Are you still writing about delight?

Plus, Bernadette Mayer’s journaling prompts, poetry and money, and books.

Ursula the Cat: Working on her modeling skills.

Hi friend,

Recently, a reader asked me: “Are you still writing about delight?” 

Here's how I responded via email:

“Yes, I'm still writing about daily delights in my journal. Also, I realized that my delight lists are a great companion to my Noticing Notebook project. Paying attention to delight helps me notice my surroundings. And, noticing my surroundings is a delight.”

A few years ago, Ross Gay inspired me to start writing about delight. I loved his book — The Book of Delights!

Ross Gay said:

“ … It didn’t take me long to learn that the discipline or practice of writing these essays occasioned a kind of delight radar. Or maybe it was more like the development of a delight muscle. Something that implies that the more you study delight, the more delight there is to study… I felt my life to be more full of delight. Not without sorrow or fear or pain or loss. But more full of delight. I also learned this year that my delight grows — much like love and joy — when I share it.”

To grow my delight practice, I thought it would be fun to share part of my March delight list with you:

Riding my bike in the rain. Making Anki flashcards. Coffee ice cream. Being car-free. Toast with jam, honey, granola, and blueberries on top. Chico Fog (a delightful hot beverage with earl grey tea & oat milk). Finishing & filing our taxes. Rest days. My weekly coffee and work date with M. Business partnerships with friends. Snuggles with Ursula the Cat. Finishing my volunteer training and volunteering at a local hospital. Helping people in small ways. Taking a break from reading non-fiction and getting lost in novels. Making and eating “Gâteau au Yaourt à la Farine d'Amande.”

I hope my list inspires you to start recording delights in a small journal. It's fun!

Flowers at the ice cream shop.

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With that, here’s what sparked my creativity and curiosity recently:

1.) Mason Currey's article — “Bernadette Mayer will give you ideas”— was interesting. Before reading Currey’s article, I didn’t know about Mayer's poetry. I want to read more of it. Also, you'll find a list of Mayer’s journal and writing ideas here. I’ll return to her prompts in the future.

2.) A fascinating conversation about poetry and money: “Give Everybody Everything: The Financial Life of Bernadette Mayer.”

3.) Marilyn Monroe's Psychoanalysis Notes: "My body is my body, every part of it..."

4.) This story made me smile: ‘Hi, This Is Oprah Winfrey. I Read Your Novel and Loved It So Much.’

5.) An informative interview: “After 100 years, Barnes & Noble wants to go back to its indie roots CEO James Daunt explains how Barnes & Noble is different than Amazon.”

6.) Novels I loved: The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston and The Bodyguard by Katherine Center.

7.) And here is my latest article for Be More with Less: “How to Spend Less Money (25 simple tips).”

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Wishing you a restful weekend!

Thanks for reading!

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With gratitude,

Tammy Strobel