Do you need help making New Year’s resolutions or at least good habits? Looking for purpose? What to improve the New Year? Needing some direction for the upcoming year? How about we chase joy in 2021?

I admit, I’ve been in a funk all day. You know, one of those winter days you just don’t want to get out from under the down comforter and face the new day, the MONday that lies ahead. Despite the 31 degree temperature, I decided to do my morning walk, all bundled. “After all good habits are important,” I reminded myself. I ran into an obstacle – my iPod wasn’t charged. Nope, not gonna let it keep me back, not the Monday-ness, not the cold, not the dead iPod. I gathered my pluck and hit the pavement. And you know, the sky turned all purply-pink and the air was crisp and made me feel alive. Being outdoors turns out to be just what I needed. (P.S. check out the science here, to help improve the New Year!)

There I was, showing up despite the blues, and I got to see that glorious sunrise in quiet and peace. And I received another gift. For the first time in ten months, since this pandemic shut everything down, I saw the public school bus and I felt a surge of hope! I waved enthusiastically and the bus driver grinned, ear to ear and then tooted his horn in a happy rhythm – for me and for the mutually understood symbol that his bus on a Monday morning meant for him, for me, for the children, for the year ahead.

As I did lessons with my youngsters, I was grateful for the cheery fire with its dancing flames, keeping us warm(ish) and bringing hygge. As the day wore on, I got a nagging headache and found patience to be a bit too thin for my liking, and the struggle continued with fighting for joy. Then I read some words by Ann Voskamp, words which reminded me that true joy is for wherever – meaning here – and whenever – meaning now. You can find joy, not by seeking it for it’s own sake, but by seeing grace and returning thanks for it. Right here. Right now. And once again that joy that feels elusive some days burst through the clouds of doubt and struggle. Like a constellation, grace and thanksgiving and joy can be found whether at the kitchen sink on a frosty Monday, or on a sunkissed mountain top, or simply at the dinner table surrounded by noisy chatter. If we only have eyes to see the here-now wonder.