“Find joy in the simplest of pleasures and you’ll never feel deprived.” –– Unknown
I had a booksigning last Saturday for my book, The Pursuit of Elena Bradford, that will officially release next Tuesday, May 6th. Always an exciting time when one’s book flies out into the world to find readers. Sometimes a little nerve-wracking too as you worry about what those readers are going to think about the story. So far the reviews I’ve seen have been kind. But that’s a post for another day.
Tonight I’m going to share something from a reader who came to my signing and bought my new book. If you were at my signing, thank you so much for coming. It was one of the best I’ve had because I saw so many friends and met some new reading friends too. The store, Tastefully Delicious, in the middle of my hometown is the greatest place to shop with all sorts of amazing food products, gifts, delicious baked goods and a little book nook in the back room where you will find local authors’ books and many books about Kentucky. Anyway, the owners, Gale and Eric, always let me have a booksigning when I have a new book. And I did sign a lot of books. Some people ask at those events if I worry about getting writer’s cramp signing my name, but the answer is a resounding no when it’s books you are signing for readers.
I wish I had gotten a picture with all those who came, but I’m the worst at remembering to take pictures at events like that. Anyway, back to this young woman I met for the first time. Her name escapes me at the moment. Unfortunately, names slide away and hide from me in dark corners all the time lately. Since I can’t pull up her name, I’m going to call her Joy, because the two of us talked about joy. She said she’d had a hard time the last couple of years. She’d lost her mother one year and then her special furry buddy the next. She and her mother were very close and had all sorts of plans when suddenly she wasn’t there anymore. Then, all you dog, cat, or other pet owners know how hard it is to lose that faithful companion you could always count on for comfort and a special kind of companionship. Now that was gone for Joy too.
She fell into a sad funk, but after a while, she knew she had to find a way to revive her joy in living. She came up with a plan. She made a list. A to do list of simple pleasures that promised to bring her joy. She only told me a few of the things on her list, but it was things like eating a banana split or going to a play or visiting a garden or planting a rosebush. These aren’t her things, but things I’m imagining might bring a person a smile. The one she did tell me was on her list was buying and reading a book. I’m not sure getting that book signed by the author was on her list, but when she saw the advertisement for my booksigning, it seemed the perfect chance to cross that to do thing off her list. And she was smiling while telling me about her list for this year. I had the feeling she’d be making a new list every year to keep finding those little moments of joy.
I don’t know that I’ve ever made a list like that. At least, not a written one. But I do sometimes plan those moments of fun and pleasure. One is walking down my creek to see the wildflowers. Some springs I don’t get to do that, but I miss it when I can’t. Another is giving myself a day to do nothing but read for pleasure. Just sit down and read all day. Of course, I take those walks with my dogs almost every day to enjoy the sweet pleasures of nature. This year I’ve had the pleasure of having a front yard cat for the first time in many many years. Mama Mia always makes me smile.
Elena, my character in The Pursuit of Elena Bradford, rejoiced in some small pleasures while being pushed by her mother into a future she wasn’t sure would be happy. But she found her moments of happiness by slipping away to the gardens to sketch some flowers or a butterfly. She stole a moment of joy here and there by taking off her bonnet and enjoying the sun on her face or not wearing her corset and breathing easy for a little while. She walked in the gardens at Graham Springs and smelled the roses. She petted a cat. Small pleasures that made life better for her even while she worried about her future. She had to take things one day at a time which is the way the Bible tells us we should.
So, make your list of simple pleasures and see how many you can check off this summer.
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
What would be something you might put on a To Do List for joy?
This Goodreads giveaway is almost over, but you still have a few days to sign up. Revell Books, my publishers, are giving away 10 copies of The Pursuit of Elena Bradford. Sign up by May 5 for a chance to win one of those copies. Here’s the link.
Comments 13
One of the things I do to give myself joy is raising flowers or vegetables from seed. I love watching them grow, changing a little bit every day, until I see the first blossom burst open, or until I get the first bite of that tomato or cucumber.
Another thing I do for joy is sitting on my front porch in pleasant weather reading a good book. I just got through reading your new book and enjoyed it so much. I will post a review very soon.
I love this idea! I create a “project” list each year, but it might be nice to also do a “joy” list. I also thoroughly enjoyed your book. I had a NetGalley copy and it was wonderful!
Author
I’m so glad you enjoyed visiting Graham Springs, Erin. That is great. If you write reviews, I hope you will do one for The Pursuit of Elena Bradford.
I agree that a joy list along with that goal or to do list would add fun to our lives as we try to work everything in.
I love the idea of making a joy list instead of to-do list. I know your book is going to be loved. I can’t wait to read it.
Hugs,
Shelia
Author
A to do joy list sounds like the most fun, Shelia. I have those to do lists but they can get sort of pushy at times. I think a joy list would just be something you could read and be enticed into something new and fun. Maybe I should go shopping for that banana split. Or even better go to a greenhouse and be surrounded by spring flowers.
I hope you will enjoy my story when you get a chance to read it. I hope it’s found its way onto your library’s shelves.
Just finished reading your new book and I loved it!!! There was so much to enjoy….romance, mystery, etc. My favorite of your books is the Rosey Corner Series, but I now have to add The Pursuit of Elena Bradford to the list. It kept me turning pages. I couldn’t wait to get to the end, but also didn’t want that to happen. And, as always, I appreciate you sharing your faith in those pages! I’m so glad to add this one to my “Ann Gabhart Shelf” in the bookcase! Thank you for another great read, Ann!
Author
That’s wonderful, Judi. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading Elena’s story and to add it to a favorite list is great. Stories that mix a little mystery and history with romance can be among my favorites to read.
I’m honored that you have an “Ann Gabhart shelf.” That has me smiling on this rainy Saturday.
Thank you so much for your mail today!
Kind regards
Sonia Joubert (Psychologist in Jburg, SA)
Author
So neat to hear from you, Dr. Sonia. I hope you agreed with my reader’s quest for a way to keep joy in her heart and happiness in her days.
One thing I would put on my “to do list” that brings me great joy is to pot a new plant and find just the right spot for it. Yes, I talk to my plants. Then again I talk to almost every living thing. 😊 That also brings me joy.
Author
Sounds as if you have a connection to the physical world, Janette, and I’m guessing that you have some beautiful plants. So good to know how to find joy and embrace the things you love doing.
I did a gratitude journal not long ago. I concentrated more on it after Mom passed, but I counted every single “little” thing that happened! Just a text from a friend, or getting book mail, or anything that happened. Some days things were really easy to be grateful for, and other days it was a little hard, until I’d think of someone who doesn’t see well or hear well, and I can do both! Some days it was that I was able to go for a walk. There are things we take for granted that if we couldn’t do would be a big deal. I try to remember that, even now!
Author
You are so right, Trudy, about how we can take those daily blessings for granted at times. for one, I’m blessed with fingers that can still type my words into stories despite some arthritic knuckles. Maybe I should say I’m blessed to have a keyboard now instead of those manual typewriters of old. Your gratitude journal sounds like a great way to remember to be thankful every day of our lives even on those days when it seems hard to come up with reasons for gratitude.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.