I recently found a big, juicy heart-shaped strawberry in a box of strawberries as I was making breakfast (see proof below ). I LOVE strawberries and instantly was filled with excitement over receiving this unexpected gift wrapped in red and green. As I held the strawberry in my palm, I was transported back to childhood memories going strawberry picking in the fields during the summer. I remembered the smell of strawberries in the air, the thrill of searching for and discovering them under the leaves, and the absolute pleasure of eating as many of them as I could. I made the strawberry heart the crowning addition of my breakfast creation and savored every bite.
Delighting in this strawberry filled me with so much joy. After 1+ years filled with challenges which have tested (and continue to test) us all, it felt like an invitation from life to (re)open to joy. To just be alive in the moment. To open to the pleasure of the senses. To find simple delights everywhere - the taste of a favorite food, a hug from a loved one, the light during golden hour.
Danna Faulds writes: “All you ever longed for is before you in this moment if you dare draw in a breath and whisper “yes”.”
It will take time to heal and recover individually and collectively, and it’s important to be gentle with ourselves and create space for all the emotions that need to be felt. We can go slow as we figure out how to re-engage with each other in-person and co-create new ways of relating and working together. Opening to joy and life’s simple delights can be a helpful companion along the way.
Given our evolutionary pull to focus on the negative, it takes intention to cultivate joy in our life. We can practice turning our attention to what’s good even amidst the challenges and actively engage in activities that spark joy in us. We can also actively open to joy and savor joyful moments when we’re in the middle of them.
What brings you joy? What does joy feel like in your body, mind, and heart when it arises?
In joy,
Sarah-Marie