a handful of glimmers

my joy list

This morning I ran a writing group and it left my heart full.

It was a group of about 8 people all looking to journal reflectively together. Each claimed the label of over thinker and anxious, yet shared bountifully and vulnerably. One woman shared her ‘joy practice’. She described how each night she sits down with her partner and they each record where they found joy that day. Admittedly, there’s something about the word ‘gratitude’ that’s never sat right with me. Maybe it stems from one of the comments my parent’s made that stung me the most, “you should just be grateful….”. But ‘joy’? Joy lands so expansively in my body. In fact it’s warmth has lingered all day.

So, in that spirit, I bring you my collection of recent joys.

1. Two surprise deer in the same week. A rabbit just taking a 20 minute chill season in the front yard.

2. A 1 hour beach lunch break in the middle of the day. June sunsets that are filled with so much grief and joy they make me sob. Baby bivalves.

3. Indigo. Indigo. Indigo. Enjoy a summer of dye with my lovely neighbor. Who says you can’t tie dye weekly?

4. My $5 yard sale gnome my friend lovingly carried home for me and his new neon green outfit.

5. Feeling better in my body at 33 than I ever have before and feeling jazzed at the availability of plus sized clothing compared to ten years ago. My new thrift store chairs (2 for $20? Yes, please). A massive weekend purge making room for the new clothes and chairs.

6. A new book of poems. A whole bunch of therapy books. A book about my human design type. Seeing young kids have vocabulary for things I didn’t until I was in therapy at 23 courtesey of Inside Out.

What are some of your recent joys? Let’s keep this joyful ripple going.

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Need more YOU time? Come to a workshop:

• Exploring the Self: Meditation and Tarot Workshop 6/29 10:00AM EST

• Creative Calm: Art for Overthinking 6/30 10:00AM EST

• Poetry as Medicine 6/7 9:00AM EST