When I was in grad school at the University of Pittsburgh, I worked as an intern for a welfare to work program. During my internship, I was tasked with facilitating a workshop on Joy for all the participants. As much as I thought the workshop was for them, the information and knowledge I gained from preparing for the workshop, was as much for me, as it was for them. In fact, I didn't realize it until now, but the mission of the pursuance of joy has stuck with me throughout my development.
But, it just hit me this morning, the importance of joy...
I mean, it hit me like of ton of bricks.
And it all came after this question, "How is it that you do so much?"
I get asked this question a lot....and honestly, the last time I was asked, I really didn't know how to effectively answer it. My answer last week was, "Ummm, having a supportive husband." Though that was partly true it wasn't my YES answer (you know when it's a yes....its a confident sure yes...). Not having the answer to that question has nagged at me for the last couple of days.
I get asked this question a lot....and honestly, the last time I was asked, I really didn't know how to effectively answer it. My answer last week was, "Ummm, having a supportive husband." Though that was partly true it wasn't my YES answer (you know when it's a yes....its a confident sure yes...). Not having the answer to that question has nagged at me for the last couple of days.
And then I remembered. JOY.
I do all that I do because of Joy. Because of what I learned from doing research on JOY when preparing for that workshop a long time ago. I learned then and I know now that joy is strength and the things that bring you joy is the fuel for your engine to propel you thru life. It gets you going....has the ability to keep you going in adverse times. In contrast, the absence of joy can suck the life out of you. I liken it to the scene in Harry Potter where the dementor tries to give him the kiss of death by feeding off of his sadness, despair, fear, joylessness, and lack of memory.
Harry got sucked in and almost taken out, but then he was taught how to survive a dementor's kiss (check out the entire Harry Potter series). But how do you ward off the dementor's kiss...JOY! HAPPINESS!!...
REMEMBERING YOUR HAPPIEST AND MOST JOYFUL MEMORY!!
That's how I do, what I do. Although I take it one step further then Harry. I've taken the time to remember the things that bring me joy and IMPLEMENT them. What I've found in reference to people and joy, is that people forget what things bring them joy. They allow life and adulting to crowd out the things that bring them joy and so when life comes with deadly kisses, they don't have the joy to fight it off....or to endure.
I challenge you...to remember...at least one thing that brings you joy and use your joy as a weapon to cut thru this thing we call life.
Tell me, what things bring you joy?
***Beautiful Weirdo Nugget: Don't forget the things that bring you joy as your joy is your strength to ward against the darkness.