Iâve been remembering that reaching for joy gives me a cueâand a clueâtoward what my needs are in a given moment. Itâs like a diagnostic test: if joy seems out of reach right now, whatâs in the way?
The answer that comes back could be a simple need (such as hunger or fatigue) or a complex tangle of old story-beliefs (such as âI have to get all these problems under control before I can restâ). It might also be ever-new levels of dismay and outrage about the latest news.
Whatever needs, beliefs, or feelings are in the way of joy, noticing them allows me to start asking/addressing what I can do to help. This is self-care in actionâwhich is joy-boosting in and of itself!
Sometimes, especially in deep winter, I seem to need reminded that joy even exists as a thing to be reached for. Thatâs why Iâm now writing about thisâto help me remember to reach for it.
This weekend brought some sun, and I got to reach for joy outside! A few photos:
Sunday Springs
A roundup of my section posts from this past week
New section: âď¸Parenting Puddles
đŞˇSerenity Splashes
I particularly like âKindness Is Not.â
Those last couple weeks of January were awfully rough. Despite the groundhog's forecast I'm starting to feel the hopefulness of spring and leaning into that joy. I'm glad you're finding it, too!