May you find joy in life's big moments and small moments.

That was the birthday wish I received that has me reflecting on what brings us joy.My thought is it's not really the big things that come our way that lead to a joyful life because "big things" don't happen all that often.That's why it's more imperative to look for joy in the small things in our life because almost every one of us will encounter way more "little moments of joy."Think about it. How many "big moments" do you encounter each week? Now, compare that to the many opportunities you have each day to find joy in small things that come your way.We all recognize our big moments when they come our way.But do we recognize the dozens of little things that come along? I'm betting most of us let many of these small but rewarding moments pass without much notice.Yet it's these daily little gifts that have the capacity to bring us joy if we center on them.The problem is, we often don't take time to see them, to feel them or to appreciate our small golden moments.I heard one motivational speaker express the thought that far too many of us are like passengers on a train traveling by spectacular scenery. But instead of the enjoyment that could come from watching that beautiful scenery, some pull down the shades on the train windows.Are you one who pulls down the shades on the windows of your train? he asked.Or, are you one who soaks up all the beauty you pass by?I think I've always found joy in the little golden moments that come my way. But I found that when I get especially busy and rush through a day, I miss many of those golden moments.For the past few months I've been making a concerted effort to tune in to more details.To see more.To hear more.To appreciate more.It's working.When I'm aware of more of life's little moments, the accumulation of those little things add up to a joyful day.My idea of a big moment was traveling to Italy with my two daughters and finally getting to visit Squillace, the village where my grandparents lived in Calabria, Italy.It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Most of my life doesn't center on that kind of big stuff.But I do encounter so many daily golden moments.For me, it's always a golden moment when I step outside first thing in the morning. I take a deep breath of appreciation as I say thank you for another day of life.By noticing daily differences in the wind and the light, it turns into a rewarding way to start my day.Another simple joy comes when I jump on my bike for a solitary ride. When I ride with my biker husband, it's hard work because for him, it's all about getting the most cardio benefit from the ride.When I ride by myself, it's as much a time for appreciating the world around me as it is exercise. I often ride to the bay and sit on a park bench thinking how nice it is to watch the sun shining on the water. I always come away from those moments so much more relaxed.My very favorite special moments are the times I sit and listen to the birds serenading me.I keep my bird feeder filled just to entice as many birds as possible. I like to end each day by spending a few moments on the lanai watching the different birds that come for their last snack of the night.I think one of the special moments for most people is watching a sunset. It doesn't matter if we've seen thousands of sunsets in our life. The next one we see is still special.I feel the same way about seeing a dolphin dancing in the water. It's a sight I've seen hundreds of times, especially since I moved to Florida. But every new dolphin encounter brings exclamations of joy.As someone who is a "people person," I also find joy in the short encounters I have with my neighbors. I rank "friendly neighbors" right up there with the top reasons I like living in my little piece of paradise.Going to lunch or dinner with a favorite friend also tops my list of favorite golden moments. My friend Jeanne and I try to enhance our dining experience by finding new and interesting places, especially those with live music. It always makes for a happy night.Do you do much exploring of your area? Do you look for little parks or scenic attractions you haven't been to?Jeanne and I encourage each other to keep looking for those little pockets of nature we haven't experienced. We go to new parks, walk a new fishing pier or walk a new nature path.I just saw an email from a friend who noted the joy she had when she noticed an unusual tulip in her garden. She called it "a breathtaking moment."It's the little things that add up to a joyful life. I hope you take time to tune into all the little golden moments that come your way each day.Contact Pattie Mihalik at

newsgirl@comcast.net.