Hello everyone! Writing a little newsletter to you is something I look forward to every week. Thanks for being here. If you’re new, I’m Catherine — behold me here walking the dog. (I share photos of myself every so often so internet friends know who’s writing…)

I had to force myself on this cold afternoon, so on went my favourite boots. (For some reason, shoes have always motivated me! Is this weird? Are you the same? Like putting on cute runners makes you more likely to exercise? Heels make you feel confident? Strappy sandals yell, Let’s have fun!!??)

Today, I’m sharing a happiness hack.

It can seem impossible some days, but it’s true.

We’re all icebergs, right? It’s a cliche but it’s true. We show the top 1/8 to most people (the tip above water), and some of our closest friends get maybe our iceberg’s top half. But deep beneath the waterline, there is so much going on.

Pain. Disappointment. Worry. Fear. Stress. Maybe a diagnosis. Or fear of a diagnosis for someone you love. A failure. A hope so big that you’ve carried so long and it feels heavy, like pain, instead of promised joy. For every person (you, me, the stranger walking the dog), the pain is sitting under the waterline.

But. But! We’ve also been around long enough to know that the day goes better when we focus our attention on joy.

Yes, I have to walk the dog, and I can do it in boots.

Yes, we have to face the hard thing, but we can make a very hot coffee and sip it while we read the email.

We can squeeze the heck out of someone’s hand during the diagnosis. Or send a text if we’re alone.

You know. I know.

There are two ways to live: one, head down. The other, head up, looking for little bits of joy.

Here’s my wish: that something so special, so fun, even tiny, happens for you today. That you choose to see it. That you savour it. Or that you give a tiny piece of happiness to someone you love.

Enjoy your Sunday,

Love Catherine x

PS. The fun stuff!

• Aussie friends, this is what donuts are in Canada. 🇨🇦 Please, please can someone open a chain of donut shops here?

• Shoes! I’ve tried everything this year to recover from a foot injury, and these cute sneakers work so well for me. If you have wide feet, worth a try. Also these ones are great.

• Cute jelly sandals — summer’s coming in Australia! And pearl studded strappy flats.

• Fluffy slippers that would make morning coffee so much happier! :)

• Song I’m loving: Crash and Burn and surprise…it’s country music. Never thought I’d say that! (Hey, MUM…you’ll like this one.) Best-ever Canadian memory: with my 90 year old mum, taking turns playing songs we love on Spotify, and dancing in our matching pjs.