Little Pleasures of Life

Today was a day full of what I like to call Little Pleasures of Life.  I am trying to challenge myself to see that even in the most routine days, there are things that can bring much joy if I just allow them.
So here's my list for the day...

Sunshine

Daily Mass

Lunch with my Mamarita

Doing Laundry

 Dinner with a dear friend

Seeing a precious elderly couple

Pitt ID

Eating Thin Mint popcorn from  Pittsburgh Popcorn Co.

Laughter

Waking up to the sunshine makes any day a good day.  Why is this? Because first it means that I get another day to try to be the Best Version of Myself, that is a Daughter of God,  a good daughter to my parents, a good friend, a good student, etc.  Second because I can listen to the song "Walking on Sunshine" and feel that it applies.  Third, it radiates joy!!! Plus it gives me an excuse to wear my sunglasses :)

Each day Jesus gives me the opportunity several times on campus to receive Him in the Eucharist.   Most days this brings me much more than just a little pleasure - it brings me great joy! A day is just plain different when its united with Him in this way.  I'm a different kind of person.  But attending Daily Mass today was extra-special because I got to do so with my beautiful mama, who I then got to have lunch with! Being with family always warms my heart. (shout out to my familia! You guys rock, I love you forever & ever - dont forget it)

Laundry.  Yes it was a pleasure! Think about it, you can do other things when you do laundry.  I think I can thank my parents for this mindset.  My mom & dad will put a load of laundry in on a Saturday morning & then go about doing other things, and then the family just keeps switching it throughout the day.  Today I did laundry and so many other things!  I feel so accomplished. (Confession: I only did two loads)  I did get my clinical uniform all clean for my shifts this weekend, so I chalk it up as an accomplishment & a joy.  I was also thinking how blessed I am to be able to have such a washing/drying system! Technology, you never cease to amaze me!

I also had a great pleasure of meeting with a lovely friend for dinner.  I've been trying to be good about not spending money, but I splurged and we went to Panera! YES! Great food and great company can bring much excitement and warmth to my heart. I think its the Italian in me.

Anyone who has ever met me knows my obsession (yes, I admit, its an obsession) with elderly people.  I absolutely ADORE them!  I dont know what it is, but when I see an older adult, my heart just melts into a puddle.  God has given me a unique soul, and this love for the elderly is one of those little corks He placed on it.  So basically, any older adult sighting brings me joy!

My Pitt ID can work so many wonders.  Seriously though, getting on and off public transportation with a simple pass of my ID = ROCKIN'!!  I hate fumbling to find money, but I don't have to worry about that because, shazam - my ID is there to rescue me from the inconvenience of carrying one dollar bills.  This made me excited today, especially since I took multiple bus rides.

I've never stepped foot into the Pittsburgh Popcorn Company until this evening with one of my lovely residents.  We decided we needed a snack for our adventure we were embarking on - more like I wanted a snack.  Anyway, we went in and got some Thin Mint popcorn.  Never have I ever tasted popcorn like this!   Go get a sample if you live in Oakland!  A little chocolate makes any woman happy (remember that).

And last on my list, but certainly not least, laughter.   How can someone not find joy in the joyful laughter of another?   As one of my favorite people in the world once said "Peace begins with a Smile" (Mother Teresa). I think smiles and laughter to remedy many problems.  I know the bounds it does for my heart when I can laugh or smile about something.  Definitely more than just a "little" pleasure in life.

Ok, I do realize that some of these are quite different or weird. (or as my dear mother would say "unique")  But its what brought me joy, what is bringing you joy?

JOY

Find it, embrace it, and share it. 

The greatest poverty.

My heart has come to realize a great poverty in our world.  That is, the poverty of  hurting and unloved hearts.

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat." -- Mother Teresa

Today I was reflecting on the feelings that Mother Teresa says above, the feelings of being: unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten. How many people really feel this way? My heart began to ache.

The sad truth:  Too many, too often.  

I too, like the world around me, sometimes fall into these lies of satan that create an impoverished soul.  The lies he whispers into your ear when your guard is down --- "No one cares about you".  It comes through little ways too, ways you don't maybe realize.  For me, it is something as silly as not getting a text back from someone.  How minuscule, how petty in the scheme of life.  Yet it sometimes goes straight to the heart, defining myself as insignificant.

How do we then, first come to know our own worth, and second grow to show others theirs?

I think we must start with ourselves.   It sometimes is very easy to think of your life as little, insignificant, unwanted, unneeded. Like a simple letter, such as "e".  It does have worth.  In and of itself, it has meaning, it has a purpose.  But alone, it can only do so much.  However, once it is placed with other simple letters like "t" or "h" it creates a word.   A word that still, some may say, is simple.  But what if those three simple letters were to preface another word, it makes it stand out.  Together the words work together to make a sentence; even further sentences to paragraphs; even further pages of text; and into a book.  That little "e" in the scheme of life (the book), may be little, but it has its place, its purpose.  For without that "e" in that specific place, the sentence would not be the same, the paragraph, etc.

I am to the letter "e" in the grand scheme of life.  I have a purpose; yet alone, I can do little by my own accord.  I have the ability by the Hand of the Author of Life to be paired with other little letters to make a great masterpiece of literature, the Word of God manifest through my actions.  I am a little "e" where no other little "e" could be in the Book of Life. And my "e" would mean little if it were not working with others, in Christ, to make up His Body, The Church sharing and testifying to the Truth.

So then, how do we show others their worth?  By loving like Jesus loves, through being at peace with the fact that He has written us into Life exactly where He wanted us to be.  Then, we can be free to love, to share the beauty of the truth He has enlightened us to.

Lord, give me peace in where my "e" is in the world, so that I can testify to all the poor souls of Your Great Goodness; Your tender and compassionate Heart.  Thank you for the Eucharist and being able to receive Jesus so that I can give Him to others.


YOU ARE LOVED, BECAUSE YOU ARE HIS.  ----give yourself over to Jesus and begin to understand your worth, your beauty and the care in which He has for your soul.