We must find places to restore “our deep knowing that we have to take care of ourselves and each other with love and joy if we are to soulfully survive the world’s mayhem.” -Heather Rion Starr
What is your place of refuge amidst mayhem? How is your joy restored?
The time I spend caring for small children is a very sacred practice of joy for me. My 3-yr-old friends have such pure and authentic joy over some of the simplest parts of life (buses! books! cuddles!) and being with / honoring their joy is deeply sustaining.
Find joy connecting in meaningful ways with a child.
“For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting,
the child in my womb leaped for joy.”
—Luke 1.44
Is there someone whose voice greeting you makes you instantly feel joy?
“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it.”
-From “Don’t Hesitate,” by Mary Oliver
This poem is one of my favorite framings of joy. Particularly within my experience of grief, it can be so hard to access and sustain joy — feeling permission to give into it and claim even small moments of joy as they come to me has felt so necessary to my survival.
Claim a small moment of joy today.
“Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, joy to you and me.” -Three Dog Night
Bring joy to someone else today. Share some joy.
