I'm a huge fan of joy.
I'm even a bigger fan of finding it in the little things. Like, for example, knowing my blog post last night likely had something to do with FEMA postponing their Trump Text Test. Down with the Triple T! (Just kidding. I had nothing to do with it. But I'll take it.)
Inching closer to 50, I've found I have a greater appreciation for joy whenever I experience it. Mostly, because today's reality makes it really hard to focus on it. Keeping in mind the generally accepted theory that joy is contentment from within whereas happiness is the result of external influence, finding that contentment becomes increasingly difficult when you see injustice every day. Kids torn from parents. Women treated as second class citizens, or worse, opportunists and shrill harpies. People of color persecuted for no other reason then being themselves.
It's really f*cking depressing these days. So, yeah. Joy is hard to come by. Still.
You could make the argument that things like cheering Emmy winners (my happy screech at Peter Dinklage and Thandie Newton winning scared the dog), watching my daughter's swim meets or spoofing a magazine cover at work are examples of happiness and not joy, but I beg to differ. Because it's these little moments that get us through.
Having the ability to acknowledge the little moments in the face of greater trials — that is joy to me. Knowing that by stringing these moments together, we can weather a storm, that's joy. If watching Will Ferrell be silly makes me smile, then I also know that somewhere inside I haven't given up on the gift of humor — that I can still see the funny in all that is madness these days.
If watching my kids grow and I can cheer on their accomplishments of their own making, recognizing it's one step closer to the moment they leave the proverbial nest, that brings me joy.
If watching my dog collapse in the grass and wiggle on his back makes me happy, I'll gladly deposit that in my soul to keep it buoyed against the next stupid Tweet from the president.
If laughing through the work day makes work that much more fun to be a part of, then I'm all for being goofy a little more often. (Note: This is not a problem for me. The aforementioned magazine cover? I made it an homage to Chris Kattan's "Goth Talk" character.)
There is joy in loving yourself no matter your situation. Joy in the contentment that comes from being happy with what you already have and not what you want. Joy in honoring the blessings life bestows in family and friendship, even in moments of struggle and despair.
When I read The Book of Joy, the realization that struck me the most was that joy is reliant on our existence among others — you can't have joy in a vacuum. Our existence is only validated by the existence of others, which is what makes those personal connections — at home, with family, at work — that much more meaningful.
I love family, I love friends, but mostly, I love sharing that connection — knowing my existence made an impact even if only for a moment, on someone else's life. It's joy for me to know I make a difference. It's joy for me to know we can all share a laugh together. Happiness together. Gratitude together. It's the perspective these moments bring that remind me we are all so much larger as a collective that lives, loves and laughs together than the division sowed by those with nothing but grief and anger fueling them.
Find your joy. It's the light that keeps those shadows at bay.
Day 1: 50 Days, 50 Thoughts, 50 Books. Book recommendation: The Bitch is Back
Day 2: There Aren’t Any Do-Overs, Are There? Book Recommendation: A Place for Us
Day 3: Is Pop Culture Circling the Drain? Book recommendation: Live from New York
Day 4: Perimenopause in the Age of Trump Book Recommendation: Where'd You Go, Bernadette
Day 5: Take A Knee at the Altar of Common Sense Book Recommendation: How Not to Be a Dick
Day 6: Perspective is the Gift That Keeps on Giving Book Recommendation: A Fine Balance
Day 7: The Accidental Editor Book Recommendation: Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977 - 2002)
Day 8: The First Last of the Firsts Book Recommendation: The Little Book of Hygge
Day 9: All Kinds of Tired Book Recommendation: Believer
Day 10: Overthinking is Anxiety's Bitchy Best Friend Book Recommendation: Let's Pretend This Never Happened
Day 11: Where Would You go with a Wayback Machine? Book Recommendation: A Little Life
Day 12: Fall in my Favorite Chicago
Day 13: On Having It All Book Recommendation: Lean In
Day 14: Where Were You When ... Book Recommendation: The Nix
Day 15: 5 Things to Purge Before you Turn 50 Book Recommendation: The Art of Tidying Up
Day 16: A Labor Day Salute to Bad Bosses Everywhere Book Recommendation: Steve Jobs
Day 17: Do You Validate? Book Recommendation: Less
Day 18: Identity Crisis Code Purple Book Recommendation: Amp'd
Day 19: Character Really Does Count Book Recommendation: Believer
Day 20: Death Before Public Speaking Book Recommendation: The Gifts of Imperfection
Day 21: 15 Things You Should Do Before You Turn 50 Book Recommendation: Drop Dead Healthy
Day 22: Calling BS on "Sticks and Stones" Book Recommendation: Love Warrior
Day 23: My Feet Are My Favorite Part of Me Book Recommendation: Born to Run
Day 24: Self-Help Books Aren't Half Bad Book Recommendation: The Book of Joy
Day 25: Going for Gratitude Book Recommendation: The Gratitude Diaries
Day 26: Past Self Meets Future Self Book Recommendation: A Wrinkle in Time
Day 27: The Book is Always Better Book Recommendation: Big Little Lies
Day 28: Three Cheers for Volunteers Book Recommendation: A Secret Gift
Day 29: The Social Network Book Recommendation: The Circle
Day 30: 50 People Who Can Text Me Before Trump Does Book Recommendation: Purity
Today's recommendation: Another shout out for The Book of Joy. It's an honest read, but mostly? Inspiring.
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