Hearing the different birds and watching them flutter around, jumping from branch to branch. People don’t realize how many species of birds are in their neighborhood and the variety of calls each one has.

Giving gifts out of the blue, just because you thought of someone and know what they like.

Listening to kids talk. Too many people want kids to be seen and not heard, or sometimes not even seen. But try having a conversation with them—they are witty, creative, and say things exactly as they think. Don’t rely on the media, where kids recite scripts written by adults about how they think kids think. You don’t have to engage with them directly, but what I overhear when I’m out makes my day.

Rainbows after the rain.
A good, well-worn blanket.
Hot cocoa on a cold day.
Silence.
Good neighbors.