The Joy of the Universe's Challenge

The world has turned upside down since I last posted February 23. I’ve shared no new posts as I struggled (like so many) with a surreal future and with the anxiety and fear of the pandemic’s unknown impact on me, my family, friends, colleagues, my beloved Chicago, our country, and the world. It felt too difficult to write about joy in a time when it seemed so far away and while so many were suffering. Difficult or not, now is EXACTLY the most important time for us to seek out joy, wherever we can find it. I recently reread what I wrote in this blog intro…”My highest goal is to feel joy in the absence of monumental moments…to look for and recognize joy in both the ordinary and extraordinary moments I experience each day.” Well, In the absence of not only monumental moments, but even ordinary moments too long taken for granted, the Universe is challenging me with an unparalleled opportunity (really a necessity) to truly and deeply focus on that goal. To create joy in the minutes and hours within and between my days. Music, plants, chats with family & friends, candles (both burning and making) art projects, online courses/webinars, cooking, flowers, inspirational reading, Suleika Jaoud’s Isolation Journal project, home-made lattes, sitting in silence in the early morning before work, broadcast/streaming concerts watched remotely with friends, and setting up a lovely work-at-home desk…are how I’ve been interjecting joy into my daily life. If it sounds like every day is a pleasure, I assure you it’s not. Some days I still feel like I’m sinking in quicksand, but more and more often I can take a breath, stop the panicked struggle, and pull myself out with the lifeline of cultivated joy.

How about you? Please share a few of your “go to” joy bombs…you may inspire someone!

And if this post finds you struggling to find any joy, reach out to someone you feel safe speaking with. You are definitely not alone! If you are in crisis, please call 911 or 1-800-273 TALK (8255).

The Joy of Change

Hello Strangers! I’ve been MIA from the JOY BLOG for some time. I’ve been wrestling with big changes. A change in career was causing me to question my identity once more. Which brought me to a fundamental truth…that I have always built my identity on my profession. I am only now learning to build my life around me as a person. I hope each of you are farther down that path than I, but if not, please know you are not alone and I hope you find comfort in knowing there are others who are early on in what is perhaps the most important journey each of us takes in our lives. Each big change—be it planned or not—gives us the opportunity to choose paths that we might never have taken if something significant hadn’t happened to force us to pause, take a deep breath, reflect, and step through a new door.

How about you?

The Joy of "Hidden" Treasures

Recently, I was gifted with the discovery of “hidden” treasures on two very different city walks. One was the discovery of a submerged bike upside down in the water off the lake shore path. The view of it in the rippling waters painted a fascinating picture—a quite lovely distortion of colors and shapes. I realized its current location was no doubt a result of mischievous behavior, but at that moment, I could only focus on the beauty of the scene. Not long after, I was walking through the tree-lined neighborhood close to my office. On that day, I was lucky enough to spot a butterfly who landed ever-so-briefly in a bush as I passed. An experience that was made even more delightful when the camera angle captured the butterfly in the shape of a heart! Both treasures were “hidden” in plain sight. If I had been caught up in my thoughts and focused only on my destination, I would have surely missed the JOY of their discoveries!

How about you? Have you ever been delighted by a “hidden” treasure in plain sight?

The Joy of Passing Reflections

Earlier this summer I took a weekend trip to visit my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin, Madison. At night, my sister and I would take a stroll around the beautifully lit Capitol building—evoking fond, but very different, memories for each of us. I hadn’t been back to Madison for over 7 years so the first day, I was filled with nostalgia that caused me to consider what it would be like to live in this vibrant city. My thoughts by the end of the second day reflected—like the image of the Capitol on surrounding buildings—my realization that memories are meant to be cherished for what WAS, not as a sign to return to the comfort of the past. I have changed so much since my college days and my future should reflect those changes! So now, I embrace the beauty and joy of past memories, but I appreciate they will disappear as quickly as the reflection of the Capitol did as I walked past the next building—and that’s a very good thing, because it forces me to focus on moving towards the JOY of NEW adventures and possibilities!

How about you? Is there a time, place, or person in your life that you can appreciate for what it/they brought to you, even if for only a short time?

The Joy of Forest Bathing

On a recent glamping trip with my sister I reveled in the JOY of “forest bathing” a term I heard several years ago in an article that professed a multitude of health benefits of walking in areas of intense foliage. As a city gal I don’t often have the opportunity to experience this level of communing with nature. This particular forest was nestled in Harrington Beach State Park, WI. The park is blessed not only with beautiful views of Lake Michigan, but a fields of grass and wildflowers and a gorgeous abandoned quarry enveloped by dense forest with a carpet of ferns. It was a feast for the the eyes and nose! Not long into our journey we were welcomed by four deer, some as close as 15 feet from us. They didn’t move or run away. In fact, to our delight, they seemed to be studying us in equal measure. What a magical experience! Time for a bath folks!

How about you? Where do you find JOY in the escape in nature?

The Joy of Looking Up...and Down

Not long ago, I woke up and found myself less than motivated to go out for my morning walk. I could see from my window that Lake Michigan appeared calm, but from a distance, I didn’t notice anything extraordinary about how the lake looked. Ultimately, I did take a walk by the lake and I will be forever grateful. This simple action treated me to one of the most beautiful sights I have seen in a long, long time. Looking up, I noticed the sky was a wonderful mix of blue sky and clouds, which painted a beautiful scene. But it was when I looked down that I was in awe. The sun, clouds, and still water created a simply awesome and mesmerizing picture. The reflection of the sky on the slowly undulating water was breathtaking! I thought to myself how grateful I was to have pushed past my reluctance to go for a walk that morning…I would have missed this! I felt such JOY in that moment! And I feel JOY remembering that morning and each time I view the pictures I took. They serve as reminders not only of the beauty, but the gift of stepping out of my comfort zone…and looking both up AND down!

Have you ever been gifted by taking action when you didn’t feel like it OR by looking at something with fresh eyes?

The Joy of Found

So the other day I was thrilled, really THRILLED, to pull a sweater out of my closet and find my You Are Beautiful pin that I feared was lost forever. It’s only a $10 pin, but I was a happy as if I discovered a piece of jewelry worth 100 times the value. My joy stemmed not only from finding something I was disappointed in losing, but also in re-claiming the message that I so value. I LOVE that when someone reads this little pin they are reminded of their beauty…just for being. Think about it. How often are we told we are beautiful? If you’re not familiar with the You Are Beautiful art installations by artist Matthew Hoffman, I hope you check it out at www.you-are-beautiful.com.

Have you recently found something you lost that sparked JOY in an unexpected way?

The Joy of Imperfect Completion

So, I’m starting with a REALLY big project—completing and launching my personal real estate website. I’ve been putting off creating one for too long, my tendency towards perfectionism had me caught up in the fear I’d not put my best foot forward, which led to dreaded procrastination. I freely admit, and will try to embrace, that this site is not perfect. In truth, it can’t be, because each person who views it will have a different opinion. It’d be irrational to think I should wait to get it perfect…I’d be waiting a long time. The JOY is simply getting a project done (no matter if that project is as “big” as launching a website and blog, or as “small” as returning an item or making an uncomfortable phone call). The JOY is found in

1) lifting the weight of having something hanging over your head (reduced anxiety)
2) feeling great about checking something off your list (increased pride)
3) reaping the benefits of completing your project (better health, relationship, branding, etc.)

Future posts will be primarily focused on smaller sparks of joy, but indulge me on this first post. In truth, perhaps the biggest joy I can take from my launch is not the website itself, it’s the pride I feel from not letting perfectionism rob me from achieving an important goal.

How about you? Have you found joy in getting any projects off your to do list?