It's what makes tea such an incredible hobby. No external reason, good alone and in company, and something that can be given total obsessive attention or a casual sip while the mind is elsewhere.
When it's just me and the moon, I'll still offer the moon a cup, just in case.
How wonderful to offer the moon a cup of tea. All the gifts Mother Nature gives us it’s such a meaningful and beautiful gesture. I’m going to also offer the moon a cup of tea. I love it!
So lovely- I play my ukulele and guitar and piano for love- and fun. I am not great at any of these and I don’t need to do it for anything or anybody but I love it. I also host a weekly radio show on community radio. Again, only for love. Love is the root of the word amateur. A good thing to remember and celebrate. Thanks for this reminder.
doing things just to do them is what saved me when i was at my most sad and lonely. i walk just to walk and see what i can find, baking bread bc i love to knead, taking three trains to the beach just to stare at the water
I savor my first cup of coffee on waking and watch the colors of the sky turn as the sun comes up and gaze at my faithful companion, Buttercup the bulldog, snoring away and dreaming of chasing squirrels. I also love to bring her on car rides and find some winding road past cows or horses, cool houses, or trees with all their changing leaves, windows down, music blaring, singing out loud. That is my happy place.
Private joys include, but are not limited to: reading in bed with my daughter and husband on a Saturday morning. Taking the time to choose the perfect shade of red from my indulgently large collection of red lipsticks, a vice I show no one. The warmth and weight of my 16 year-old cat on my lap.
What a beautiful collection of joys, thank you for sharing! (and as a fellow red lipstick devotee, would love to know your thought on the perfect matte!) 💄
I go through phases, but right now I’m really loving Violette_FR’s Petale Bouche liquid lipstick in Amour Fou. It’s an almost universally flattering, velvety matte. I especially like the way Violette, a French makeup artist, applies it, blurring the edges with her fingertip for an effortlessly imperfect (and somehow very French?!) vibe. J’adore. 🫦💄
Ohhhh this description sounds perfect! I've just started using a fluffy eyeshadow brush rather than a pointed lipbrush to create the blurry effect too, j'adore, j'adore!
My husband brings me a bouquet of grocery store flowers about every two weeks. He's always confused when I let them sit all bundled up in any old cup for up to a day. But, I find there's always a perfect time to choose this week's vessel and stand at the kitchen counter stripping leaves, snipping stems, and watching the golden hour arrive out the kitchen window.
We all enjoy the fresh flowers around the house, but the arranging - that's just for me.
“And isn’t love the point of everything?” Nice sentence!
I love walking thru low hanging (not too prickly) branches, feeling leaves brush against my face. I like watching ice cubes melt in the sunshine. And sleeping with my cat. But! There are things I love to do that I share - I made a series of stickers, a screen print, and jewelry. Those I do share on my social media and it doesn’t make feel them less good. :)
What a good question. I always thought of myself as doing things for joy and not necessarily an outcome. I told someone about my podcast once and she started asking me about monetization. I shocked her when I told her it was a passion project. But as I'm reflecting on your question, I'm realizing that there are times when I layer on reasons to do something. I love walking on the beach in the morning, but I'm also doing it for exercise, my health, a time to meditate. All good reasons, but, you're right, I can just do it for the love of it.
Yes, this! It was tricky to think of something that didn't have all the layers. Perhaps it's not necessary to find something completely 'pure', but simply remember to strip things back to the love of it when those layers become a bit stifling ❤️
Lovely reflection! It’s a bit weird isn’t it, to sit down and consider what do we do just because it feels good or brings us joy. I began this journey myself a few months ago. Another by-product of my social media departure was having time that needed something. So, these days I go for a walk in the forest for the joy of it. I paint photos from a recent vacation (not one of my photos ever made it on the gram) which has been such a beautiful way to extend that time away. The other is writing. All flow state opportunities in reflection.
Needless to say I’m in full support of doing things for the sake of it! Thanks for another great article Madeleine.
My students explored the theme of joy in their six weeks of printmaking in their Occupational Therapy undergrad programme. You might enjoy reading their reflections.
I think reading newsletters is it to me. I'm often ashamed at spending any time at all caught in a good read, especially a newsletter (not a novel, not something "serious" or "important"). Also, writing poems. Useless waste of time. I love it!
It's what makes tea such an incredible hobby. No external reason, good alone and in company, and something that can be given total obsessive attention or a casual sip while the mind is elsewhere.
When it's just me and the moon, I'll still offer the moon a cup, just in case.
This is stunning, thank you for sharing Martin!
I agree! Nothing beats the tea ritual....teapot,tea cosy, loose leaf tea, strainer...all on a tray.
How wonderful to offer the moon a cup of tea. All the gifts Mother Nature gives us it’s such a meaningful and beautiful gesture. I’m going to also offer the moon a cup of tea. I love it!
So lovely- I play my ukulele and guitar and piano for love- and fun. I am not great at any of these and I don’t need to do it for anything or anybody but I love it. I also host a weekly radio show on community radio. Again, only for love. Love is the root of the word amateur. A good thing to remember and celebrate. Thanks for this reminder.
