I have a distinct memory from college. I was walking along the sidewalk heading home from class under a row of big old maple trees. It was autumn and masses of yellow leaves above and on the ground surrounded me in a tunnel of gold with the sun shining through and warming me. I felt a rising pressure inside me that I immediately labeled a joy bubble. It wanted to burst out of my chest and lift me along with it as it rose, I could just tell. A purely spontaneous feeling drawn out by the beauty of the moment.
Every so often I get that very specific sensation again. It’s not ever something I can force. It is always a delight.
I’m weary from a sleepless night filled with discomfort…look forward to reading others responses…Richard Rohr says “The dark side is never the whole, although in the short term it often appears to be. ” At this moment my perspective is quite limited. That said, being able to connect with all of you always brings me joy.
When people can be so genuinely kind and warm, and then they tell you about their history and trials of their life. Joy seems to reside in all of the most unexpected places
A few days ago, my wife Erin, my daughter Kelly and her boyfriend Nate were at a Phillies baseball game. We were having a fun family time together. I’d spoken to the man next to me about the game and noted that he had 3 kids and (likely) his wife there. He was handed the infant at one point, as others went for hot dogs.
After a few minutes, I “felt” eyes on me. It was the brown eyes of this child looking at me and the surrounding crowd: curious, wide open, searching eyes taking in all of this new experience… at the age of probably about 6 months.
Last week when my husband and I returned home after our several months away….the song of the thrush filled the air. I knew that I was home…what joy!! Keep on singing dear thrushes!!
I collect rocks that are in the shape of hearts. I live with a man whose observation skills are quite amazing. On our anniversary a few years ago, we were on a beach with friends. Suddenly, my husband stoops down and then hands me tiny stone in the shape of a heart, that also has the pattern of a perfect heart on it. I can still feel the delight and joy in that very symbolic gift.
Last night – my daughter has a couple friends visiting and one of them, who has not been here before, was so joyful seeing my house and my neighborhood – she loved the peacocks, lol. Seeing her happy made me smile.
I think surprise is an essential element of joy. I access joy when I make a choice to have a stance of gratefulness. As well all know, that means I am allowing everything to be a gift. Gifts are a surprise. It really is so magical, I am surpised everyday—some days more than others. Sometimes, I have to be more flexible to see the opportunity in a situation. But, when I am really present and practiced up I can connect with joy (which is not the same as happiness).
When has it not? Living with the attitude of gratitude, Joy springs forth from the tiniest of things, to the grandeur of a colorful sunrise or sunset. The first pansy flower in a small flower garden behind the house brought joy yesterday. Things are greening up here in the San Luis Valley and all sorts of birds can be seen fliting around in the field I am irrigating and all along the riparian corridor. The western meadow larks are singing their song. When I hear their flute like tome early in the spring it recalls a memory that always brings a smile to my face. Many years ago, Dwayne Mott exclaimed to Ralph Horton, “I hear Ralphs favorite bird!” to which Ralph soundly replied, “You damned old fool. I hate those birds! They bring the wind with them.” The western meadow lark will always be Ralphs “favorite bird” to me.
When has joy not surprised me? It appears out of nowhere, often in everyday moments, to sweep me off my feet with gratitude, love and deep nourishment.
The Los Angeles Lakers had a rocky season this year. It used to be the top 8 teams in each NBA conference garenteed to make the playoffs. Since 2021, seeds 7-10 have to go through the play-in tournament. The 7th and 8th seed have to win only one game to enter while the 9th and 10th seed have to win 2.
After starting out 14-9, the Lakers went in a tailspin only winning 3 games within a span of a month. The western conference was supercharged throughout the year. It was a couple Sundays ago when the Lakers destroyed the New Orleans Pelicans by almost 20pts to leapfrog into 8th place instead of having to be the 10th seed losing the 3-way tie breaker between them, the Sacramento Kings, and the Golden State Warriors. They were swept in the season series by the Kings, and the Warriors beat them 3-1. If they were 9th and 10th, they were likelier to not be playing in the playoffs today.
Surprise joy hit me a couple Sundays ago and again when the Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans in the 7th-8th seed tournament winning 110-106. As a Lakers fan, it was a major relief just to see them in the playoffs after seeing all the challenges they had to overcome this year whether it’s: injuries to their role players, chemistry, and expectations after last year’s surprising run towards the end to the western conference finals only to get swept by the Denver Nuggets 4-0 in a typical best of 7 series.
That was a great game against the Pelicans! Lakers – Nuggets series has been one of the most competitive so far this playoff season. I’m not a Lakers fan, but I’m routing for AD!
Loc Tran, I love your passion for your clearly beloved Lakers! I felt the same passion and energy around the NCAA tournaments this year, both men and women.
Mary, I followed the NCAA as well. On the mens side, UCONN won again. For the womens side, Kaitlin Clark is popular. She’s entered the WNBA draft for the Indiana Fever.
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I have a distinct memory from college. I was walking along the sidewalk heading home from class under a row of big old maple trees. It was autumn and masses of yellow leaves above and on the ground surrounded me in a tunnel of gold with the sun shining through and warming me. I felt a rising pressure inside me that I immediately labeled a joy bubble. It wanted to burst out of my chest and lift me along with it as it rose, I could just tell. A purely spontaneous feeling drawn out by the beauty of the moment.
