Dumpster Blessings: Finding Joy in Unexpected Places

"Like birds feasting on forgotten popcorn, joy often shows up in the overlooked corners—we just have to pause long enough to see the blessings hiding in plain sight."

Embracing Dumpster Blessings

Life often keeps us wrapped up in ourselves—our stress, responsibilities, and endless lists of things to do. It’s natural. But in that self-focus, we sometimes forget to pause and look for the quiet blessings all around us.

Many of us think of blessings as things that fix our problems or make life easier. But sometimes, the real blessings are the ones that pull us out of our own heads, even for a moment. That mental shift can bring unexpected peace or joy—and a much-needed break from the daily grind.

I often encourage my clients to keep a journal of their blessings. Some days, it takes a little extra effort to find one. But over time, as the brain learns to scan for goodness instead of problems, it becomes second nature.

This morning, I experienced one of those blessings in the most unexpected way. I was waiting in the car to drop my grandson off at work—he works at the movie theater. It was 8 a.m., and the theater doors were still locked. All the cars around us were empty because they were already inside.

My grandson knocked on the door, but no one answered. I could’ve easily reached for my phone to entertain myself as we waited. But something caught my eye—a dumpster nearby had a bag full of popcorn perched right on top. Birds were having the time of their lives, feasting on it. What struck me was how they weren’t fighting. Each bird flew up, grabbed a little popcorn, and flew off.

I pointed it out to my grandson. At first, he wasn’t interested, but then he looked closer and said, “There’s even more birds on the ground and in the trees waiting for their turn.” And just like that, he was no longer looking at his phone. He was present. He was smiling. He was part of the moment.

That was the blessing.

Who would’ve thought a dumpster would be the source of such a beautiful reminder? Sometimes joy shows up in the smallest, most unexpected places—when we simply choose to look up and notice.

So today, slow down. Look around. And don’t overlook the blessings—even if they’re hanging out on top of a dumpster.