Simple Smiling Surprises

[Rodafina]

No, the surprise is not actually smiling, but it induces a smile! I know many of us don’t love surprises, and I am one. But they can’t ALL be bad. Hopefully, every once in a while there is a simple surprise in your day that just makes you happy. Here’s a spot to share those.

 

[Rodafina]

Yesterday I picked up some tofu prepared just the way I like it. It comes in two flavors and I usually get teriyaki, but by mistake I picked up a sweet chili one. Well, lo and behold, the sweet chili one was delicious and far superior to the teriyaki . I enjoyed it and I will be getting that one from now on.

 

[Forest Cat]

Someone sent me a letter, old fashion letter in an envelope that I found in that ancient thing called a mailbox that no one uses anymore. I was so surprised and after reading it I almost had one tear in one eye for a moment. A happy tear.

 

[Mr. Stevens]

Great idea for a thread. Not to go on a tangent, but I've always felt we don't hate surprises or change so much as being overwhelmed and fatigued. At least for me, routines are there so I can function and have the ability to daydream/explore/be spontaneous. I may eat a lot of the same foods at the same times, but it's so I can keep reading new things, listening to new music, or exploring new topics. I think this is rarely recognized in Autistic people, but maybe others have a different experience.

Some of my favorite surprises:

- Seeing animals on a walk or hike, such as deer in the early morning fog. Or a fox, pausing then running away.

- Picking new towns to stay at for a few days and discovering a new favorite place. Almost everywhere is magical the first time.

- Random book finds. When I have the energy, I tend to browse shelf by shelf, looking for certain publishers and authors, to see what I find. I love finding something I want but never see, or new things that look fascinating. Some of these finds were The Duke Ellington Reader; The Book of Disquietude by Fernando Pesoa; Old Filth by Jane Gardam (not rare, but an instant favorite and one I never heard of); Naguib Mahfouz; David Malouf; Healing Fiction by James Hillman; and Fools of Fortune by William Trevor. Sometimes a random book opens up a whole new world.

 

[Rodafina]

Great idea for a thread. Not to go on a tangent, but I've always felt we don't hate surprises or change so much as being overwhelmed and fatigued. At least for me, routines are there so I can function and have the ability to daydream/explore/be spontaneous. I may eat a lot of the same foods at the same times, but it's so I can keep reading new things, listening to new music, or exploring new topics. I think this is rarely recognized in Autistic people, but maybe others have a different experience.

Well said. Good point, I hadn’t thought of it like that before.

 

[Rodafina]

Someone sent me a letter, old fashion letter in an envelope that I found in that ancient thing called a mailbox that no one uses anymore. I was so surprised and after reading it I almost had one tear in one eye for a moment. A happy tear.

You’ve inspired me to send a few letters today. I love making and sending them, I forgot about the added benefit that they bring joy to others, too.

 

[Outdated]

The happiest surprise in me has evolved slowly over a month or so, a shift in my thoughts and feelings that tells me I'm definitely coming back out of the doldrums. I'm looking forward to being me again.

 

[Rodafina]

The happiest surprise in me has evolved slowly over a month or so, a shift in my thoughts and feelings that tells me I'm definitely coming back out of the doldrums. I'm looking forward to being me again.

Some surprises are slow; important not to miss them.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Today: A new species of orchid has been found in Japan. It is another of the ladies’ tresses group, in pink and white.

 

[1ForAll]

Nice topic for a thread @Rodafina!

I'll break down some examples of simple surprises according to environment, situation or manner of communication.

Online or through forums:

---When I see a true survival or traumatic story with happy ending
---When I see a nice email I was not expecting
--When I see a positive reaction, comment or reply I may have rarely received before

At home:

---When family seems happy, laughs or does something interesting or funny
---When family shows appreciation for things I do or for who I am
---When I do something for family that I know they may like, need or will make them appreciate if not now, but later.

In public:

---When I see any kindness one gives towards another
---When someone says something nice and sincere about me or shows such through some unexpected action
---When I am out in nature fully relaxed and appreciating that.

In my visualizations:

---When I either think of positive things that happened before or that I visualize will come true one day

 

[Darkkin]

Having enough awareness to appreciate the little things, knowing they mean so much more than any sort of overt gesture, even if you cannot communicate that effectively.