I’ve been working on a post that tries to offer something useful with regard to the wasteland that is America’s present political plight, but it’s not done. And I’m grumpy.

So first, something uplifting.

Chade-Meng Tan, Google’s former “Jolly Good Fellow (Which nobody can deny)”^[1], gave a talk some years back called “Joy on Demand.”^[2]

Part of his recipe for being happier is “inclining the mind to joy.” He likens this inclination to the slope of a mountain; water effortlessly flows down, following the natural slope of the land. So too with all mental experiences.

“For example, if you are inclined towards anger, every other thing makes you angry effortlessly. But if your mind is inclined toward joy, every other thing makes you joyful.”

So, how do we cultivate this alignment? By noticing thin slices of joy.

Examples are everywhere: a refreshing sip of cold water, the first bite of a tasty meal, a message from a friend. These are “thin” because they’re both subtle and they’re short-lived (and therefore easy to miss!) However, the magic is in becoming attuned to noticing—familiarity compounds and continues to shape the inclination toward joy.

Now, hearkening back to the title and the intro, you might be wondering if I’m only happy because I’ve had a few too many glasses...ahem...slices of joy?

Just the one!

And, in the spirit of Google’s head of joy division, the thin slice in this example isn’t the whiskey. I mean...it is a lovely Speyside scotch and is quite enjoyable, but my focus here is hidden amongst my subpar photography skills.

See the little wisps and trails of liquid coating the glass above the pour line? After swirling the glass to help release the aromas, the whiskey clings to side in a way that most liquids don’t seem to. The light dances off in an iridescent manner I find rather beautiful.

And this! is the nature of finding joy in the mundane of every day life. In the corner of your eye, just beyond the obvious and expected lies the joy and wonder.

Thin slices. And if you’re lucky, some hooch to boot.