Small Joys: A Buzzfeed 'Amazing New Book You Need to Read ASAP'

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A largehearted look at the importance of found family, Mensah’s first novel focuses on the lifesaving friendship between a cast-off son . . . and the easygoing new roommate whose affection becomes a balm. Small Joys dwells in the sometimes-fleeting moments of pleasure and happiness that stave off the iniquities of the world.” — Electric Literature Grateful people are more likely to be happy and optimistic. So don't save it all for Thanksgiving. Make a habit of showing gratitude for the circumstances and people around you. 17. Breathe Deeply By offering someone our forgiveness — no matter how grave the offense — we let go of the hurt and anger that person stirred in us, thereby creating more space for happier emotions. On our journey to collect joy from our everyday surroundings, we must also dispose of any residual negativity. Saying, "I forgive you," is a great start. 13. Create Something Artistic There was something really charming and uplifting about this gentle novel, despite the (at times) very heavy subject matter.

Research shows that people who consume less than the recommended amount of red meat in their diets are twice as likely to feel depressed. 83. Multitask A great way to do that is to use your phone (since you probably have it with you 24/7 anyway!). Simply try to snap a picture each day of something that gives you a sense of joy or peace. Something that you normally wouldn’t give a second thought. It could be a picture of your morning coffee or the fresh blooms on the peonies in your front garden. It's as fun as it is thoughtful: a tender and generous novel about finding your people, getting vulnerable, and celebrating every joy - big or small.' Buzzfeed Have you ever noticed that when you are car shopping you suddenly notice a lot of certain types of cars on the road? When you increase your level of awareness of a particular thing, you begin to notice more of it even if it was something that was there all along. Finally getting a giant cleaning task done… like organizing all of your paper clutter or cleaning out your pantryCreating family rituals, like game nights or eating special meals together on certain days of the week (i.e., Taco Tuesday or Pizza Friday.) I think that, in part, is also what makes the darker sections of the book feel less so. It’s a book that covers some heavy topics — religious homophobia (complete with attempted exorcism), attempted suicide and depression, dementia — but because Harley is so loved by all of his friends, because they all of them so love each other too, it’s like there’s a clear safety net for each and every discussion. Parts of the book were heavy, but they always still felt wrapped in love and care. No, a cup of on-the-go joe doesn't count. Do yourself a favor and cook up some eggs with a side of toast and fruit. People who eat breakfast tend to be leaner, more energized, and all-around healthier than those who don't. 43. Reflect on Your Daily Accomplishments

There are so many things to be grateful for in life. Each day is a reminder that no matter how dark the night, the sun will always rise again in the morning. It’s essential to appreciate the simple joys of life because they are what makes life worth living. People who participate in bold, new activities and collect unique experiences are more likely to retain more positive memories than negative ones. The more positive memories we keep, the lighter we become. So go ahead and sign up for those guitar lessons. Book that trip to Antigua. Do it in the name of happiness. 10. Have More Sex Than Your Friends A gratitude journal is simply a place for you to record different things in your life that you’re grateful for, and the act of writing in the journal forces you to focus on what you do have, instead of what you don’t have.

13. Create Something Artistic

This funny and bighearted debut is an ode to queer friendship and chosen family. . . . A tender and generous novel about finding your people, getting vulnerable, and celebrating every joy—big or small.”— BuzzFeed I strongly considered rounding my 4.5 rating down instead of up because I sorely missed having an epilogue. I really wanted to see how Harley was doing a couple of years down the road. Having said that, I can probably guess what happens, but I wanted to see it play out. Ultimately, I rounded up instead as this book deserves more than 4 stars. I rarely post personal photos or memes. And I don’t really respond to friend requests or comment on others’ posts. ( Sorry if you’ve sent me a friend request… I’m sure it’s still sitting in my notifications!). Along with slowing down is setting aside a specific time to reflect. Create space for thinking about your simple joys in life. Abdurraqib’s writing is an antidote to the arched eyebrow of most music journalism. He writes with a sincerity that makes his subjects fallible. He writes as if music matters. For him, it is a metaphor for human suffering, for race and class, for what it is to be American. In one of his interludes dealing with the impact of Marvin Gaye, he writes: “To bear witness to so much death that could easily be your own is to push toward redefining what it is to be a patriot in this country.”