What really brings you joy?
Is the sun on your face that warms the body through?
The sound of someone’s laughter that makes you grin?
The quiet of a morning sunrise until you notice the chorus of the birds?
Greeting the morning no matter the weather, ready to see what today has in store.
The five minutes breathing that relaxes your shoulders and clears the mind?
Reading a book all afternoon?
Taking time to enjoy your tea?
Creating with your own hands, heart, and imagination?
There are so many more that I could list, but I find the underlying theme is taking time to do what makes our hearts happy. To slow down enough to witness, enjoy and reflect on a moment, task, or creative endeavor. To help you get into the slower place I thought I would share one moment with you.
I exhale loudly as I give myself a momentary break from prepping gardening beds. I look up at the sun and all at the same time the sun warms my face as a breeze cools me off, my back is bit achey, my hands are throbbing a bit from meeting my demands of them, I can smell fresh earth and I feel the dirt on my hands as well as on my feet, and I start to remember all of my gardens past, and planning this years garden all at the same time. It is all so beautiful and there is so much of this beauty that surrounds me. It fills my heart with joy. I saw, smelled, and felt all of this within seconds, but I take the time to enjoy each in turn.
You see, doing what brings you joy has a long story in your heart. When you first encountered it, how you made it part of you, and how you grow and learn with it. This is not to say you do not find new things everyday that can bring joy and awe into your life. But the next time you encounter them, you have a possibility of choosing to make it a part of your continuing journey, and this conscious choice expands your heart.
My daily walk with Rosie, Lester and Randy
The more time I take to witness each in turn the slower things seem to move, my pace slows down, its history combines with that moment and my heart is filled, for this am truly grateful, for every encounter before and for the present moment. The more time I take in experiencing the joy of a moment, the deeper it lives in my heart, and I can use this memory to settle me when I need to remember what brings me joy and the feelings that accompany it, and experience it all again. It is what feels my soul and helps in creating my new ways to fuel and explore what I am most passionate about.
Please take a moment to slow your pace, do what you enjoy or go over slowly in your mind what brings you joy on this journey. How do you feel? How does it change your mood, fill you, challenge you? Does it make you passionate? Does it feed your soul?
What Brings You Joy?
Please go do that thing! ❤️
All My Best,
Dr. Nicole
Giving Gratitude for each day I am blessed with to pursue my passions.