What brings you joy?

How do you know when joy arrives?

What does joy look, feel, taste like?

Sometimes you just have to stop and think about these things.

Here’s my take on joy:

Joy comes when I am doing things without judging myself.  In art it means I am playing and not looking to how much this particular piece will bring or even if it will sell.

Joys is getting lost in following the energy which wants expression through my art and allowing that energy to manifest.

Joy is making time.  It is taking walks and listening to the sounds of the world which are always there but seldom noticed; like watching a glorious sunset and knowing that sunset happens every single day whether or not I pay attention.

Joy is writing by hand slowly enough that my hand doesn’t cramp, which means slowing my head talk waaaaay down so I can keep up.

Joy was once go-go dancing – I think that was joy in knowing how good I looked and how well I managed any beat; in being watched.  I danced all the time – out.  Seldom home and alone.  Now I dance mostly in my head during my workout as I listen to the songs I used to dance to. Joy is realizing how in my head and out of my body I have been – and how I can change that any time I choose.

Now a dance of joy would be slow, some twirling now and then, arms outstretched, palms up, head back, outside, barefoot.  It would be spring or fall and there would be no mosquitos.  There would be some stamping of feet and snapping of fingers.  Thre would be no thought and no watchers.  There would be my body and acceptance of my body as it is now and no thought given to age, aches, and pains.  There would be free hair, long pants (bell bottoms) and the music would come from inside – perhaps my heart beat and breath and there would be no prepackaged song running through my head.

Frog song would be nice – so it must be evening.  Maybe dusk.  Maybe a campfire to add snap and crackle percussion.  And there would be no time.  And it might now be cold with a crescent moon and lots of stars and breath on the air as white steam.  And now it might be dawn at the ocean’s edge with the sea oats whispering and the waves shushing, and hot already, even before the sun’s fully up for the day.

Joy is snow falling and the quiet it creates (well, okay, this may not resonate with those of us who are currently buried); a warm fire of cedar logs; a toasty bed with a feather blanket.  Joy is a cool drink after a hard workout.  Joy is  traveling to new places; seeing others’ art; spending time with friends; connecting with my family; good food, good, wine, good chat.  Joy is a nap curled up against two furry pug dogs.

Now, what brings you joy?

Wylde Women’s Wisdom:

So much of what we buy and do is booby prizes because we’re not living lives we want, we even forget how lively life can be so we’ve got to keep getting more stuff to fill the unfillable hole.  A service we can do for each other is to watch for signs of life and say, “You look like you love doing that.  maybe you should do that some more.  maybe I can help you.”  Ann Herbert