So often our to-do lists are full of tasks that have to be done, but what about our joy lists? What brings you joy--what's on that list?
If you sit down and make a joy list, I bet you'll be surprised by what truly brings you joy. I thought about this yesterday as I rode my bike on a magnificent, beautiful route by a lovely pond, thick green woods, beautiful homes and yards, and along meadows and pastures. The route was mostly unpopulated, the scenery beautiful, and air perfect. I was joyful. Riding my bike is definitely on my joy list.
I also experienced great joy as I made a blueberry buckle (sweet blueberry cake) with my mom yesterady. My mom was always a great baker, and blueberry buckle was a delicious morning cake that she often made. As she looked on, I sensed her joy watching me mix all the ingredients. Later, when she sat at the table to eat a piece of the cake, there was more joy. Cooking that cake that smelled good, looked good, tasted good, and brought my mom pleasure, was a joyful activity for me.
Watering the garden also brought me joy yesterday because as I watered I was happy to see so many seedlings flourishing in our home-made compost-soil garden. The fruits of good labor, brings joy too.
Later as my dad enjoyed a good seafood meal--I was similarly joyful, and, of course, playing with a new tech device brought me joy too since I'm a tech enthusiast.
My joy list is quite extensive--so much about life brings me joy, and the greatest challenge to this is that sometimes rather than choose joyful activities or work in joyful ways, I may resort to old traditional ways or expectations that my be less joyful and even painfully dull or arduous instead. Almost any task can be done in a joyful way if you give that task good thought and find the right supports.
Most of us relish our joyful times, and finding ways to bring good joy in to your lives is important. I suggest starting with the joy list--what brings you joy, and how can you make that a more significant part of your life each day.