Today is May Day. What that means other than skipping around a Maypole weaving long ribbons around a pole as people dance in opposite directions, wearing clothes not worn in years, I don’t know. A simple Google search doesn’t help my perception. May Day, in recent history, has to do with labor laws, not pole dancing. What it means for me is the start of a journey to experience more joy in my life.
Why Joy?
There is a notion that when you, fill in the blank, you will be happy. When I… get a certain job, grow up, make x amount of money, take a vacation, have a party, become famous… The list is exhausting and different for every one of us.
Attaching a time frame, place, or item to happiness turns an emotion into an object. Something you are ever trying to attain. What happens if you don’t get what you think will make you happy?
Joy, on the other hand, is not a commodity.
The idea that joy is not bought, sold, traded, or gifted is what I will explore for the next month. What is joy? How do we increase it? How can we share it? How do joy and happiness connect? How do we teach joyousness? How can we be genuinely joyous? There are so many questions to consider on this joy challenge.
Joy with Grace and Wit
I’m envious of people who exude joy. The ones who make you feel comfortable, happy, and in the right place at the right time, no matter what. I want to be one of those people. At times I have that kind of joy. In other situations, especially the one’s where I am not comfortable, I don’t radiate joy. This is whether or not I’m happy. Though, I don’t think the emotions of joy and happiness are mutually exclusive.
Society dictates what it takes to be happy. I’ve never played nice with that notion. Learning how to address people when brushing against the norms of what society thinks is hard. I am hoping this joy study will help me twofold. One is to help me to be more content with what I am doing. Two, learn how to address naysayers.
I’m not discontent with my life. Point one is not about being content. It is about being able to sound content when talking about my life. For example, I recently changed jobs. I have more freedom. I am no longer the stereotypical working mom. I lack words about this change, not even to the naysayers, I mention in point two. I recognize my new role as a blessing. How do I talk about my blessing without feeling snooty? I want to feel, the understanding that I’ve been blessed, as joy.
What is Pure Joy?
Stay tuned as I take 31 days to explore what it means to experience pure joy. Tomorrow I’ll start learning the basic definition of joy. Come back and join me. I look forward to it.