This week was a sparkly week - 36 moments of joy

After months of heaviness, something clicked this week and my energy shifted - here are 36 simple joys that filled my days

This week was one of the better weeks of my life. That’s quite a statement but honestly something has just clicked.

Last year was a year of loss, grief and learnings. Of course, there were the light moments, the highs and the good stuff too, but mostly, the last six months of 2024 were heavy.

2025 so far has been a stark contrast; I am stepping back from my business in earnest and learning how to create space. Now I get to figure out what to do with that space after ten years of hustlinggg. It feels like a new era, a new chapter and, in many respects, a fresh start.

Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been easy - walking this 'pathless path' demands courage and strength. It requires a willingness to face fear head-on (oh man, there has been a lot of fear - the part of me that likes to be in control is losing her mind right now). But in the very short time since I have set these change-wheels in motion, I have felt liberated.

A childhood friend said to me on Wednesday - “you are vibrating at a different level”.

And I feel like I am. I have more energy, I feel so positive, I am worrying less, I feel lighter in my body and I am so excited about the future. There are so many unknowns and, for the first time, I am stepping over the edge without a parachute or a plan in place but one thing I know for sure - it is giddying to feel so aligned with my intuition. I swear I can sense her jumping up and down with the energy of a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader screaming “YES, SHE’S FINALLY LISTENING!”.

Inevitably, not all of us will have spent their February so far unravelling patterns and identity or making big life choices and career decisions BUT I am hoping that you found some joy. Inspired by an Elizabeth Gilbert workshop I attended, where she suggested writing down the things that fill your cup, this is my list!

A list of 36 things, big and small, from the last week that brought me large amounts of joy:

Nature, Movement & Simple Pleasures

1. Finally going camping for the first time with my partner after two years of talking about going camping

2. Watching our usually highly anxious labrador take to camping like a seasoned scout

3. Sitting in a winery near the campsite (this is my version of camping) in the sunshine doing wine tastings and talking about our future

4. Cooking and eating sausages on the camp BBQ for our dinner on Saturday night

5. Getting into our tent bed at 7pm and listening to the storm rage whilst reading Eat, Pray, Love for hours on end

6. Hiding from the sun’s rays in a sliver of shade next to our tent, being so relaxed that we all (fiancé, dog and I) fell asleep and waking up later only to realise that we essentially fell asleep next to the side of the road through the campsite, with onlookers giving us some very strange looks

Me and Henry. He thrives on a campsite, who knew!

7. Swimming in the ocean many many times – words aren’t capable of describing what the ocean does to my soul, so just know that this was a highlight

8. Walking into the house on Valentines Day morning after the gym and finding a gorgeous native plant and card from my partner (he’s a good soul)

9. Waking up naturally and getting up at 6am every morning, even though I haven’t needed to go to the office this week

10. Attending multiple reformer pilates classes and noticing that I’m getting stronger (this really dropped off last year with the pregnancy loss rollercoaster)

11. Morning meditations – finally finding a version of my mantra that drops me into meditation easily

Food & Small Luxuries That Feel Big

12. Eating an almond magnum – I don’t have a big sweet tooth and I probably eat these like five times a year but MY GOD, every single time feels like it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted

13. Gluten free dumplings – hook them to my coeliac veins

14. Covering cauliflower with spices and baking it (and every other homecooked meal this week)

15. My olive oil – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. As someone who cooks regularly, adding a good quality, premium olive oil to my life has been a simple, regular joy

16. Making blueberry porridge for breakfast every morning

Autumn in Sydney - we are truly spoilt in this city

Deep Connection & Meaningful Conversations

17. Sitting for three hours with a childhood friend (who is heavily pregnant with twins - wild) by the ocean covering an impressive range of topics with remarkable depth

18. Having a coffee with a best friend and, again, getting into the real stuff, real quick (there is a theme, my humans are all deep feelers)

19. Booking appointments for my best friend to try wedding dresses on for her wedding this year

20. Meeting with a family who escaped Gaza, hearing their heartbreaking story and using my networks to hopefully provide some leads for them to secure work (this was a harrowing few hours and they are very impressive humans)

21. Chatting with and connecting with the wonderful humans of Substack - hello likeminded friends!

22. Waking up on Valentines Day and each sharing five things we love about the other (we are those people; we can relentlessly take the piss out of one another but we are also those smushy, soppy romantic nerds, sorry not sorry)

23. Sharing my life with someone who is so kind, openminded, funny, caring and smart (they were his five)

If you have a spare four hours, The Brutalist is an excellent movie

Unexpected Wins & Little Life Delights

24. Watching The Brutalist in the cinema – there was an intermission, we ate popcorn, it was a rainy Sunday afternoon, it was fabulous

25. Having the SuperBowl on and actually understanding some of the game and recognising some of the players (thank you Netflix Sport documentaries for turning this sport novice into a passable spectator) and spotting Taylor Swift in the wild, obviously

26. Kendrick Lamar’s grin (IYKYK)

27. Realising that I had an old travel voucher that was about to expire and saving myself $500 by booking a hotel for an upcoming trip (what a win)

28. Securing front row seats at the basketball for $60 because they were available last minute

29. One of my notes going Substack ‘viral’ – I am NOT on here for numbers but after spending weeks typing into the actual void, clicking in and seeing the alerts and engagement and connection brings me so much joy

30. Using Chat GPT to figure out what exercises will help with my flared up lower back (surprisingly helpful) and finally getting some practical solutions

31. The sunshine! Defying the weather forecast, the weather has mostly been gorgeous this week in Sydney

Rituals & Everyday Happiness

32. Drinking the peppermint tea in bed that Ant brings me every morning (like I said, good soul)

33. The ritual of making the bed and covering it in cushions – it grounds me and I feel discombobulated if I leave the bed in its waking state

34. Making up silly songs and then singing them on repeat - it brings me joy, it brings Ant joy - if anyone else heard us they would be concerned for our sanity

35. Packing for a trip to Brisbane this evening. It’s raining in Sydney, it’s 30 degrees in Brisbane, we have lots of plans with friends and there is nothing more we love than travel adventures

36. The act of sitting down to write on Substack and the delight that this newfound creative outlet brings me

It’s been a joyous week - the epitome of sun, sea and a sparkly life - so many moments of happiness, appreciation, and gratitude. The energetic weight that lingered late last year felt like an actual physical burden, and to feel it lift has been nothing short of a relief.

If there’s one thing I’m taking from this past week, it’s that joy doesn’t have to be big moments - it often lives in the smallest, simplest things. A good meal. A deep conversation. A morning swim. The right song at the right moment (if if it’s terrible and made up). The ritual of tea, the grounding of making the bed, the unexpected win of a viral Substack note!

With all of that, I’d love to know - what moments brought you joy this week? What are the things (big or small) that made you feel good?

If you made it this far, thank you for your time! On such a small account, one like or comment makes a huge difference so please share the love!