As 2023 draws to a close, I’m filled with deep contentment.

A dear friend recently shared a similar feeling of happiness and a willingness to lean into it, and that made me happy, too. We all deserve it, but I know this can be a tough time for many people. For them, I’ll hold a space and make a wish that they find “a spark of joy” to comfort and keep them.

For me, it’s not just “jolly holiday” happiness either. It’s more of a “what do I have not to be happy about?” feeling.

After all, I’ve celebrated another birthday, my children are launched and doing well, and I’m mostly retired. I do enough freelance work to keep my brain engaged and pay for my coffee habit. I have good friends, good books, and a new car. The new year will bring my 34th anniversary with my man and the wedding of our daughter to her man.

Of course, it’s not all perfect. My health kind of sucks. I have fibromyalgia, caused by a traumatic spine injury; I have plenty of pain, but I do what I can. There’s a lot of political stuff I hate going on, but I’m part of an energetic, passionate group of women who do what we can to change it. And yes, there are wars causing horrific suffering on all sides. My heart breaks when I see the images, and I am empathetic. I truly wish I could solve those problems, but they are far bigger than me.

So I might as well be happy in my own corner of the world. When I wondered aloud if this all sounds too privileged, my friend Cheyenne described it as “being open to the opportunity for joy” in a world that tends to look for big highs.

A couple of gifts I’ve unwrapped this year:

  • Spreading kindness really works. It’s giving the benefit of the doubt to the customer service representative when I’m frustrated or letting another driver pull out when traffic is heavy. (I could be better at that one.)
  • Forgiveness, of self or others, is freeing.
  • Gratitude pays big emotional dividends. I read recently that gratitude helps you fall in love again with the life you have.
  • Giving in to the pain or bad moments doesn’t make me less.
  • Smiling for a moment, even when I’m alone, feels good.
  • Nothing is better than the love and time of family and friends. And really good hugs.
  • Chocolate makes anything better (except that pre-diabetes thing, so don’t tell my doctor).

Now I’ll get back to my sad books and bittersweet music, which – yes – make me happy. That may have to be another blog.

And about that photo…the calendar was a Christmas gift from my favorite son, who shares my affinity for sarcasm and knows about my political action groups, particularly the one known as bitch sisters.