Morning dip and everyday joy became the start of my day. It began in the sofa with a post that disappeared, but instead of irritation I chose gratitude and lessons learned. The swim today filled me with energy, the thoughts of my grandchildren opened both sorrow and gratitude, and the bedroom now waits to be cleaned until it smells of soap. Yesterday was a day of household chores, pride, and pain – but also joy in the little things.

morning dip and everyday joy at the lake on an autumn morning

Läs det här på Svenska->Morgondopp och vardagsglädje

Today – a Morning in the Sofa

The morning began in the sofa, with coffee beside me and the computer on my lap. I wrote an entire post – hours passed – and then everything vanished. At first I wanted to curse, blame the computer, mutter a bad word. But instead I paused and told myself: “Now you need to be a responsible adult.”

That shifted my thoughts. I realized I hadn’t saved properly and that I need to be better at always checking before shutting down. And perhaps I need to accept that words often come when I bathe, not right when I wake up. A morning lesson in patience, simply put.

Today – Morning Dip and Everyday Joy

This morning I went for a dip. My bathing sisters swam, but I floated still, letting the water carry me. I watched the trees, the sky, and all the beauty right there in that moment.

The feeling was powerful. My soul filled with light, my body with energy. Gratitude settled in: “I give myself these mornings where I wake together with nature.”

Two squirrels chased each other in the trees – lively little reminders of everyday joy. Before the swim, I even managed to record a short video for TikTok. In that video, an important insight landed: A good day is one you create yourself. I am the scriptwriter of my life. My thoughts give birth to feelings, and those feelings create the day.

Today – Thoughts of My Grandchildren

After the swim came thoughts of my grandchildren, the ones I no longer get to meet. There lives sorrow, and it hurts. But I told myself I needed to change the tone of those thoughts.

Instead, I chose to feel gratitude for the time we actually had together. Me and my son. Me and my grandchildren. All those days that were ours before he chose to shut me out as both mother and grandmother.

I carry so many beautiful memories. Memories of caring for Hugo when he was sick, holding his little hand, sitting and reading with him. Memories of Emilia, my princess – always wise, always close, a wonderful friend in a small body. And my son – whom I am so proud of. His wisdom, his words, his thoughts, shared so generously through the years.

The time that is now I cannot change. It is what it is. But I have the memories. And they fill my heart with gratitude for the time that was. This is my work: to choose gratitude for what was, and let that gratitude fill my time now.

Today – the Bedroom Waiting for Soap and Order

After the swim and those thoughts, the desire for the next project grew. Today, our bedroom will be made fresh with the scent of soap. The walls will be wiped down, the paintings dusted both front and back, perfume bottles polished, flowers refreshed. Every detail tended to, until the room feels truly clean.

I can already sense it: the lightness in my body, the bubbling joy and the deep gratitude when everything is done. Walking into a room that smells of soap is like giving myself a new beginning.

Yesterday – Everyday and KonMari

Yesterday was different. The day filled with chores. I went down to the laundry room, folded clothes and ironed what needed it. With the KonMari method, every piece of clothing has its place. It’s almost silly how happy I feel opening a wardrobe and seeing that order.

Yesterday – Pride at the School Meeting

In the afternoon, it was time for my little boy’s school meeting. I told him: “This is probably the best meeting I have ever been to.”

He hasn’t even been in school for a full year, but he has already succeeded so well in all subjects. When he asked why, the answer was simple: “You, of course. You’re the one making this work.”

Yesterday – When the Body Said Stop

After the meeting, I stopped to shop, still happy from the day. But when I placed the milk into the basket – bang! My neck gave way. The pain returned, almost like the nerve pain I sometimes feel in my legs.

At home, I cooked: fish sticks, rice with curry and salt, and my cold sauce with yogurt, mayonnaise, pickled relish, and spices. My little boy ate with joy – that always warms my heart. Myself, I finally had to give in. The neck had the last word yesterday.

Reflection

Perhaps this is what life is – a mix of swimming in the lake, the scent of soap, the pride of a child, and the pain of a neck. Everything fits into a single day, and everything is allowed to be as it is.

