First there must be joy
I was scrolling facebook the other day, and there was an ad for this guy's movement program. And damn, he could move - the video was inspiring, for sure. But it was the quote in the caption that really got me.
The "little voice" (my husband's name for his intuition) told me to write the quote down. Did I do it? Of course not. But I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I've googled and googled to try to find it in its entirety, but no luck.
The part I do remember is, "First there must be joy..."
And maybe that's enough. Because it speaks volumes.
I've been known to tell my dance students to "fake it til you make it" when they're nervous before a performance. Sometimes standing tall and putting a smile on your face will do wonders for your confidence. It can turn the sensations we label as "nervous" into something the mind might recognize as more like "excitement".
I think we can do the same thing with joy - we can create it. As I sit here on the couch, writing this letter, I can breathe and smile a small smile and let something that feels like joy rise up within me. This morning, it's the simple joy of being alive, of getting to connect with people all over the world via this weird contraption called a laptop.
I've been playing with how it feels to approach my day-to-day life like this. Some things are easier than others. Fixing the fence for the horses gets me outside in the springtime - easy peasy. For some reason, unloading the dishwasher after a long day - that's a little a lot harder. But still, remembering how much power I have in my experience feels really good. Simple and satisfying.
I thought you might like to remember and practice joy, too (seems like the perfect time of year in the northern hemisphere). Or maybe even something like contentment? I feel like this is where the real spiritual practice of being human lies. In finding joy and contentment in the small, simple experiences of everyday life.
“Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” ― Lao Tzu