Every so often I get that very specific sensation again. It’s not ever something I can force. It is always a delight.
I’m weary from a sleepless night filled with discomfort…look forward to reading others responses…Richard Rohr says “The dark side is never the whole, although in the short term it often appears to be. ” At this moment my perspective is quite limited. That said, being able to connect with all of you always brings me joy.
So sorry you had a rough night, Carol. That makes it harder to start the day. Glad you’re here with us.
When people can be so genuinely kind and warm, and then they tell you about their history and trials of their life. Joy seems to reside in all of the most unexpected places
A few days ago, my wife Erin, my daughter Kelly and her boyfriend Nate were at a Phillies baseball game. We were having a fun family time together. I’d spoken to the man next to me about the game and noted that he had 3 kids and (likely) his wife there. He was handed the infant at one point, as others went for hot dogs.
After a few minutes, I “felt” eyes on me. It was the brown eyes of this child looking at me and the surrounding crowd: curious, wide open, searching eyes taking in all of this new experience… at the age of probably about 6 months.
Joy!
Last week when my husband and I returned home after our several months away….the song of the thrush filled the air. I knew that I was home…what joy!! Keep on singing dear thrushes!!
I collect rocks that are in the shape of hearts. I live with a man whose observation skills are quite amazing. On our anniversary a few years ago, we were on a beach with friends. Suddenly, my husband stoops down and then hands me tiny stone in the shape of a heart, that also has the pattern of a perfect heart on it. I can still feel the delight and joy in that very symbolic gift.
How wonderful! My sister-in-law also collects heart rocks and I watch for them on walks hoping to find one for her.
Last night – my daughter has a couple friends visiting and one of them, who has not been here before, was so joyful seeing my house and my neighborhood – she loved the peacocks, lol. Seeing her happy made me smile.
I think surprise is an essential element of joy. I access joy when I make a choice to have a stance of gratefulness. As well all know, that means I am allowing everything to be a gift. Gifts are a surprise. It really is so magical, I am surpised everyday—some days more than others. Sometimes, I have to be more flexible to see the opportunity in a situation. But, when I am really present and practiced up I can connect with joy (which is not the same as happiness).
When has it not? Living with the attitude of gratitude, Joy springs forth from the tiniest of things, to the grandeur of a colorful sunrise or sunset. The first pansy flower in a small flower garden behind the house brought joy yesterday. Things are greening up here in the San Luis Valley and all sorts of birds can be seen fliting around in the field I am irrigating and all along the riparian corridor. The western meadow larks are singing their song. When I hear their flute like tome early in the spring it recalls a memory that always brings a smile to my face. Many years ago, Dwayne Mott exclaimed to Ralph Horton, “I hear Ralphs favorite bird!” to which Ralph soundly replied, “You damned old fool. I hate those birds! They bring the wind with them.” The western meadow lark will always be Ralphs “favorite bird” to me.
When has joy not surprised me? It appears out of nowhere, often in everyday moments, to sweep me off my feet with gratitude, love and deep nourishment.
Joy surprises me often in the simplicity of life’s gifts.
Right now joy is filling me each moment I surrender to the universe and become joy.
The Los Angeles Lakers had a rocky season this year. It used to be the top 8 teams in each NBA conference garenteed to make the playoffs. Since 2021, seeds 7-10 have to go through the play-in tournament. The 7th and 8th seed have to win only one game to enter while the 9th and 10th seed have to win 2.
After starting out 14-9, the Lakers went in a tailspin only winning 3 games within a span of a month. The western conference was supercharged throughout the year. It was a couple Sundays ago when the Lakers destroyed the New Orleans Pelicans by almost 20pts to leapfrog into 8th place instead of having to be the 10th seed losing the 3-way tie breaker between them, the Sacramento Kings, and the Golden State Warriors. They were swept in the season series by the Kings, and the Warriors beat them 3-1. If they were 9th and 10th, they were likelier to not be playing in the playoffs today.
Surprise joy hit me a couple Sundays ago and again when the Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans in the 7th-8th seed tournament winning 110-106. As a Lakers fan, it was a major relief just to see them in the playoffs after seeing all the challenges they had to overcome this year whether it’s: injuries to their role players, chemistry, and expectations after last year’s surprising run towards the end to the western conference finals only to get swept by the Denver Nuggets 4-0 in a typical best of 7 series.
That was a great game against the Pelicans! Lakers – Nuggets series has been one of the most competitive so far this playoff season. I’m not a Lakers fan, but I’m routing for AD!
Loc Tran, I love your passion for your clearly beloved Lakers! I felt the same passion and energy around the NCAA tournaments this year, both men and women.
Mary, I followed the NCAA as well. On the mens side, UCONN won again. For the womens side, Kaitlin Clark is popular. She’s entered the WNBA draft for the Indiana Fever.
Every time I see a young child! Their smiling faces,
their boundless energy, and their baked-in
expectation that the world is theirs to explore.
Kevin, I can tell you have a love for kids. I have a couple nieces who are full of energy.
There is a joy about small children, especially when their needs are being fulfilled. Thank you, Kevin.
So true, Joseph! Thanks for your comment. Be well, my friend.