AHA – Between the Lines

Between the lines, the choice becomes clear. I choose not to remain in irritation or sorrow, but to see lessons, everyday joy, and gratitude. It is in the small choices, in the moments, that life truly shifts.

Your Voice: Between the Lines

I am a person who carries both joy and pain. I care for my home, my family, and myself, even when my body says stop. It’s not only the cleaning or the swim that matter – it’s the feeling that I choose to live my life, every day, in my own way. That is healing, and there gratitude is born.

A Thought on Gratitude

I often sit and wonder what to cook today. And right there, my thoughts make a somersault – because in that question lives gratitude. I get to think about what to cook, not if I can cook anything at all. There are parents wondering whether they can even serve food today. I have the privilege of choosing. And there, gratitude lives in abundance.

Closing Words

Yesterday no longer exists except in memories, tomorrow is something we may experience, but right now – in this very moment – is the only place life can be lived. It is in the now that memories can be created.
— Carina Ikonen Nilsson

Links

Internal link: The First Day of the Rest of My Life – Gratitude and Self-Love
Internal link: KonMari – folding clothes and creating order
External link: YouTube – Animal films for small children (educational and playful)

Support My Writing

If you enjoy my texts, you can support me here:
PayPal – Support Malix.se

Subscribe to the Blog

Get new posts directly in your inbox:
Subscribe here

The First Day of the Rest of My Life – Gratitude in Everyday Life

Av Carina Ikonen Nilsson

den 30 september 2025

i Morgon & tacksamhet, Reflektion & självläkning, Vardag & familjeliv, vinterbad

The first day of the rest of my life – gratitude in everyday life. This morning I woke up with that thought. Today is the first day of the rest of my life.
That thought was the very first thing that landed in me when I opened my eyes. Before I got out of bed, I felt gratitude for receiving yet another new morning to wake up in. One more day here in life – isn’t that fantastic?

Read this in Swedish ->Första dagen på resten av mitt liv – tacksamhet i vardagen

I got up. The cat was sleeping so deeply that I had to wake him. The coffee was already ready. I lit a candle in the kitchen even though I sat down in the living room. There is something about lighting a candle that gives the morning an extra calm. Maybe someone else wakes up and is met by that light. Maybe I myself, when I go to refill my coffee cup, am met by that little warmth.

A Day with Pain – But Also with Gratitude in Everyday Life

My neck still hurts, and now I also feel it over my left eye. But with Ipren, Alvedon and some tiger balm, I get a few hours of relief.

Yesterday turned out still, but in a new way. After two days in bed, it was wonderful to get going again and feel the scent of home and food. I cleaned the kitchen, cooked the meal, and let that be enough as physical work.

The Smell of Meat Patties and the Joy of Cooking

When I stood there frying my meat patties – and there were many – the whole kitchen smelled wonderful. I was careful to save the pan juices to make a really good sauce.

Yesterday I tried frying the onion before mixing it into the minced meat, but as I already knew, that’s not my thing. It has to be raw, grated onion to give the real flavor. Now I reminded myself once again. This time made it clear to me: raw onion is what I want in the mixture.

This time I also mixed in rolled oats instead of breadcrumbs. It made the meat patties extra juicy. I built up the sauce with the pan juices – and it tasted delicious.

Big Thoughts in the Small Things

Already in bed, the thought of gratitude started living in me. I felt joy that the room was warm. Gratitude for the geothermal heating that gives both warmth and hot water. Imagine that someone figured out a machine that can pull heat from a mountain!

Just being able to turn on a tap and get drinkable water is actually huge. A hundred years ago, people had to go outside and fetch water, no matter how cold it was. When I stay in that thought, I am filled with peace. Such thoughts can lift an entire day.

Like yesterday, when the little one didn’t have time to wipe the table before school. Instead of irritation, I only felt joy that he had eaten breakfast.
It really feels like the first day of the rest of my life – gratitude in everyday life makes the difference.

A Longing Made New – Maybe a Swim?

