Joys in the World
A lovely, simple dinner with a good friend last night, sharing updates big and small, laughing together, admiring each other's cooking (and cookbook reading!) talents, pulling on the threads of a long friendship that keeps us bound even when we don't spend time together and cherishing those hours we do get.
A daughter home for a few days. Hosted a buoyant family breakfast of bagels and coffee and stories, wedding plan updates, grandparents and grandchildren deep in relationship. Basked in a Sunday cozied on the couch with our laptops and lists of things to do, hanging out with us because most hometown friends have left the hometown, the three of us clicking away at work but clicking together with our snacks, laughter, and cat naps.
Neighbors standing up for neighbors. Posting protective signs in our local coffee shops, collecting food in our independent book stores and filling the little free pantries. I am learning more about abundance, collectivism, letting go of old beliefs and creating better worlds of care, light and love.
Planning a celebration, a big "zero birthday" on the horizon and finding ways to use that celebration to gather for good, to make connections across decades of my life, to share books (always, my love language!) and to build hope.
Finding these "glimmers" and using them as fuel to make more joy in the world.
This is such an upbeat slice! Clearly, connecting is helping you to thrive! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you tons - I'm working on the joy, the visioning of a better world, the celebration of good things (even as I am, yes, FUMING inside sometimes!).
DeleteI love the way you found joy in small things - glimmers. Your last line reminds me to do the same. I needed that today.
ReplyDeleteI swiped that idea of glimmers from Ross Gay's essays - Book of Delights and Inciting Joy are pure inspiration. Look for those glimmers!
DeleteThere is clearly joy in the small and big moments of your life over the past few days. Clearly happy slices of life.
ReplyDeleteYes - trying to lean into the joys to find fuel for the hard work, too.
DeleteLisa, your joy must be contagious in your family and town. This thought of yours is genuinely from you heart and extended to others: creating better worlds of care, light and love. Thank you for the moments of joy you shared with me and others.
ReplyDeleteAwwhhh, thank you, Carol. Joy IS contagious, and I need to remember that lesson, all the days. Writing about it helps me keep it top of mind.
DeleteAt this time when so much seems wrong with our world (and there is a LOT of wrong happening), it's wonderful that we have witnessed how pockets of people have come together to help their community members. Thank goodness for these glimmers!
ReplyDeleteYES, Stacey - yes to glimmers and, as Mr. Rogers would say, keep looking for the helpers. They are there, and they are our multipliers for joy.
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