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These Bring Joy
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5w
These Bring Joy
A quiet, repetitive book
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It doesn't have to be "Meditations from the Mat" (though that's a nice one). For me, right now, it's reading a chapter of the manga "What Did You Eat Yesterday". But it also doesn't have to be that book, since the reasons that make it a nice off-ramp to the day are generalizable: 1) The chapters are short, 2) They're fairly calm, hardly any conflict, 3) They follow a recognizable pattern, 4) The characters are conscientious and kind to each other, 5) Since there are many volumes, I can expect that I'll keep getting a little variety, 6) There's no inside or outside pressure to finish or read faster, 7) It's low-tech and quiet, the pages are black-and-white, 8) It's free because I order the books from the library, 9) And finally, I gently forward to it!
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3
8w
These Bring Joy
Unintentional ASMR Lovely Japanese Fountain Pen Shop
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This short classic has everything: Calm and quiet, fountain pens, distinguished salesmanship, the Japanese language, and lots of pleasant little noises.
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3
11w
These Bring Joy
Googly eyes
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Put googly eyes everywhere. Put them in unexpected places. Never stop laughing about it. Say the word "googly" often. That is my religion.
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3
12w
These Bring Joy
Watching a soccer game all the way through with no distractions.
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Two 45-minute halves plus extra time -- how often do we get this kind of window to focus on a leisure activity with no need for scrolling or the impetus to do anything else? Moreover, it's a totally acceptable, even encouraged, behavior to put all of your attention on 'the beautiful game'!
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2
13w
These Bring Joy
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
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It's a manga about a middle-aged gay couple in Japan. The first part of each section is -- most of the time -- a light plot followed by cookery porn. I'm on #16 and by now I feel like Kenji and Shiro are basically my neighbors who invite me over after work to catch up while we watch Shiro cook. Fumi Yoshinaga has created a delightful manga for adults that I use as a palate cleanser (pun intended) after putting the kids down for the evening and before moving on to chores and other activities. It's easy and relaxing. (As an aside, I am not looking forward to when I get to the end of the series and would relish read-alikes if anyone has recs.)
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2
13w
These Bring Joy
Beer and chocolate
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After dinner (or lunch), when I still have beer left in the glass, it's time for chocolate. I have chocolate opinions, sure, but honestly any will do.
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3
13w
These Bring Joy
Espresso for here
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Most days I make coffee at home, but once in a while it's a true pleasure to visit coffee shops with a welcoming ambiance and skillful baristas and enjoy a delicious espresso in a proper cup* while reading an interesting article or book, or just vibing with the space. This espresso is from How's It Going to End (HIGTE) in Montrose (Glendale, CA) where they know how to do it. * - Not those stinkin' paper cups.
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1
14w
These Bring Joy
Cloth Napkins
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The rare and easily accessible household object that combines function and beauty (or whimsy, or both), I'm a stan for little cloth towels/napkins whether they are Japanese tenugui, part of sets, stray dish cloths from Trader Joe's, or somewhere farther afield. Originally inspired by dinner at a Parisian friend's family home probably a decade ago, we started using little cloths for pretty much everything in the kitchen and dining room. Sure, avoiding paper towels is nice for the environment, but it also feels luxuriant and brings touches of intention to meals and beyond. By intention, I mean that I get to choose which cloth I'm going to use every few days. Here's to low-stakes, inconsequential choices! Pro tip: For cleaning, get a packet of 12 x 12 (or similar size) diaper cloths. They are hardy and absorbent, ideal for wiping down surfaces and cleaning spills even when they don't come from a baby. Plus, they last for years!
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9
14w
These Bring Joy
Taro Gomi books
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You may know Taro Gomi from his classic "Everyone Poops", but he has sooo many other delightful books as well. My kids and I loved "My Friends" and "Little Boat", among others. They are charming and joyful in both their text and distinctive art style. Recently, I've taken to learning Japanese and, of course, I'm using Taro Gomi books as an aid. The photo in this rec comes from "Ryokō ni Ikō!" (りょこうにいこう！) or "Let's Go on a Trip!" which, I'm proud to say, is the first (and only, so far) book in Japanese I've ever read. "Haaai"
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1
14w
These Bring Joy
Weird-ass Succulents
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I was today years old when I learned that this succulent, which has been growing on our balcony for the past few years, is aptly called Tiger Jaws (Faucaria Tigrina). Succulents are ideal for those of us who enjoy nature's craven design aesthetic and only water plants occasionally. A beautiful flower might appear on there like twice a year because succulents got that slow drip. So, uh, if you want to experience the feral cat of horticulture, get a weird-ass succulent!
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1
14w
These Bring Joy
Getting your portrait drawn by a kid
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This is me as envisioned by my daughter (age 4) for Fathers Day 2026. 10/10, no notes.
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3
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