NOTE FROM KERRY:

Kia ora e hoa! (hello my friend),
How are you all this week? I’m getting ready to head to my very first writer’s retreat and am swinging wildly between excitement and fear (new people! vulnerably reading my writing! why oh why did I think this was a good idea?! oh wait, long uninterrupted hours to write, someone else making breakfast, there’s actually yoga! ok I’m excited again).

Today is a celebration of pure joy, the small and big things in life that I’m savoring and I hope you may enjoy too:

Things that bring me joy

1. Lucas’ Reptile Rescue (Instagram link)

I first discovered Lucas’ reptile feed after he spent THREE DAYS trying to encourage this cozy python (Tina) to give up her toilet home.

Lucas’ reptile rehabilitation and rescue effort commentary is sweet and informative, including this gem after relocating the first hatchling of the season:

Thankfully this little one was simply relocated from the upstairs master bedroom back into the lush front garden to hopefully grow up big and strong into what I affectionately call curiosity noodles 😍.

CURIOSITY NOODLES! Every time I slip into a doom spiral about the importance of “having followers and building a platform”, I think about Lucas, with 100 real fans, who is doing important and meaningful work that he loves.

Who cares about more than that?

Share this post with a friend who loves snakes (or dancing!)

2. Nepia Vaeau Takuira-Mita and Harrison Keefe, the dancing NZ guys.

I want you to click the IG link above because it’s a Journey song and rad, but the link below will embed directly, so enjoy this too, loves!

3. Stephanie Foo

Stephanie Foo is the author of What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma. She writes and regularly posts with such humor, grit, and grounded-ness about navigating the world and thriving after a childhood of significant trauma.

Love, love, love.

Reader joy recs 💗💗💗

• a FREE, unscheduled day.
• Noticing things deeply in the moment.
• Clean sheets.
• Being able to breathe through my nose (thank you anti histamines).
• Talking with friends (and reading their writing).
• Using colour - pencils, thread, gems!

Dr Kerry psychologist commentary on joy

We talked about things that bring us joy. Let’s add a little science:

In the field of psychology, there is good evidence that experiencing positive emotions can create an “upward spiral” of flourishing1. Dr. Barbara Fredrickson’s “broaden and build” theory suggests that positive emotions broaden our attention, our thinking, and how we relate to others. Over time, these cognitive changes build personal resources which promote health.

Briefly, when we feel emotions like happiness, joy, peace, or awe, we are more likely to be open and creative in our thought patterns. We are also more likely to feel trusting and connected with others. (This is true even when the positive emotion is induced or “manipulated” by researchers in an experiment!2)

Over time, the cognitive and relationship benefits from positive emotions lead to a wealth of personal resources like mindfulness, mastery, positive relationships, and even lower rates of illness. These personal resources in turn predict ongoing physical and psychological well being.

Share this with someone who brings you joy! 💗

Thus, when we savor, enjoy, and induce happiness, we are investing in a self-amplifying loop that ripples out for broader and successive cascades over time. So snuggle a puppy, savor a long cold drink of water, or share a knock, knock joke with a friend.

Again for the people in the back: when we feel happiness, we are investing in a *self-amplifying loop* that ripples out over time. So feel joy now to invest in a joyful future.

Wishing you lots of joy and love this week (and all the weeks).

MY ENDING REQUEST: Next time, I’m sending a love letter to all the people welcoming a baby into the world.

• What advice do you give to new parents or caregivers? or
• What good parenting advice did you receive? (if you happen to have kids) or
• What are you glad your own parents knew?

Talk to you soon! Kerry

*I am a one woman show so when you comment or respond, you are talking to me. All feedback is welcome, I want to hear from you so I can craft something that is useful to you.*