Thank you for the reminder about the connection between love and amateur — something to celebrate indeed! ❤️
doing things just to do them is what saved me when i was at my most sad and lonely. i walk just to walk and see what i can find, baking bread bc i love to knead, taking three trains to the beach just to stare at the water
Walking, kneading, staring. I appreciate the reminder of the simple things, thank you Kate! ❤️
I can't tell. It's private. That's what I thought we had agreed on (?). [hehe]
Haha, touché! ❤️
I savor my first cup of coffee on waking and watch the colors of the sky turn as the sun comes up and gaze at my faithful companion, Buttercup the bulldog, snoring away and dreaming of chasing squirrels. I also love to bring her on car rides and find some winding road past cows or horses, cool houses, or trees with all their changing leaves, windows down, music blaring, singing out loud. That is my happy place.
This is so vivid! Thank you for sharing Kit — and thank Buttercup for the cameo! ❤️
Private joys include, but are not limited to: reading in bed with my daughter and husband on a Saturday morning. Taking the time to choose the perfect shade of red from my indulgently large collection of red lipsticks, a vice I show no one. The warmth and weight of my 16 year-old cat on my lap.
Thank you for this reminder. I needed it!
What a beautiful collection of joys, thank you for sharing! (and as a fellow red lipstick devotee, would love to know your thought on the perfect matte!) 💄
I go through phases, but right now I’m really loving Violette_FR’s Petale Bouche liquid lipstick in Amour Fou. It’s an almost universally flattering, velvety matte. I especially like the way Violette, a French makeup artist, applies it, blurring the edges with her fingertip for an effortlessly imperfect (and somehow very French?!) vibe. J’adore. 🫦💄
Ohhhh this description sounds perfect! I've just started using a fluffy eyeshadow brush rather than a pointed lipbrush to create the blurry effect too, j'adore, j'adore!
Oh you’re dead right. That would be a lot less messy! Thanks for the tip!
I make my own beauty products for the sake of it. Lip balms, hand cream. I print out nice labels. I sometimes give them away but not always.
I love this! Labels are joy ❤️
When it’s just me and Grandmother moon, I tell her my secret thoughts, for the sacredness of it. 🙏💫🌝
Love this so much! The sake of it —> the sacredness of it! ❤️
This spoke to me. Thank you for writing it.
❤️
My husband brings me a bouquet of grocery store flowers about every two weeks. He's always confused when I let them sit all bundled up in any old cup for up to a day. But, I find there's always a perfect time to choose this week's vessel and stand at the kitchen counter stripping leaves, snipping stems, and watching the golden hour arrive out the kitchen window.
We all enjoy the fresh flowers around the house, but the arranging - that's just for me.
That final line ❤️
“And isn’t love the point of everything?” Nice sentence!
I love walking thru low hanging (not too prickly) branches, feeling leaves brush against my face. I like watching ice cubes melt in the sunshine. And sleeping with my cat. But! There are things I love to do that I share - I made a series of stickers, a screen print, and jewelry. Those I do share on my social media and it doesn’t make feel them less good. :)
What beautiful things! And I admire your relationship with social media, too! It can be a joyous thing to share ❤️
And the scent of magnolia. So many things. ❤️
What a good question. I always thought of myself as doing things for joy and not necessarily an outcome. I told someone about my podcast once and she started asking me about monetization. I shocked her when I told her it was a passion project. But as I'm reflecting on your question, I'm realizing that there are times when I layer on reasons to do something. I love walking on the beach in the morning, but I'm also doing it for exercise, my health, a time to meditate. All good reasons, but, you're right, I can just do it for the love of it.
Yes, this! It was tricky to think of something that didn't have all the layers. Perhaps it's not necessary to find something completely 'pure', but simply remember to strip things back to the love of it when those layers become a bit stifling ❤️
Lovely reflection! It’s a bit weird isn’t it, to sit down and consider what do we do just because it feels good or brings us joy. I began this journey myself a few months ago. Another by-product of my social media departure was having time that needed something. So, these days I go for a walk in the forest for the joy of it. I paint photos from a recent vacation (not one of my photos ever made it on the gram) which has been such a beautiful way to extend that time away. The other is writing. All flow state opportunities in reflection.
Needless to say I’m in full support of doing things for the sake of it! Thanks for another great article Madeleine.
I love the idea of painting a photo, rather than posting! Thanks for sharing Amanda ❤️
My students explored the theme of joy in their six weeks of printmaking in their Occupational Therapy undergrad programme. You might enjoy reading their reflections.
https://issuu.com/discoverucc/docs/tending_joy_exhibition_catalogue_-_opening_night_p
What a wonderful theme to be immersed in for six weeks — thanks for sharing ❤️
Writing my Substack. Learning Italian. Reading fiction. My hot girl walks. Binging podcasts!!! ❤️ I’d be lost without my hobbies.
Grazie, Brenna! These are lovely ❤️
I think reading newsletters is it to me. I'm often ashamed at spending any time at all caught in a good read, especially a newsletter (not a novel, not something "serious" or "important"). Also, writing poems. Useless waste of time. I love it!
I think a good read or a good poem are two of the most fulfilling, joyful things ❤️