I have missed my new-old habit of bathing in the lake. I miss my bathing sisters, our little laughs, and that calm that always settles afterward.
Maybe today I will dare to try again. Maybe a swim can make the pain go away, or maybe it will make it worse. But then I will know.

Just the thought of a dip gives my body a kind of new energy, as if the lake is already calling me.
Read here how I once again picked up my morning swims -> An Early Morning Swim Filled with Gratitude

Taking Care of My Thoughts – An Old Habit Returned

It feels like I have taken back an old, important habit. I have once again started taking greater responsibility for how I handle my thoughts and how I choose my feelings.
Maybe I’ve been doing it for a long time without thinking about it, but right now I am clearer, more active. I notice how I consciously replace thoughts that don’t bring joy and how I hold on to the ones that carry me.

Because here lies the gain. I can choose – choose whether I want to live in happy feelings or in unhappy ones.
Just writing the words gives me a wonderful feeling, because I have a choice. An important choice.
And I choose happiness.

This makes me live more and more often in the feeling of well-being – despite the pain and despite the longing for my son and the little grandchildren.

A Little Star for Planning

I also want to recommend the astrological planning calendar I mentioned earlier. It will follow me through the coming year – as a compass for thoughts and small moments of reflection.

The planning calendar based on the stars applies for next year.
If you buy it via this link, you get a 30 % discount. Use the discount code Astrocalendar30.

Astrological Year Calendar. The First Day of the Rest of My Life – Gratitude in Everyday Life.

This is not an affiliate link. I earn nothing from sharing it, but just want to recommend it because I myself find the calendar interesting. The discount code gives you 30 % off if you want to try it. My thought is that the calendar will eventually help me plan breaks and choose thoughts and self-love more consciously. This may not be the author’s idea – but that’s how I plan to use the one I bought.

Between the Lines – AHA Mirror

This post is not only about meat patties and gratitude.
It reflects a conscious choice to live here and now:
that every cup of coffee, every smell of food, and every little thought can become a place of joy – despite pain, longing, and the days that cannot be changed.

And in the stillness there is also the courage to try again – maybe a cold swim that awakens body and soul.

What it says about me as a writer:
Presence. Care. Creativity in everyday life. An inner strength that dares to try and keeps choosing joy.

Questions for You as a Reader

What fills your mornings with gratitude?
Do you have a little everyday miracle – a scent, a routine – that carries you through the day?
When was the last time a small thought changed your entire day?
What would a cold morning swim give you right now?

Reflection

The simple things are often the greatest. A candle in the kitchen, the smell of fried meat patties, running water, a cycling joy in the evening light – and maybe a morning swim. That’s where gratitude lives, in the quiet miracles that make a day worth living.

The first day of the rest of my life – gratitude in everyday life makes me choose happiness every day.

Yesterday has already settled into history, where I chose happiness. Tomorrow awaits further ahead. But right now, I can choose to live in happiness – because this is where life happens.
– Carina Ikonen Nilsson

Support My Writing

Support me via PayPal

Subscribe to the Blog

Get new posts directly to your email

Kay Pollak blog – a misty morning by the lake with a wooden pier and a floating platform, a moment of reflection and meeting between words and nature.

Morning Dip and Gratitude – When the Body Responds with Joy

Av Carina Ikonen Nilsson

den 24 september 2025

i Recept & matglädje, Vardag & familjeliv, vinterbad

A frosty morning by the lake, a cold morning dip and thoughts resting in gratitude. Here I share how the body actually responds when we practice gratitude – and how simple moments can fill an entire day with joy and calm.

Read this post in Swedish. ->Morgonbad och tacksamhet – när kroppen svarar med lycka

Morning Dip in Frost and Stillness

alt="Morning dip and gratitude – person wrapped in a towel sitting on a frosty lakeside bench at dawn, mist rising from the water in quiet stillness."

Yesterday I went for a swim with my wonderful swimming sisters. It was below freezing when I sat down in the car to drive the ten kilometers to the paradise by the lake. When I arrived, the water was steaming more than usual, and the sun had not yet climbed above the treetops.

Each step down to the water felt like a small tribute to life. The grass was white with frost, and the cold stung my fingers in that strangely pleasant way – like pressing a tender spot and not being able to resist.

