Collecting Joy

Summer is a season of energy, motion, and sensory richness, ripe with sound, color, and change. Whether you’re traveling or staying close to home, I invite you to collect the small moments that spark joy and creativity as you move through your day.

This week, consider trying either of these creative exercises:

1. Observe
Go on a short “joy walk” with an artist’s eye. This could be a stroll around your block, a day trip, or just sitting in a sunny window. Pay attention to details you might usually overlook:
What textures do you see?
What colors are showing up again and again?
What sounds feel like summer to you?
Take a few notes, snap a photo, or jot down three things that caught your attention.

2. Collect
Choose one moment, object, or idea from your walk that made you feel alive or present. This could be the crunch of gravel, a dappled patch of light, or a scent on the wind. 

Try to collect it in a creative way:
Sketch it quickly
Write a few lines of poetry
Collage it using paper, fabric, or leaves
Block print it if you’re feeling ambitious!
Don’t overthink it—this is about capturing a fleeting feeling, not making a perfect piece.