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Posts Tagged ‘joy’

Rediscovering Joy in Everyday Life: A Personal Reflection

Posted in Joy, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on May 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I realized this morning that it has been almost two years since I actually posted a blog. Talk about writer’s block. It has been so hard to put pen to paper, or in this case, to open a blank page and start typing. With all the turmoil that has surrounded my life in the last several years, my imagination, my creativity, has been in hiding, in hibernation, unable to break free from the anguish that has been part of me since my family decided to turn on me over money. That block is gone, a weight lifted from my shoulders. There is sorrow for wasted time and wasted resources, but I have a new sense of freedom and a strong desire to get back to being me.

I titled this blog Joy, because that’s what I’m reaching for. More joy in my life. In the last month that word has been brought up several times to me. I’ve been asked what joy means to me. What brings me joy? Two days later, a friend asked me when was the last time I did something that brought me joy. And I couldn’t answer any of it. I couldn’t remember what joy was. I’ve been happy, amused, contented, satisfied, relieved, even delighted. But not joyful. Joy is a whole other type of feeling.

To be joyful, to feel joy, is a soaring feeling. It’s expansive, soul-filling, almost overwhelming. It comes from within, giving a sense of fulfillment and peace. It’s a satisfaction with the moment that transcends mere happiness. It’s a satisfaction with life that fills you with wonder and awe. Many associate it with a feeling of being “blessed”, but I think it’s more than that. Joy is an immense feeling, that fills you up and spills over. It’s not superficial. It can’t be forced. You can fake a smile but you can’t fake joy.

So what brings me joy? To be honest, when I was first asked that question it startled me. I couldn’t remember anything that brought me real joy. Not just happiness. Not just contentment. I’m happy and contented quite often, despite the struggles of the last several years. My husband makes me happy. I am happy when I am with my friends, my sons, my grandson. I’m happy reading a good book, curled up with a nice glass of wine. A fire in the fire pit, a trail ride in the UTV, floating around a lake on a pontoon boat all make me happy. But there is always some little part of me that won’t let the worries go, that keeps them ever present even if they are in the background.

Since being asked those questions about joy, I’ve tried to pay attention to where I’m happy. Can I transform that happiness into joy? That is my quest. To find joy again, to move the needle off of happy or content to the ultimate expression of life – joy. To feel that soul expanding, heart filling emotion that can’t be contained. That spills out through our eyes, and our smiles onto everyone around us.

It will take me time, I’m sure. Time to identify and recognize what brings me joy. Time to let go enough to let the joy in. But I’m determined to bring joy back to my life. Things that brought me joy in the past won’t necessarily bring me joy now, but I’ll find new things. I’ve remembered a few things that have brought me joy in the past. I know that woods and water bring me joy. I just need to spend more time among them. My silly little puppy brings me joy when he smothers me with his kisses. Writing used to bring me joy, when a sentence, a paragraph, a scene just feels perfect, that brought me joy and I intend to not let that fall away again.

Come on my journey with me. What brings you joy? When was the last time you felt joy? I’m going to focus on things that bring me joy, will you? Tell me your joy, and join me on this quest.

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A New Year

Posted in Joy, Resolutions, Uncategorized, Writing, tagged , on February 10, 2015| 4 Comments »

The Christmas decorations are down and put away for another year. The Christmas tree stands out in the backyard, needles still green against the snow, a shelter against winter storms for the birds my dad loves to watch.  We are now in the second month of the new year, and if you have made a New Year’s resolution, chances are it has already been broken.  Not because you haven’t tried, but so often life gets in the way of those noble ideas that we have on the dawn of a new year.  I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions anymore.  Yes, I want to lose weight.  Yes, I want to exercise more.  Of course I want to eat healthier.  Don’t we all? But I’ve made and broken those resolutions more times than I can count.  So, I didn’t make a resolution this year, but I did make a promise to myself.  This year, no matter what, I will rediscover joy.  For you see, somewhere over the last year and a half, I lost it.

This last year has been a difficult one.  There have been many changes in my life.  Some of them have been good, some of them have been bittersweet, and some of them have been downright painful.  On the good side, we completed the move back to my childhood home, to be here for my parents.  I love that we are here, in the same home.  I love to hear them talk, to know that I am here if they need me.  My youngest son graduated from high school with honors, received academic scholarships to college, and is thriving there. I’ve reconnected with friends that I grew up with, and discovered that they are pretty fascinating women.

We’ve had 2 dogs cross over to the rainbow bridge.  My dad’s sweet Maqua and our happy little sweater dog Lucky.  Their loss was and is still painful.  But a new clown joined our circus and Lobo entertains us daily.  Most painful of all have been the struggles of my oldest.  He lost his way, tried to find solace in a bottle, which has only lead to legal troubles and heartache.  I have felt the weight of his mistakes around my shoulders.  I want so badly to “fix” everything for him, and know that I cannot.

And so, while navigating through all the changes, the joy I’ve had in life seems to have gotten away from me.  It’s not in one of the boxes I haven’t unpacked from the move (I looked, there’s nothing labeled joy).  I didn’t leave it in Indiana.  I’m sure it’s here somewhere, but like the box of dress clothes I couldn’t find, I think it will take some looking to find it again.

The promise I made to myself was to find one thing, everyday, that gives me joy.  Whether it’s the sight of a cardinal, red against the falling snow, taking shelter in that old Christmas tree, or a 120 pound puppy chasing his tail, or being ordered around by my 5-year-old grandson, or my husband wrapping his arms around me each day when he comes home, there are things to find joy in.  I just need to look for them. We are meant to have joy in our lives.  I think that there is always some little thing that can give us joy everyday, if only we look for it.  What are ways that you find joy?  When life seems hard, and as gray as a winter’s day, where do you look to find a smile? Leave me a comment – I’d like to know.

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