I was the first to arrive and sat for a while in the silence. A fish broke the surface. The swim itself was quiet, without strokes. I simply floated and absorbed everything around me.

alt="Morning dip and gratitude – mirror-calm lake at daybreak with dense mist and bare branches in the foreground, serene autumn scenery."

Warmth, Everyday Life and Rest

When I came home, the feeling remained. I felt deep gratitude for giving myself that moment. After breakfast I went down to the basement and ironed my shirts. I love the warmth of the iron and the thought of how wonderful it will feel to put on a freshly ironed shirt.

The day continued in stillness. I brought in the small pots and irrigation system – now everything is ready for next spring. This week I might plant some garlic. Just the thought of harvesting my own garlic next year makes me happy.

Gratitude as the Body’s Own Medicine

In the evening, while frying meatballs, I let my gratitude grow. I thought about having legs to stand on, a stove, a family who appreciates the food. It may sound simple, but research shows that gratitude releases dopamine and serotonin – the brain’s own feel-good chemicals.

Read more about this science here: The Neuroscience of Gratitude.

When we consciously practice grateful thoughts, the stress hormone cortisol decreases, blood pressure can drop, and sleep deepens. It’s like giving the body an inner massage of calm.

Small Steps for a Big Difference

Would you like to try? Start small. Feel gratitude for a cup of coffee, for your breath, for a message from a friend. That’s where the everyday magic begins.

AHA – Between the Lines

I realize that I don’t only swim for physical well-being. I swim to remind myself that life is right here and now – in frosty steps toward the lake and in the warm steam of an iron. My days become whole when I choose to see that.

Reflection

It is in these small movements that I find myself. A silent dip, the scent of ironed fabric, a dinner of meatballs – all become a path back home to me. Here lives my happiness: simple yet strong.

Yesterday has already settled into history. Tomorrow waits further ahead. But right now – this is where life happens. In this very moment I can plant seeds that will grow into something in the future. – Carina Ikonen Nilsson

My Voice – Between the Lines

It is in the small moments that I come home to myself. In the steps down to the lake as the frost crunches under my feet, in the water’s mist, and in the warmth of the iron. I see how life reminds me that joy lives right here and now.

It takes no more than a silent swim, the scent of a freshly ironed shirt, or the sound of a fish breaking the surface. In that simplicity lies all the happiness I can carry. I choose to see it, I choose to live in it.

Support and Follow malix.se

Would you like to support my writing? Contribute via PayPal
Subscribe to the blog: Get new posts directly by email

Birthday Party and Gothenburg Visit – a Weekend of Everyday Joy and Blogging

Av Carina Ikonen Nilsson

den 25 augusti 2025

i bloggutveckling-skrivande, Vardag & familjeliv

A weekend filled with everyday joy – from a neighbor’s birthday party to a visit in Gothenburg, with a bit of blogging work in between.

Swedish text here->Helg med barnkalas, Göteborgsbesök & bloggjobb

Birthday party with the neighbor

On Saturday we went to a lovely birthday party at our neighbor’s place – she’s the one who creates those beautiful YouTube clips for small children, educational and playful. As always, there was joy, laughter, and a warm atmosphere.

Gothenburg visit to our youngest son

Yesterday we headed to Gothenburg to visit our youngest son, who moved there last autumn. He and his girlfriend had just returned from Greece, sun-kissed and full of stories. We had coffee, checked out their now fully furnished apartment, and admired the cozy sofa he had built on their balcony. Honestly, I could imagine living out there myself! They had also reupholstered the headboard of their bed with a beautiful fabric – so creative and personal.

The plan was to have dinner at their place, but since we were quite a few, we decided to go out instead. Pizzas were ordered, and I chose a kebab salad – which, I must say, had very little salad in it. And when you choose a salad, you actually expect it to be filled with salad and the fresh things that belong there.

Blogging work and the Oskar series

This weekend was a reminder of how valuable both small and big moments can be. A birthday party or a balcony conversation in Gothenburg can bring just as much energy as a long trip. It’s the ordinary everyday memories that shape our lives.

