July - Finding Moments of Joy

Finding Moments of Joy

If life feels like it’s rushing past in a blur of calendar appointments, packed lunches, work deadlines and traffic jams, you’re not alone. We live in a world that idolises productivity, fast-paced lifestyles, and constant “doing.” In this state, the small in-between moments and the few quiet breaths between meetings, the golden light of the afternoon sun through your window, the laugh your child lets out at a silly joke, can slip by unnoticed. But here’s the truth: those fleeting moments hold the magic.

July is the perfect time to begin intentionally noticing the joy tucked between the bigger stuff. While the year may feel like it’s racing ahead, this month invites a mid-year pause. A chance to reset. To reflect. To refocus not on doing more, but on being more present. What would happen if we stopped chasing the next thing and instead looked around for the light already peeking through the cracks?

The Power of the In-Between

We often treat the “moments in-between” as bridges between what really matters. We rush through them, heads down, hearts somewhere else. But those are the moments that are our lives. They become hours, days, weeks… and before we know it, another season has passed.

What if, instead of rushing, we could find small ways to savour these? Instead of zoning out while waiting in line, we could tune into the music playing, or observe the way light dances on a surface. These simple shifts—these micro-moments of presence can create slivers of joy. They gently reshape our emotional experience from one of stress and absence to one of appreciation and resilience.

Creating Slivers of Joy

You don’t need grand vacations or major life events to experience joy. Often, it’s tucked into the smallest corners of our lives. Here are a few creative ways to uncover those hidden sparks of happiness:

1. Move to the Music

There’s something primal about music that connects us to joy. Put on your favourite upbeat song and move. You don’t need choreography or a gym, just your living room, your body, and a few minutes of letting go. Shake off the stress. Be silly. Be wild. Be free. Dance like no one’s watching (because maybe no one is!) and notice how your mood shifts. Even two minutes of movement can release endorphins, lighten your heart, and reset your energy.

2. Capture It Creatively

Take your joy and make something out of it. Doodle in a journal. Snap a photo. Write a few lines of poetry. Creativity is a direct line to mindfulness. It keeps your hands busy, your mind open, and your awareness focused on the now. You might try an art prompt like: "Draw your favourite moment of today". Even if it’s just stick figures or blobs of colour, the act of creative expression becomes a moment of personal presence.

3. Journal Your Glimmers

Keep a small notebook or notes app nearby to jot down the little things that bring a spark: your morning coffee, a stranger’s smile, your child’s unexpected hug. These are your “glimmers”: quick flashes of connection, peace, or happiness. Noticing them primes your brain to look for more. Re-reading them later can be like a little time capsule of gratitude and perspective.

Finding Joy When Times Are Tough

Let’s be real: life isn’t always light and breezy. We all face uncertainty, illness, heartbreak, and anxiety. And joy might feel out of reach in those times. But even in grief or struggle, small moments of joy - slivers - can exist alongside the pain.

Sometimes, it’s not about feeling happy but simply noticing something good. A warm blanket. A moment of laughter. A tree blooming outside your window. These don’t erase the hard things, but they offer us little breaths of light to hold onto.

Joy Is a Practice

Like anything meaningful, finding joy is a practice. It requires slowing down, paying attention, and choosing to be here. Not in the past. Not in the future. But right now.

So here’s your invitation: Create a moment of joy today. Make it. Notice it. Celebrate it. Share it. Whether it’s the smell of your morning toast, the feel of your dog’s fur under your hand, or the quiet magic of your child’s laughter. This is your life. And it is beautiful.

As poet Mary Oliver once wrote, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

May July be your month of tiny celebrations. Of creative pauses. Of glimmers gathered in the quiet folds of the day.

And may you find, in the smallest of moments, the deepest of joys.