a great excuse to play in the dirt. 86. Don't Eat Lunch at Your Desk Museums are places where stories are told, traditions are challenged, minds expand, and beauty is everywhere to behold. And, according to many schools of thought, all those things are good for our well-being. 32. Laugh

Many thanks to @scribneruk @simonandschusteruk for the arc via @netgalley. Small Joys was published this month and is available on audio on @scribd.

I guess I was willing to go along with this just being unlabeled except there is a very strange scene toward the end of the book with a totally out of character proposition to which we never got a response. That annoyed me. Participating in a team sport or activity, or even a group project at work, gives us a deepened sense of self-worth, purpose, and meaning. 25. Do a Good Deed We feel good when we eat good. It's as simple as that. Magnesium (found in spinach), calcium (found in kale) and chromium (found in broccoli) are all proven to enhance not only our health but our overall mood. 66. Daydream Starting in 2005, protagonist Harley has returned to rural England, where he works at a movie theater after dropping out of college. With an estranged father and a feeling of hopelessness, Harley attempts suicide but is saved by his new roommate Muddy. Despite their differences, a deep friendship develops between the two as Muddy shows Harley the joys of life. However, their friendship is complicated by their romantic entanglements with their friends Chelsea, Finlay, and Noria. As secrets and jealousy threaten their friendships, Harley falters again.

3. Watch the Sun Rise

There are so many things to be grateful for in life. Each day is a reminder that no matter how dark the night, the sun will always rise again in the morning. It’s essential to appreciate the simple joys of life because they are what makes life worth living. Hasegawa points out that in English, the word life means both lifetime and everyday life. So, ikigai translated as life’s purpose sounds very grand. “But in Japan we have jinsei, which means lifetime and seikatsu, which means everyday life,” he says. The concept of ikigai aligns more to seikatsu and, through his research, Hasegawa discovered that Japanese people believe that the sum of small joys in everyday life results in more fulfilling life as a whole. Time to renew that subscription to the local daily paper. Studies show that people who get their news from a broadsheet paper are happier than those who turn to television news to keep informed. 79. Be Spontaneous Films that make us cry actually boost our joy. Researchers have found that movies about a difficult breakup, for example, leave us feeling great because our minds begin to hyper-focus on the positive elements of our own romantic relationships. 78. Read the Newspaper We procrastinate because completing whatever given action we're putting off will cause us a certain amount of discomfort or pain. But when we procrastinate we increase the burden by prolonging the amount of time the anticipation of this discomfort or pain hangs over our head. When we instead confront unpleasant tasks head-on, we decrease the amount of negativity they bring into our lives. 100. Eat More Legumes