Right now, I’m also working here on the blog, especially with the Oskar series, where I write about children, neurodivergence, and school life. This week we’ve been focusing on the post Motivating circumstances and invisible support. At the same time, I’m optimizing the blog to make it easier for both me and you as readers to find your way through all the posts.

A lot is happening – in everyday life and here on the blog.

Subscribe to the blog here so you won’t miss future posts.

Want to support my writing? Here’s my PayPal link.

Live today, right now. Yesterday is history, and tomorrow lies out there in the distance. Right now is what we can influence.
– Carina Ikonen Nilsson

Reflection

This weekend reminded me that strength is often found in the simple things – in the laughter of a child’s party, in a chat on a balcony, in the ordinary meals we share. Life doesn’t have to be grand to be deeply meaningful.

Your Voice: Between the Lines

Between the lines, this post carries a sense of gratitude. To be present – in both small and big ways – is a gift I do not take for granted.

Cabbage Pudding, Laughter, and a Heart Full of Gratitude

Av Carina Ikonen Nilsson

den 7 augusti 2025

i År inlägg 2025, Vardag & familjeliv

Yesterday filled our home with the smell of cabbage pudding, the sound of laughter, and a deep sense of gratitude.
Today, my body feels tired, yet my heart is still glowing warm.

Read this post in Swedish ->

A Lovely Visit

Yesterday, we had a dear visit at our home.
My husband decided that cabbage pudding was the dish of the day, so in the morning, I went shopping with our little one – but not before we first harvested big, beautiful potatoes from the garden. They were more than enough and tasted absolutely wonderful.

A Day to Remember

We ate, we talked, and we laughed until our stomachs hurt.
It was the kind of laughter that stays in your body long after, the kind that makes you feel happier just by remembering it. I also want to take this moment to say thank you for coming yesterday – it was such a joy to have you here.

Today, my body is tired, but my heart is light.
I plan to rest and enjoy the feeling of yesterday lingering in the house.
Later, I might work on tomorrow’s post about LVL² and perhaps a weekend motorhome trip – although, with the wind outside, we have not decided if we will go yet.

What are you up to today? Have you had a laugh recently that stayed with you?

Live today, right now – and it becomes a memory tomorrow.
Those small moments can bring you happiness later,
like gentle flashes from yesterday.
– Carina Ikonen Nilsson

PayPal:
Support the blog here

#everydayjoy #homelife #cabbagepudding #laughterheals #bloglife #tiredbutgrateful

order and everyday joy

Av Carina Ikonen Nilsson

den 4 augusti 2025

i År inlägg 2025, Reflektion & självläkning, Vardag & familjeliv

When Piles Disappear – Everyday Joy in Order and Relief

Read this post in Swedish → När högarna försvinner – om lättnad, ordning och vardagsglädje

Preface

Hello and a warm welcome, both to those of you visiting for the first time and to those who return again and again!
I am always both surprised and happy to see readers from all over the world – from Ireland, the USA, and so many places I hardly dared to dream of.
Imagine that my small corner of Sweden can reach your heart across the globe.

Thank you, most humbly, for reading here with me.
It means more than you know.

When Piles Come to Life

Today I want to write about something completely different than international readers – those piles we all gather at home.

I have one of those piles.
It started with a printer.
The printer and I already had a shaky relationship, and eventually my husband grew tired of hearing me talk to it.
He said he knew where to find one of those new machines that actually worked.

Although I muttered that the old one wasn’t that old, and that it had been expensive enough that it should work, we went to NetOnNet and bought a new printer.
The old printer ended up in the basement, right on the floor.
We were going to throw it away “later.”

The Kitchen Faucet in LVL²

Then, as always, more things joined the pile.
In the spring, when we took our motorhome LVL² out, the kitchen faucet broke.
We bought a new one, and the broken faucet also moved to the basement.
Not a big pile yet – but still, a pile.

Broken Pots and Forgotten Things

Last year we bought a new battery for our motorhome.
The old one got a spot in the garden, waiting for recycling.
And that plastic box where I tried to grow leeks?
The sun cracked it, and it stayed where it was.

