Finding Joy Beyond the Plate: How I Learned to Savor Life in a New Way

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For a long time, a lot of my joy was tied to food. Special occasions meant special meals. Family traditions revolved around baking and sharing treats. And then, life threw me a curveball—I found out I was diabetic.

Suddenly, the very things that brought me comfort and connection—the cookies, the Christmas treats, the homemade dishes I tied to memories—were off-limits, or at least had to be drastically changed. My first holiday season after getting sick was rough. Every year, I had made my mother’s favorite Christmas desserts as a way to feel close to her and my dad. But now? That tradition, that little piece of joy, felt like it had been ripped away.

And that’s when I realized—I needed to start finding new ways to experience joy.

Joy Isn’t Just on the Plate

For many of us, food isn’t just food. It’s memories, love, celebration. And when you have to change the way you eat, it can feel like you’re losing something huge. But here’s the thing—I learned that joy isn’t just found in eating the cookies. It’s in making them. It’s in watching other people light up when they take a bite. It’s in knowing that I’m still honoring my parents, even if I’m not indulging in the same way I used to.

And you know what? Over time, I adapted. Once I got my health under control, I realized I could still bake those treats, I just had to be intentional—maybe have a tiny taste, maybe not. But the real joy came from sharing. From watching others enjoy them. From knowing that I was doing something meaningful, even if it looked a little different than before.

Finding Joy Takes Intention

Here’s the thing about joy—it doesn’t just fall into your lap. Sure, sometimes wonderful, happy moments happen unexpectedly, but if you rely on those, you’re leaving your happiness to chance.

Most of the time, joy is something we have to choose to see. It requires intention.

It’s easy to take little things for granted. The twinkling lights on your neighbor’s porch, the way your child giggles at something silly, the warmth of a fuzzy blanket on a cold morning—we see them, but do we really stop to appreciate them? Or do we let them pass by in the background while we focus on stress, responsibilities, or whatever’s next on our to-do list?

We have to train ourselves to notice joy. To slow down and actively look for it. And the more we do that, the easier it becomes—until one day, you don’t have to remind yourself. You just see it.

Christmas Joy—Beyond the Cookies

Christmas used to be a time when I’d bake my mother’s favorite treats and feel close to her. But when that wasn’t an option anymore, I had to find new ways to connect with the season, and that’s when I realized—there’s so much more to Christmas joy than what’s on the dessert table.

If food has always been the centerpiece of your holiday traditions, here are some ways to intentionally find joy in the season:

  • Take your family out to look at Christmas lights. Bundle up, play holiday music, and make a night of it. Bonus points if you find the tackiest, most over-the-top house and make it an annual competition to outdo last year’s winner.
  • Pick a gift from an angel tree. Helping a child in need feel the magic of Christmas is one of the most fulfilling joys you can experience.
  • Attend a local Christmas concert. There’s something special about hearing carols sung live—especially if you find a small community choir or school performance where people are pouring their hearts into the music.
  • Write heartfelt Christmas cards. Take a moment to really think about what someone means to you and put it into words. The joy you’ll feel when they read it is worth every second.
  • Have a Christmas movie night with friends or family. Bonus points if it involves ridiculous pajamas and quoting the entire script of Elf.

When you intentionally create and seek out these moments, you realize that the joy of the season was never just about the food—it was about the experience, the love, and the traditions that make the holidays magical.

Everyday Joy—If You Look for It, You’ll Find It

This practice isn’t just for Christmas—it’s for life. If you feel like your happiness has been tied to one thing (food, a routine, a habit you had to change), start looking around for new sources of joy. They’re everywhere, if you pay attention.

Here are a few everyday moments that might be passing you by:

  • The way your coffee smells in the morning.
  • The satisfying feeling of crossing something off your to-do list.
  • The sparkle of the sun hitting fresh snow.
  • A dog sticking its head out of a car window, living its best life.
  • That moment when a song you forgot you loved comes on the radio.
  • A random stranger giving you a kind smile in the store.
  • The first sip of a cold drink on a hot day.

These are the moments that make life rich. But if you don’t look for them, they slip away unnoticed.

Shifting Your Focus

If food has been a huge source of happiness for you, I get it. And I’m not saying you have to eliminate that joy completely. Sometimes, once we’ve got things under control, we can still enjoy a treat in moderation. But there’s something beautiful about realizing that the best kind of joy isn’t just in the taste of something—it’s in the experience of life itself.

Because let’s be honest, that huge plate of fettuccine alfredo with chicken? It was delicious. But waking up feeling good, having energy, and knowing I’m taking care of myself? That’s a kind of joy that lasts way longer than any meal ever could.

So start noticing. Be intentional about seeking joy. Look for the small moments, the overlooked treasures, the everyday magic. And one day, without even trying, you’ll realize your life is full of them.

-Kelly

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