Opalite – Creating My Own Joy (August 2026 Recap)

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I chose the word Opalite for 2026 because I love the meaning so much.  The word is the title of a song by Taylor Swift, and it means creating your own joy or happiness even when things aren’t going your way.  Life is full of ups and downs, so I thought this would be the perfect word to keep at the forefront of my mind as a constant reminder that there’s always something I can do to lift my own spirits.  And this manufactured joy doesn’t have to come from grand gestures or big events… most of the time it’s made in the small, everyday details. 

 

August was bittersweet… the kids went back to school, and as nice as it is to be back in a routine, (and as excited as we all are for fall!), none of us were quite ready to give up sleeping in every morning or our lazy summer days.  That said, August still had some really great moments, a lot of which were created with intention.  Here are some of the things I did to create joy in the busyness…

 

-       I went for a leisurely walk right before a storm one evening.  I hadn’t intended to walk at all that day, but when the weather cools off in August, you are required to get outside and enjoy it!  ;o)  And rather than walking for exercise that evening (fast walking/jogging/getting my heart rate up) I went just for the sheer enjoyment of it.  I walk a lot for exercise, but I almost never take solo walks for leisure, and after that one, I think I might just start!  It’s so peaceful and much more enjoyable when you’re walking for the fun of it rather than aiming to meet a mileage / steps goal.  Also?  Being outside before a storm is one of my most favorite things.  It makes me feel so alive!

-       We saw multiple rainbows in August, and you better believe I took the time to go outside and enjoy them.

-       We started watching the new season of Ted Lasso, and if that isn’t happiness in a TV show then I don’t know what is!  Turning on Ted Lasso = instant joy.  His character must be one of the most loveable characters to ever grace the small screen.

-       One Friday evening, I randomly set the table with some fun fall napkins and fall glasses even though fall wasn’t anywhere in sight, nor had we decorated the house for it.  It made me happy and the kids LOVED it, though, so I figured why not?

-       After watching the Friends episode where Joey’s neighbor wakes up singing bright and early, I woke up Jacob the next morning by singing, “Morning’s heeeerrrreeee!” just like the guy on the show.  He thought it was hilarious and it was an extra happy start to the morning.  Sometimes you just have to be goofy.

-       Olivia requested to listen to jazz one Saturday morning and it threw me because we never turn on music in the morning until we get in the car for our commute.  But I have to tell you, it sure did make our morning 10 times cozier.  My girl has been full of whimsy since the day she was born, and she always knows how to romanticize every moment.

-       One thing about me – I never drink coffee in the afternoon.  I love a morning cup, and I even love a cup in the evening with dessert on Christmas Eve, but I have always thought coffee in the afternoon was weird.  Well, one afternoon in August, I got a craving for a cup, and normally, I would have pushed away the idea just because it was coffee in the afternoon, but instead, I gave into my craving and enjoyed a cup.  And it was the best cup of coffee I had that day!

-       WE GOT A PUPPY.  Is there anything that brings as much joy as a puppy?!  I think not!!

-       I volunteered with my parents at our church’s Outreach Center in August, so the joy was twofold – joy from giving back and joy from spending one-on-one time with my parents!

-       One Saturday morning, I spent the whole morning on the couch with Belle just because.  There were a million other things I probably should have been doing, but I just wanted the puppy snuggles.

-       I stopped using my ugly Tupperware to store all our leftover baked goods, and instead, I pulled out our nice glass cake dome that we received as a wedding gift and I gave it a permanent spot on our countertop to store muffins, cookies, and cakes.  It looks so beautiful and it makes me so happy, and the Tupperware is no longer blocking my coffee maker and tea kettle so it’s a win-win-win!  This is your sign to use the pretty things every day, not just on special occasions.

 

Happy Monday, y’all!