Letter 23: On Learning Delight

When we savor the present moment

Happy October, readers! As Anne Shirley says, “I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” If summer must end, at least there is glorious fall that follows. I’m so pleased to introduce our new contributor Jill Romack.

Like a few of our past contributors, Jill is a former student of mine. And just like in the cases of Nabil and Renae, it makes my heart burst with pride to introduce Jill to you. I believe Jill and I initially bonded over our shared love of all things Harry Potter, but I have always felt that we were kindred spirits beyond a shared interest. What an honor it is to know someone as they mature, grow, and become who they are meant to be. Jill has always been wise beyond her years. She’s fun, witty, and unflappable, too, much like our beloved Anne Shirley. — Emily

From “Mindful”

by Mary Oliver

“Every day 

I see or hear

something

that more or less

kills me

with delight,

that leaves me

like a needle

in the haystack

of light.

It was what I was born for —

to look, to listen,

to lose myself

inside this soft world —

to instruct myself

over and over

in joy,

and acclamation.”

As I write to you, I have just started the second week of my senior year of college. The semester that I thought would begin slowly and quietly started with a packed schedule, back-to-back activities, and a veritable mountain of homework already. (What happened to syllabus week, I ask you?)

As hectic as this season is, I’m doing the daily work of coaching myself to delight in the small moments around me. This has been a more difficult practice than originally anticipated. As your classic Type A, Enneagram 1, hyper-organized perfectionist, I feel the need for preparation, order, and hurry deep in my bones. I’m also a perpetual candle-burner-at-both-ends type of person—I’ve packed my college experience with leadership roles, extracurricular activities, heavy coursework, as well as hobbies and a personal life somewhere in there.

I’m hyper-aware that, as hectic as my routine sometimes feels, there are many fleeting aspects of this season of life I won’t experience again. As many of these opportunities come to a close, I’m trying to savor them before they’re gone. I’ve already experienced my last first day of undergrad, the last first meetings of my favorite extracurriculars, and my last appointment with my academic advisor before I graduate in May. 

Something else you should know about me: delight is not my natural state of being. I’m more likely to mourn a passing moment than to savor it, if I’m going slow enough to notice it at all. So, in the midst of this hectic season of grad school applications, club meetings, and never-ending homework, I have to teach myself to delight in the small moments and memories that are present all around me. 

When I’m stressed or overwhelmed, sunset walks on campus are my go-to method of forcing myself to see the beauty that surrounds me.

 I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of the Island (the best Anne book in my humble opinion): “There is so much in the world for us all if we only have the eyes to see it, and the heart to love it, and the hand to gather it to ourselves—so much in men and women, so much in art and literature, so much everywhere in which to delight, and for which to be thankful.” 

I can’t help but respond to this beautiful quote with the simple truth that so much of our current reality simply isn’t delightful. I’m reminded of the continuing tragedies in Afghanistan, the disaster relief underway in the wake of Hurricane Ida, the continuing Covid-19 situation, and so much else.

But I’m learning to do what I can for the people in my life who I can love and support while holding the grief for these circumstances alongside the small joys that I’m also privileged enough to witness. 

Sutton Wilderness Trail, my favorite route for sunrise runs.

In an attempt to physically incorporate delight into my daily routine, I’m intentionally surrounding myself with art that makes me smile (like this whimsical pickle print and this Mary Oliver poster) and expressing gratitude for the small, joyful moments, like my daily devotional time spent on my small apartment balcony, sipping on tea (preferably a nice earl grey) as the sun rises. I’m carving intentional time for runs at a local wilderness trail and I’m choosing to study in the beautiful public library in my college town. All of these are small moments that bring peace to an otherwise hectic day.

Taking the time to notice and reflect on these small joys has brought my attention to the myriad of blessings around me that I might otherwise overlook during a chaotic season.  

I wonder where we’re surrounded by small moments of delight that we’re blind to see amidst the hustle of daily life. What could we learn if we only have “the eyes to see it, and the heart to love it, and the hand to gather it to ourselves,” as Anne suggests?

Perhaps this practice is one you need to learn (or re-learn) with me. Let’s have grace for one another in the process and embrace the natural learning curve we’ll experience along the way :)

Jill’s 5 Favorite Things

• I’m an avid tea drinker and have recently gotten into Matcha, a traditional Chinese powdered tea. I like this Republic of Tea Matcha mixed with some oat milk and ice for a nice afternoon pick-me-up in between classes. 

• I moved into my current apartment in May and was very hesitant to start the decorating process. I was scared of committing to décor before the whole apartment came together and “ruining” the desired aesthetic. I checked out The Cozy Minimalist by Myquillyn Smith (AKA “The Nester”) from my local library and love her advice on decorating a functional, beautiful, and joyful space. 

• This summer, I relistened to the Harry Potter audiobooks (over 117 hours of audio in less than a month, in case you were wondering), and re-fell in love with the books! To fill the HP-shaped hole in my listening life after I finished the series again, I returned to an old favorite, the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. HPST combines two of my favorite things: Harry Potter and thoughtful, theological discussions, as Harvard Divinity School grads Vanessa Zoltan and Casper Ter Kuile examine each chapter of HP through traditional sacred reading practices. Give it a listen if you’re in the mood for contemplative discussions about humanity and our favorite boy wizard. 

• I’m a campus Tour Guide at OU and therefore do a lot of backward walking during the week! I recently invested in some Hoka One One running shoes, which have done wonders for the bad knees I inherited. I wear them on runs, to class, and to work, and love the “maximalist” shoe design that provides extra comfort and support. 

• I’m a chronic color-coder and love these pastel mildliner highlighters! They refuse to bleed, highlight well, and come in non-aggressive pastel colors. I use them daily in my trusty planner to keep my life organized.

With gratitude,

Jill Romack

P.S. Jill gives us several examples of being intentional about finding opportunities for gratitude, much like Anne Shirley. What is your favorite lesson or passage from the Anne of Green Gables series?