There are moments — especially as a parent — when I find myself wondering, Am I the only one who feels this way?

When I’m in it, it feels isolating. But when I step back, I know I’m not alone.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about finding joy in everyday moments — particularly the ones that don’t look joyful on the surface.

I feel this most when I’m trying to connect with my kids. Not during the big, exciting moments, but in the ordinary ones. The moments where they’re fully engaged in something they love… and I’m struggling to feel the same enthusiasm.

Minecraft. Long YouTube videos. Talking in detail about something I genuinely don’t care much about.

And yet — those are the moments that matter. Those are the moments where connection is actually happening.

So why can they feel so hard to enjoy?

When Joy Feels Harder Than It Should

If it’s something we both enjoy, connection comes easily. Joy feels natural. But when it’s something only they enjoy, I have to work for it.

I hesitate to call it a “struggle,” but it’s the closest word I have. I want to be present. I know these moments are important. And still, I catch my mind wandering elsewhere.

That realization pushed me to slow down and think about what actually helps me find joy — not in big, highlight-reel moments, but in the quiet, ordinary parts of life.

I wrote down four things. Two, I already practice regularly. Two I’m continuing to work on.

1. Practicing Gratitude — Every Single Day

Every morning, I write down 10 things I’m grateful for.

I’ve talked about this before, but it’s worth repeating because it has changed how I move through my day.

This practice trains my brain to notice. Instead of rushing from one thing to the next, I find myself pausing throughout the day and thinking, What am I grateful for right now?

Sometimes it’s big. Often, it’s small:

• A breeze during a walk

• Birds chirping

• Sunlight hitting just right

• Quiet

• A coffee mug made by a friend

• A clean water cup I love using

• The color on my walls

• The lighting in my space

Gratitude grounds me. And once you start looking for it, you realize there’s always something to notice — even on hard days.

2. Prioritizing Self-Care (Even in Small Ways)

Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate to be effective.

Sometimes it’s:

• Five quiet minutes alone

• A short walk

• Waking up a little earlier

• Sitting outside

• Doing something just for yourself before the day demands everything else

When I neglect myself, I have far less patience and presence for the people around me. When I take care of myself — even in tiny ways — joy feels more accessible.

3. Building Meaningful Offline Connections

We are more connected than ever — and yet, many of us feel deeply disconnected.

This has made me more intentional about offline relationships. About who I spend my energy on. About slowly distancing myself from consistently negative energy and leaning into relationships that feel supportive, honest, and life-giving.

This doesn’t mean cutting people out overnight. It means being mindful of what fills you up — and what quietly drains you.

Joy thrives in spaces where positivity and support exist.

4. Embracing Mindfulness in Everyday Tasks

This one has been a big lesson for me.

Laundry. Dishes. Sweeping floors. Driving kids around. Sitting in silence.

It’s so easy to rush through these moments — or numb them away by scrolling, planning the next thing, or mentally checking out.

But I’ve learned that joy often lives exactly where we’re trying to escape from.

I remind myself to “be where my feet are.”

When I wash dishes, I try to remember I’m not cleaning because something is dirty — I’m cleaning because I love the people who will use them next.

When my kids are quietly focused on something that doesn’t excite me, I try to watch their joy instead of wishing the moment would pass.

And when everything goes quiet, I ask myself:
Why can’t I just enjoy this stillness?

Why This Matters So Much to Me as a Photographer

This mindset is deeply tied to why I photograph the way I do.

So often, the moments we worry aren’t “photo-worthy” are the ones we miss the most later.

The ordinary.
The quiet.
The in-between.

These are the moments that slip by unnoticed — until one day, you realize how much they mattered.

Joy doesn’t always show up loudly.
Sometimes it’s subtle. Gentle. Easy to miss.

And sometimes, photography is the thing that helps us see it.

A Gentle Reminder

Joy doesn’t have to be big to be real.

On days when it feels out of reach, I remind myself:
Joy can be found in the pause.
In presence.
In moments that almost slipped by unnoticed.

And those are often the moments worth holding onto the most.

If you’re in a season where life feels full, busy, and a little overwhelming, this is your reminder that the moments you’re living right now matter — even the quiet ones.

You don’t need perfect timing, perfect outfits, or perfectly behaved kids to preserve them. Sometimes, the greatest gift is simply slowing down long enough to notice them.

And if you ever want help doing just that, I’d love to be part of your story.