Joy Still Exists List #5
Because sometimes we need a little reminder
Welcome to the Joy Still Exists List! In this space, I share things that I find inspiring, illuminating, and yes, joyful.
It may seem trivial to talk about joy when the world is extra griefy right now. But the Forced Joy Project didn’t start because life was going well. It started when we were heavy in shit. It started in a moment of desperation - to serve as a reminder that when you’re living in the darkness, to look for the light. Now, more than ever, we need a place for joy.
So while the world is falling apart and you may be feeling hopeless, let’s remember: joy still exists.
I’m finally back home in Northern Michigan after being away since December. Since my return, it's been a strange and (mostly) snowless time here, but I've been embracing the sunshine with walks, swims, sauna sessions, and even some yard clean-up (which felt both satisfying and wildly out of sync). As I write this, snow is finally falling again, but it doesn’t look like it will last. My reminder to embrace the - sometimes fleeting - season I’m in.
For the rest of this Joy Still Exist list, here’s what I’ve found joyful, inspiring, and illuminating around the web.
What’s Joyful Now:
Looking for some wild swimming lingo? This is all the language you need. Anyone been"flock-blocked" by out-of-town vacationers?
100 Small Acts of Love reminds me that love still exists in so many tiny, unexpected ways (also tw for all my widow friends who may not want to read about love - romantic or otherwise).
What’s Inspiring:
Make Good Art - the best tips for anyone in the creative field.
Creating a home as a "me" and not a "we" - fair warnings to all my widows, this article is about a break up and not a death, but I remember asking myself similar questions as the author when I moved out of the loft I shared with Brad: how do I find a space that represents this new life? A space that is inspiring? That brings me joy? Is it even possible?
30 Dying People Explain What Really Matters. Your daily does of perspective.
What’s Illuminating:
Is opening up about our mental health doing more harm than good? I'd love to hear your thoughts, as this piece brings up a lot. On the one hand, writing, for me, is therapy. And writing about my experience helped me build this beautiful community and connect with so many I never would have met. On the other hand, I am regularly holding space for people's most horrific traumas and I have wondered about the toll that has on my mental health - and what I “owe” this community at the expense of myself. How does that effect my own personal evolution? I don’t have answers, but
brings up so many important questions surrounding social media, mental health, evolution, and the way we share.To all my people pleasers, read this to be less pleasing to others and more pleasing to yourself.
This piece by
has me reflecting on the commitments we make - to a place, to a person, to ourselves, specifically from the context of chronic illness. When we can’t do it all, how - and for who - do we show up?“We eat, rest, sleep, stretch, walk, hydrate, and bathe in accordance to a highly specific set of rules that are allowing our bodies and cells to repair themselves. It’s been difficult, but beautiful. It has been the ultimate lesson in commitment.”
Do any of these articles resonate with you or bring up your own thoughts? I'd love to hear! And what about joy? Where are you finding it right now? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments below.
I really appreciated the perspective shifts in the 30 Dying People article. I've been in a grief fog the last couple of weeks and I'm finally beginning to see clearly again. Thank you Dana.