On gathering joy.

What would you place in your joy basket?

As 2023 began, my cup, deep inside, felt empty. Joy became my word of the year.

I could gather my friends for tea, dressing the table so pretty.  Serve petite little tea sandwiches and sweet treats laced with lilac-infused sugar.   They thought I was a spreader of joy, yet I didn’t feel it myself.  

For nine months I’ve been steeping on these feelings and have come to realize that I had it all along.  I simply needed to choose joy.  Could it really be that simple?  Was I making a mountain out of a mole hill?  Yes, I’ve had some challenging times, after all, we turned our lives upside down with retirement and a move across the country, leaving all our precious friends behind.

I’m certain now that one of the things that helps to see clearly through the murky water is to remember what brings you happiness - from the past, in the present or planning for the future. 

So, I made a listicle (that’s a fun word for list).  Here’s my list of ten things that I’ve gathered and placed in my joy basket.  

1. Soul moments that bring me calm.  Sunrises, sunsets, bird chirping, heron flying by.

2. Times spent by the seaside.  The sound and motion of the waves, sun-kissed beach glass, expressing myself in the sand.

3. Women coming together.  Laughing, sharing, creating sisterhood and community.

4. Everything party.  Paper straws, pretty little bottles to place delicate blooms, buntings.

5. My family history.  My grandmother's hats, letters from my mother to her father and mother, well used recipes, ancestral photos.

6. Experiences.  Ones I learn from, and sometimes, share with others.

7. Collections.  Angels, sea glass & shells, heart-shaped rocks.

8. Creativity.  So many ways. Writing, designing events, crafting, etc. etc. etc.

9. Memories.  My beautiful granddaughters, 8,395 nights of my husband saying ‘good-night my sweet’, my children as they take flight.

10. Words. Hello joy, grateful heart, pause, permission granted, love, magic.

Are you feeling like your joy cup is running on empty?  I invite you to pause, find a quiet space, light a candle, close your eyes and let your heart speak to you. Make your list, then give yourself permission to gather your joy, place it in your joy basket, set it aside for the next time you need a picnic with a basket full of Joy Snacks!