Joy Still Exists List #6
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’ve been thinking a lot about how we show up in spaces. Not the real-life spaces, but the digital ones. And frankly, it feels overwhelming. Maybe it’s just those of us who are trying to run a business based on connecting with people online, but it feels like there’s more pressure to be everywhere and less actual engagement (and connection).
I know we all like to blame the mysterious algorithm (which yes, isn’t making it easier), but I also wonder if we’re all just overwhelmed.
I know I certainly am.
I’m mass deleting and unfollowing and muting with wild abandon - all in an attempt to quiet the noise. All in an attempt to show up in these digital landscapes and enjoy what I see. All in an attempt for peace.
Like many, my attention span is less than ideal. Even authors I love, in their long-form lingering prose, leave me with a sense of dread - with a feeling of “there’s not enough time.”
So they are left unread, taunting me, reminding me of the unrelenting to-do list that never ceases to shrink.
As soon as I work through this list, I’ll sit down and tackle my emails.
As soon as I finish this task, I’ll read that blog.
As soon as I catch up with life, I’ll enjoy that article.
As soon as, as soon as, as soon as…
Until it all becomes too much and I take a deep inhale, select all, and mark all as read so that my inbox is back to a fleeting 0.
It’s a game we just can’t win and the only champion is our dysregulated nervous systems.
All that to say, 6 months into writing this substack, I’m curious how you’d like me to show up in this digital space. Curious how you enjoy interacting here, if at all?
Am I a joy in your inbox or one more thing to get through? Do we like these “Joy Still Exist lists?” Is it helpful to have links or are there just too many for your overwhelmed brain? Should I switch it up so it’s a reflection of one tiny joy?1
Let me know in the comments (I promise to only be slightly offended).
Until then, here’s what I’ve found joyful, inspiring, and illuminating in life and around the web.
What’s Joyful Now:
We’ve been doing a 30-day “forced joy challenge” in the Forced Joy Club. The purpose is to encourage ourselves to find the tiny, daily joys that exist, even on the hard days (and yes, sometimes those joys are teeny, tiny). It’s important to document the moments that bring us joy, creating a personal catalog for future hard days.
It’s been such an incredible inspiration to witness how the group is noticing joy, proving once again that grief and joy can co-exist.
Reflecting back, the month has felt like playing one giant game of catch-up. It’s been full of work, and joy has felt out of reach. But when I scroll through my photos where I documented the joyful moments, I’m able to acknowledge that even in these stressful times, there was so much joy.
What’s Inspiring:
40 Portraits in 40 years. This photo series of 4 sisters over 4 decades is a stunning reflection on the weathering of time and the bonds of sisterhood.
“As we come to the last pictures, we feel the final inevitability that, as Nixon says, “Everyone won’t be here forever.” The implication hovers in the darkening of the palette and in the figures drawing together, huddling as if to stay afloat.”
This post on joy and dementia is a worthy reminder for everyone.
“It is okay if our joys change throughout life. That doesn’t mean that life is without joy.”
What’s Illuminating:
Shifting from Grief Literacy to Grief Humility - I've been guilty of calling for more “grief literacy” in our society. I've been desperate for others to understand my experience. But I love What's Your Grief's take on this and the fact that "Grief humility invites us to transcend the limitations of literacy and competence. It asks us to be okay with not knowing." I’d love to hear your take on this article.
"How Cold Water Became My Solid Ground" - There are so.many.articles on the benefits of cold water plunging. They are full of science and statistics on this “new” trend. But for some of us, all we know is this: it makes us feel alive.
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.
Are these questions overwhelming you?