There is a feeling that comes--a gentle hit of recognition--when something is right for us.~Melody Beattie

I saw the slice of blue sky peeking through the side of the blinds in my study. I rose from my desk chair and lifted the window covering. A burst of lapis lazuli entered the room, a bank of white clouds accompanying the royal blue acreage. My mind felt contorted, though, my brain overwhelmed. I needed to give myself a break from the swirling content in my head. I opened a website I enjoy visiting to immerse myself in beautiful photographs. I spent an hour walking amidst the colors and imagery, the sky through my window a companion. I realized anew that it is important to regularly get in touch with what brings joy and beauty. What resuscitates delight is not something to sweep under the rug. It is important to amble through your preferences regularly. Otherwise you lose touch with yourself. Your creativity. 

Light and color from the sky bring me immense joy. You know, those skies that are violet, pinpricked with smoldering stars. I love wearing bright scarves tied around my neck. Yesterday I wore an orange one and felt so much better. I love art on the walls. Clocks ticking softly in the stillness of a room.  Burning candles that emit a subtle fragrance of vanilla or lavender. Laughter brings release. Music calms. 

We know what we like, but often forget to make space for those things.

A good friend of mine e-mailed me the other day that he and his wife will be taking Amtrak to the Grand Canyon. I could sense his excitement as I read the email--the anticipation for adventure. In the early morning, when it's dark, before the sun glides through the window, I hear the trains, their distant rumbling. I often think about where they're headed. Imagine them clacking down the railroad tracks. It's a hopeful sound.

Maybe it's not possible to board a train and go to a new location. But our brains and our hearts aren't picky. They're like children. Sometimes going to the Dollar Store is a big deal. I like going to the Dollar Tree just down the road. Finding a tube of pink lipstick or a hardback book for a buck (now $1.25 with inflation) can feel like discovering buried treasure. Never underestimate the power of what delights. Get on the train when that feeling comes. You recognize it.