Broken pots, an old garden stool, and everything else slowly joined the pile.
Eventually, when we walked past, it felt almost alive.

My husband thought it looked sad when you came down the street and saw our pile of junk.
So we moved it to the other side of the patio, so it wouldn’t be as visible.

From Pile to Relief

Yesterday, the recycling station in the village was open.
It rained heavily.
The pile stayed put, and I gave up hope that we would ever deal with it.

However, today a small miracle happened.
My husband said:

“Let’s take care of this now.”

At first, I wasn’t very eager.
However, because he had the energy, I didn’t want to be the one to hold back.

First, we took the usual recycling: milk cartons, plastic, and glass.
Then, the plastic pots went, along with my broken garden chair.
After that, the printer went to Elgiganten’s electronics recycling, and the faucet joined the scrap metal.
Finally, since we were in Uddevalla anyway, we returned our summer cans and bottles – two large bags, which gave us 230 kronor back.

The Joy of Order and Lightness

When we came home again, it was as if the air was lighter.
The pile was gone.
The garden felt bigger.
And I got such an energy boost that I took out the grass trimmer and tidied all the edges where the pile had been.

The grass that had grown around the pile was trimmed away – as if it had never existed.
My husband heard me from the basement, came up, and mowed the lawn.
Even Lillfia caught the feeling and asked if she could help.

Reflection: Why Do We Always Wait?

Now I’m sitting under the pavilion, writing.
My body feels lighter, and so does my mind.
And yet, I wonder:
Why do we always wait until “later”?

For me, it looks like this:

First, I say, “We’ll do it later.”
Then, the pile grows.
Then comes the shame and the quiet anxiety.
Finally, we do it – and then it feels like Christmas morning.

There is a certain reward in that final feeling – the relief and the energy when it’s all done.
But I don’t know if it’s worth all the quiet nagging before.
Maybe that’s just how life works sometimes.
And maybe, I’m not the only one.

Between the Lines – My Voice

Between the lines, this isn’t just about trash or a pile in the garden.
It’s about holding on to things – and feelings – longer than we need to,
and about the freedom that comes when we finally let go.

I write this to remind myself – and maybe you – that it is in the small actions that the greatest relief and joy can be found.
When the pile is gone, life feels a little bigger.

Questions for You

Do you also have a pile waiting for attention?
How does it feel when you finally finish something you’ve postponed for too long?
Do you think the relief is stronger because we waited too long?

Support My Writing

Would you like to support my blog?
Send a contribution via PayPal here.
Your support means more than you know!

YouTube Reminder

Here’s a reminder of my friend’s YouTube channel – her sweet educational videos for children about animals, nature, and the small things that spark curiosity.

Watch here →

Live today, right now.
Yesterday is among the memories of old piles, and tomorrow waits in the distance.
Maybe new piles will come – but it all depends on what we do in the present.
Right now is where life unfolds and where we can finally breathe. – Carina Ikonen Nilsson

AHA – Between the Lines

Behind this story of a disappearing pile lives a lesson about life itself.
It is about the weight of what we hold on to, and the unexpected freedom that comes when we let go – of things, of clutter, and sometimes of the emotions that keep us stuck.
I share this because life is often lighter than we dare to believe,
and because even a cleared pile can make room for new energy, hope, and a deep breath in the present moment.

Hashtags:
#EverydayJoy #OrderAndCalm #PilesGone #Decluttering #Relief #SimpleLiving #LiveHereAndNow #EverydayReflections #GardenLife

When Autumn Whispers – KonMari, Family Joy, and Tiny Surprises

Av Carina Ikonen Nilsson

den 3 augusti 2025

i År inlägg 2025, Vardag & familjeliv

Read this post in Swedish → När hösten smyger sig på – KonMari, kalas och små hälsningar

Preface

This post is a small journey through everyday life.
It moves from a gray August morning with soft rain, to tidy drawers and a birthday celebration that warmed my heart.
Most importantly, it is a reflection on how small actions – folding a sock, sipping coffee, or watching a child laugh – can become moments of stillness and happiness.
Perhaps it reminds you, as it does me, that life truly lives in the simple things.

