Moments of Joy

Do we get smarter as we get older? Do we get wiser? I have no idea. I do know that as I age I get more comfortable in my own skin. I don’t care what anyone thinks of me and I like myself just as I am. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t accept some improvements but if I were to die today, I would be content walking through the pearly gates of heaven.

I have been listening to audio books lately and my favorite person to listen to is Brene Brown. So far, I have read 4 of her books and am eager for more. She writes about emotions such as, empathy, shame and joy. She manages to create beautiful definitions for these words that are based on her research and that help distinguish them from similar emotions. If you have never heard of her I recommend her TED Talk and her Netflix special as good places to start.

I went to therapy once about 20 years ago and I remember discussing emotions and how I typically refused to admit when I was angry. I would always give anger another name such as frustration. My therapist questioned me when I discussed anger as a negative emotion. She tried to explain that emotions were not good or bad, they just were. I didn’t delve deeper into that ideas as it might have opened up a Pandora’s Box of feelings that I was not ready to confront.

Twenty years ago, I would not have been able to identify what brought me joy or when I last experienced it. Today, I know it in the moment. How cool is that? I catch myself experiencing it and name it on the spot.

My most recent moments of shear joy were:

• When in the middle of the lake I realized I was smiling from ear to ear.
• I caught myself watching Mother Fran and felt the urge to hold onto the moment. I kissed her on the head and told her she was simply too kissable. She replied that I was too cute.
• I was watchingthe sunrise and sipping my morning coffee.

Maybe as I age, I am no longer chasing the extraordinary – I am joyfully living my simple life and for that I am grateful. These 3 recent moments of joy were all experienced in the last 2 days. I don’t think I am actually more joyful now then in the past, I simply recognize it, name it and embrace it.

Other posts on this topic include:

Simple Pleasures and Embracing the Gray

Choose joy!

Lake Girl