Sorry, this post is not about finding a girl named Joy, but
instead about how I stepped back and reflected a bit at the end of the day and
found mine. For those who don’t know
this has been a tough road for the past couple of months, the passing of a good
friend, the feeling of loss that left me feeling alone and then, in my
frustrations, fractured both of my legs. Whoa! Right? Challenging to say the
very least but I am back to being almost as good as new. But I have still found
it difficult to get myself back to being the same grateful person that I
usually am, finding something great in everything, regardless of what that may be;
you know the silver lining type thing.
So as I was lying in bed a couple of nights ago and I was
thinking of the day and what had happened, just taking it in. Thinking of these
events, the good, bad, significant, insignificant and perhaps those that I
should have paused and given more thought and appreciation to. Three things came
to mind that happened that truly gave me joy that I reflected on and silently
thought of each of them as a gift. Even when things are not wonderful and speak
to you in a way in which we think perhaps they should maybe that is the time
that there is a need to take a look at what it really means to be grateful for
simple things. I found the simple things that meant the most to me that day
were.
Technology:
I am not meaning for this to be about iPhones or the
Internet but just the simple fact that simple technology exist in the first
place. Technology for me that day meant that a little secret video with a life
contained within could reach me from hundreds of miles away and make me smile
for I know that this little life will bring joy after sorrow for someone very
close to me. Seeing the picture and knowing in that brief clip that I was lucky
enough to receive there was a heartbeat that meant life, health and future.
What an amazing thing we take for granted every day. The excitement shared between two people
hundreds of miles away about this image of forming life is nothing I could
possibly describe to anyone. I look forward to holding that little boy or girl
and knowing that I was one of the very first to know of her arrival into this
world and how happy her parents were that she would be joining them in their
family.
Lunch:
Anyone who knows me knows I am a foodie of sorts but this is
about more than just stuffing my face with some salad and a slice I promise. I
have over the years had to learn how to eat alone and enjoy that time for
reflection. This however was not one of those days, it was a day that I had a
“date” for lunch, a long overdue date at that. Everyone has one or two of those
friends that between your two schedules you have a hard time getting together
and making time to just sit down and chat, catch up and hear about all of the
craziness of life. I was gifted with one of those friends and it was uplifting,
truly. My friend smiles with everything inside which in turn causes me to smile
from somewhere deep within my soul. It is a friendship like no other I have
probably ever known and that I cherish dearly. The laughter, jokes, the things
that we can say in front of each other and then joke about more is, well
amazing. I left thinking about how tough of a week I had had and how just an
hour of small talk, advice giving and cheerleading had made me feel all
sparkly. Friends like that are blessings!
Music:
The thing I can probably say I love most in the world, with
the exception of real actual people is music. Having a bad day, turn it on and
mellow out, need to dance around the room, turn it up and shake your booty,
want to recreate a memory find that song and suddenly there you are. Music has
magic! I think that everyone has something that tickles their fancy and makes
them feel good, whatever that “good” is. It can transport us if we need and
this past week it has really helped me. I really appreciate one song in
particular by the Temper Trap “Sweet Disposition”. In this song, which I still
do not completely understand it talks about reckless abandon, like no one is
watching you. I think this is how we should live life and I think this is how
we should feel about love. Give everything without caring about what others
think, or judging you, just what feels right. This song between the words and the
beat of the music just takes me away and reminds me of what I should be doing
everyday.
Finding Joy may not be easy but it can be done, I promise.
In fact today my day did not start out so easy, kids up late, forgot my purse
when I left to run one to school because he missed the bus then realized I was
out of gas! Yes, welcome to everything that is me but in that moment I was able
to let go of control, realizing I had none, take a deep breath and coast home.
The rest of the day I decided to do the exact same thing I had done a few
nights ago, find three things and be thankful. My morning started off with the
realization that I had really missed the task of taking my son to school every
day, so today I told him exactly that and that I loved him just like I did when
he was in Elementary as he got out of the car in front of his Middle School. It’s
the small things that change your world, if you let them. Take time today and
find yours, send the gratefulness back out into the world to circle back to you
again.
