![\"This](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/experiencing-joy-12-06-300x166.jpg\")
<\/a>This kid looks to have found joy.<\/p><\/div>\n
And I\u2019m more than happy to do my part to stop the spread of the virus. (I wish that everyone<\/em> would, instead of acting like things are normal again, which they definitely are not<\/em>!)<\/p>\n But being the Empath that I\u2019m always told I am, I can\u2019t help but be depressed for the rest<\/em> of the world during these incredibly trying times. The totally unnecessary loss of so many lives has gotten to me the most, of course, but I\u2019m also concerned about the loss of jobs, kids having this very weird upbringing, elderly people not being able to see their loved ones, and just daily life being turned upside down for so many.<\/p>\n For some reason, the onset of Fall is when it finally hit me a little for myself, and made me a tad more depressed about it all. That was because, on the shallowest of personal notes, I got just a little blue over not getting to wear all my fabulous Fall outfits this year! Yes, I know that I could have<\/em> worn them, but it doesn’t count if no one would see<\/em> them! I\u2019ve always dressed to entertain the public; never for myself, nor even Mr. X, (except for that one secret neon green dress, but that\u2019s a story that will remain private!)<\/p>\n What has upset me the most for the past several months is seeing people acting like it’s all clear now. I don\u2019t understand how anyone can be dancing on TV, dining out, having get-togethers, etc., like there\u2019s not a care in the world.<\/p>\n As does this one.<\/p><\/div>\n Even worse is when they make believe they\u2019re wearing masks and socially-distancing! I recently received an invitation for a cocktail party in the tiniest eatery in New York. It\u2019s bad enough they were having it then to begin with, but the invite said, \u201cMasks must be worn upon entry; Social Distancing practices apply.\u201d Notice the \u201cupon entry\u201d part\u2014it means you can take it off for the duration of the party since everyone will be eating and drinking. And in this self-described \u201ccozy\u201d fifteen-seat space, no more than a handful of people can be 6\u2019 apart, which is how \u201csocial distancing\u201d is basically defined at the moment. (The experts say it really should be much more than that.) Even though I love the food there, you couldn\u2019t pay me to attend!<\/p>\n So, to keep sane in the middle of my now-over-nine months of isolation*, I made a conscious decision to find joy in the little<\/em> things, and concentrate on those. Here are some of mine; I\u2019m hoping they will encourage you all to do the same:<\/p>\n ~ That my solitaire cards turned adorably Christmas-themed a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n ~ Needing breakfast dishes in the morning, seeing that the cupboard is bare, and then remembering that I did a dishwasher load in the middle of the night, so clean dishes are all ready for me!<\/p>\n ~ Watching a couple of old movies in a row, and not feeling guilty about it, like I have to get up and do anything else right then.<\/p>\n ~ Happening upon a never-before-opened make-up item, such as mascara or lipstick, (although I have no idea when I\u2019m ever going to get to wear the latter ever again! But at least I\u2019ll be all ready when I do.)<\/p>\n ~ Discovering all kinds of really old TV shows, which are incredibly calming right now. (If you missed my lauding of Perry Mason<\/em>, you can read it here: itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/television-my-summer-of-perry-mason<\/a>.)<\/p>\n ~ Wearing the new slipper-socks that someone sent me recently\u2014they are the coziest footwear ever, and I get a bit of joy every time I put them on!<\/p>\n ~ Donning last year\u2019s red holiday pajamas set, and still having this<\/em> year\u2019s new blue one to look forward to, (which is good because I’m in PJs at least three-quarters of the time now, anyway! Isn’t everyone<\/em>?)<\/p>\n ~ Opening a hidden-away box and seeing my set of beloved mint green plates which I was just wondering what happened to!<\/p>\n I even found joy in searching for the images to use in this article!<\/p>\n So, to get you started on a bit for yourself, here\u2019s that link again to my latest YouTube video, which I sincerely hope will spark some\u00a0joy in all of you: www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sRorvsWZn6Y&feature=youtu.be.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"As](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/rain-asian-girl-happy_si-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"unnamed\"](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/unnamed-300x224.jpg\")
<\/a>~ That Mr. X and I have discovered that I\u2019m a great cook! Who knew???<\/p>\n![\"images\"](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/images-300x155.png\")
<\/a>~ Finding unremembered pictures of long ago happy times.<\/p>\n
![\"joy-feater-image-600x400\"](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/joy-feater-image-600x400-300x200.png\")
<\/a>What are your<\/em> little joys? Please share them in the Comments section below, so that we can all inspire each other.<\/p>\n