Autumn Makes Itself Known

Yesterday, autumn whispered its arrival, even though it was only August 2nd.
The rain fell heavy and gray, as if the sky had pulled a blanket over summer for a while.
Because of that, it was the perfect day for quiet tasks indoors – the kind that bring peace to both the home and the soul.

I pulled out the drawers and began folding clothes using the Marie Kondo method.
Underwear, socks, sweaters, and pajamas all found their places.
The clothes I no longer needed, I thanked for their time and set aside – some to donate, some to throw away.

Afterwards, when I opened the drawer, it felt almost magical.
Everything lay in neat rows, the socks sorted by color.
It was as if the drawer itself sighed in relief.
And so did I.

Why Fold This Way?

I’ve come to realize that the KonMari method isn’t just about tidiness.
Instead, it is about showing gratitude and creating calm in daily life.
When every item has its place, the mind also feels a little clearer.
No more searching, no more silent sighs at the mess – suddenly, home feels like a place where you can breathe.

There’s also something meditative about the folding itself.
While standing in the quiet, I can feel the fabric in my hands, deciding what stays and what moves on.
It’s like creating small islands of stillness in the stream of everyday tasks.

KonMari and everyday joy – yes, that’s how it felt as I stood there folding my clothes.
Even if my husband only shook his head and said it took time, for me, it was precious time – harmony, self-care, and quiet respect for my belongings.

A Celebration with Simple Joys

In the afternoon, we went to a birthday celebration.
We were served smashed potatoes with minced meat and melted cheese, with salad, red onion, and jalapeños on the side.
After that, dessert was an ice cream buffet with plenty of toppings – simple, yet so good.

We met my daughter’s partner’s family and their two little boys.
They were shy at first, as little boys often are with new people, but after a short while, the shyness melted into laughter and play.
I smiled to myself, watching how quickly shyness can turn to mischief.
Children are amazing that way – they always find their way to joy.

We had brought a coffee maker as a gift.
It felt good to give something useful – finally, there will be brewed coffee in their home.

Tiny Animals and Quiet Greetings

On our last shopping trip, I couldn’t resist buying some small, cute stuffed animals.
They each had names and even their own birthdays – completely irresistible.

We bought them for our grandchildren.
One stayed at our daughter’s house, while the other two went on a little adventure.
Eventually, we placed them in our son’s mailbox with a small note explaining that the animals had birthdays to celebrate.
A quiet greeting – from us to them – with the hope of bringing small smiles to their day.

Evening Peace and a Gentle Reflection

When we came home, I settled onto the couch and watched a film about slavery in the US – about a woman who helped others to freedom.
As usual, I dozed off for a while, but the evening still ended in peaceful calm.

Later that night, I reflected on how small acts can create deep well-being:
A tidy drawer.
A shy child daring to laugh.
A cup of freshly brewed coffee.
And the reminder that life truly happens in the little moments – here and now.

Between the Lines – My Voice

I seek calm in simple things: a tidy drawer, the scent of coffee, the sound of rain.
I write to capture the small moments that bring me peace, never to point fingers at anyone.
This is my space for reflection, gratitude, and the gentle glimmers of everyday life.

Have you ever tried the KonMari method?
How do you create calm in your own daily life?
And which small moments stay in your heart the longest?

A Tip – My Neighbor’s YouTube Channel

If you want a short moment of inspiration, take a look at my friend’s videos on YouTube.
She shares small glimpses of life with her own gentle warmth – little educational videos for children about animals, nature, and all the small things they wonder about.

Watch here on YouTube →

Support My Writing

Would you like to support the blog?
Send a contribution via PayPal here.
Your support means more than you know!

Live today, right now.
Yesterday is among memories, and the future waits just beyond tomorrow.
Right now is where we live and breathe, where life truly happens.

– Carina Ikonen Nilsson

#KonMariFolding #EverydayJoy #AutumnMoments #FamilyHappiness #OrderAndCalm #SmallMoments #LiveHereAndNow #EverydayReflections #SimplePleasures #MarieKondoLife