Lily asks
What is a simple thing that brings you joy?
How to build your answer
Opinion: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Your viewAnswer straight away. “Honestly, I think…”
- 2One reasonYour main reason, not five.
- 3An exampleFrom your own life.
- 4The other sideShow you see it. “That said…”
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
My first coffee in the morning. I make it slowly, sit by the kitchen window and just enjoy the peace and quiet. No phone, no talking. My flatmate Mia knows not to speak to me for ten minutes, ha. It's warm and calm and it's all mine. It's such a small thing, but it gets my day off to a good start. Sometimes I put a little cinnamon on top. If I miss it, I feel a bit funny all morning.
Phrases to borrow
peace and quiet
/ˈpiːs ənd ˈkwaɪət/
a calm time with no noise or people bothering you
I love the library because of the peace and quiet.
get your day off to a good start
/ˈɡet jɔː ˈdeɪ ˈɒf tə ə ˈɡʊd ˈstɑːt/
to make the beginning of your day go well
A good breakfast always gets my day off to a good start.
Natural
Lily's voice note
It's my coffee first thing in the morning. I make it slowly, then I sit by the kitchen window with my hands round the warm cup. No phone, no talking. My flatmate Mia knows not to talk to me for ten minutes! It's the best feeling, really calm. Sometimes I add a bit of cinnamon. It's free, it's quick, and it works every single time. Without it, I'm not quite right all morning.
Phrases to borrow
first thing in the morning
/ˈfɜːst ˈθɪŋ ɪn ðə ˈmɔːnɪŋ/
very early in the day, before you do anything else
I always open the window first thing in the morning.
the best feeling
/ðə ˈbest ˈfiːlɪŋ/
the nicest feeling possible
Finishing a long run is the best feeling.
work every single time
/ˈwɜːk ˈevri ˈsɪŋɡl ˈtaɪm/
always succeeds, with no exceptions
This trick works every single time.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
My first coffee of the day, without a doubt. I make it slowly, sit by the kitchen window and watch the street wake up. No phone, no chat. I like to have the kitchen to myself, and my flatmate Mia knows not to say a word for ten minutes. It's nothing special, just warm coffee and quiet, but those minutes feel all mine. A bit of cinnamon on top, and it's one of my favourite feelings.
Phrases to borrow
have somewhere to yourself
/ˈhæv ˈsʌmweə tə jɔːˈself/
be the only person in a place, with nobody else there
I love having the flat to myself on a Friday night.
all mine
/ɔːl ˈmaɪn/
only for me, not shared with anyone
The whole sofa was all mine for the evening.
one of my favourite feelings
/ˈwʌn əv maɪ ˈfeɪvərɪt ˈfiːlɪŋz/
feelings you like the most
Sunshine after rain is one of my favourite feelings.
Your turn: answer Lily
What is a simple thing that brings you joy?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Feelings & wellbeing
first thing in the morning
very early in the day, before you do anything else
“I always open the window first thing in the morning.”
heytardy