August Joys

I had to go back and look up what my WOTY (word of the year) was (link here) which might have meant I wasn’t really focusing on it.  But my WOTY was “Intentional” and I had noted that I wanted to be intentional in being less reactive, to be intentional on setting boundaries, to be intentional on finding joy in each day.  I spent much of the spring working on emotional regulation and I am less reactive than I was, I am catching my negative spirals, and I have set boundaries. I still need work on keeping those boundaries, though. And, in the past few weeks, I have definitely been more intentional in looking for the joy!

In some recent blog posts I assessed my activities and habits to see if 1) they were aligned to my core values (link here) and 2) fit into the habits for joy concept (link here). Both of those focus areas will help me in living a more joyful life. To reminisce about the good things this past month (habit #1!), I jotted down my August joys:

• I loved the duality of my attempted “Up” photo opportunity at Disney and then seeing the Bansky balloon print when we went to the Bansky exhibit in Tampa.. Also, those two activities were definitely my favorite things this month.

• The DisneyWorld trip with my nieces was a phenomenal escape (see pictures in this blog post). Three days of so much joy.
• So many happy birthday messages!  It really did make my day.
• We were able to find (and purchase) bathroom tile we liked, even when our first picks were all sold out when we went to buy it.  Hoping to see it in the space this week!
• I love the yellow house color we ended up with (even though hubby is disappointed in it as it’s not Key West bright enough for him).
• Working through the final kitchen cabinet design to a good solution. Our builder found ideas that helped make everything we wanted fit.  It’s a smaller kitchen than we had previously, so getting the right cabinets in there (long skinny one for sheet pans, a spice cabinet, a knife drawer) was a challenge.  We will see the cabinets in place this month!
• Getting the entire season of 70+ programs and events loaded onto the Garden Club website calendar. An arduous task, but joyful that it’s completed. (If you’re curious – here’s that website link.)
• Checking off some little habits that bring me joy (see last week’s blog post on habits) – movement for fun (I continue to love my cardio drumming), my end of the month “I Did It List”, a new food to try (it’s been in a long time since I tried something new – deviled crab, a local Tampa specialty), re-igniting intentional connections (4 in person connections this month; one phone).
• Still on track for an October occupancy in the new house. 

What was your biggest joy in August?

House update (for those following along on the recovery): No new pictures but a lot is happening. Tile flooring (porcelain, sand color) in the whole house is almost done. Doors have been delivered and an issue with the main living space slider is being resolved. We’ve explored window shades; talked baseboards, window and door trim; decided on pavers color/pattern; created a permanent electric work order; changed garage door pick based on pricing; and finalized interior stair and first floor external ceiling materials. We’ve talked with 2 landscapers and hope to finalize hardscape design (pavers, rock, etc.) and external stairs (where they actually land for all the steps down needed) this week.  After almost two years, it is coming together!

Picture Credit: My favorite print from the Bansky exhibit.

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