Joy Still Exists List #7
Because sometimes we need a little reminder
Welcome to the Joy Still Exists List!
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.
Things are shifting a bit in the Joy Still Exists space. As much as I loved sharing links to other articles and things around the web, it felt a little…removed…from my own joy. And that never felt quite right for what I wanted in this space.
Moving forward, I’ll be sharing 3 tangible ways that I have found joy of late - ideas that can maybe serve as inspiration for your own joy journey.
Three ideas a month: a little joy, a medium joy, and a big joy. Because sometimes, when we’re forcing joy, all we need to start are a few ideas.
Little Joy: Create Some Art
My first joy is these adorable little joy meters (joy odometers?) that I created for this substack! I love being creative, but am lacking in the artistic department (and oh, so jealous of those with this gift). But this is where Canva comes in - it’s a place where we get some creative guidance without having any real skill.
Admittedly, these tiny graphics took me hours, so this joy wasn’t as “little” as I expected. I played around with the idea of arrows, a gauge, a series of dots, an actual thermometer - the list goes on. Some designs were too busy, others too boring. I finally, landed on this joyful little design and I love how it turned out.
And the best part, in the middle of an extremely stressful day, where I “should” have been doing other “more productive” work, I had a lot of fun using a different part of my brain and getting to just create. I highly recommend you give it a try (and share what you create with us in the comments!).
Medium Joy: Create the Community You Need
Recently I led my first Hike & Heal here in Traverse City. I always knew I wanted to create an untraditional space for grief. Something that wasn't offered in the pews of a church with a life-size statue of Jesus staring down at us. Or in the basement of a funeral home where literal signs of death are everywhere (this was my first grief group experience and it was not pleasant).
I wanted a space where we could hold our grief in more loving (and yes, sometimes fun) settings. Like the on the trails or at the lake or maybe even in a bar. Places where we can find joy and peace and connection alongside our grief.
I wanted to create space for grief, yes, but also a space for joy. A place for them to co-exist. The Hike & Heal was the simplest way for me to do this: take a walk and invite others to join.
Sometimes when we’re in need of something in our life - like a particular community - it’s up to us to create it. And when you’re grieving or exhausted, it’s best to just start simple, like a walk.
Big Joy: Create the Outdoor Space You Want
I have an underutilized plot in my yard that I dreamed of turning into a multi-use space. I envisioned morning sunrises over the lake and evening bonfires with friends. A space that could transform from a patio to a sauna platform to a dance floor.
For this project, the budget was limited, and the skills even more so.
But completing this project was a huge - albeit time-consuming - joy. My partner, Nate, and I sketched out what we wanted it to look like. We (well, he) did the math for exactly the number of pavers we needed. I spent hours down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos (all of which made this look so simple), and took many, many trips to Lowes.
But we did it.
And the best part (besides the actual outcome) is what I realized while working on this: I wasn’t experiencing my normal state of anxiety (even with my regular level of overwhelm and never-ending to-do list). I think having a project to focus on, being outside, and the major sense of accomplishment helped me quiet my mind a bit. Win, win, win. Big joy ✔️
I’d love to hear about your joy! Where are you finding it right now? Is it forced or does it come naturally? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments below.
Little: My one cat always hops up each evening to snuggle me before going under the bed to sleep.
Medium: I have been moving my body in some way almost daily and even though the scale hasn’t budged my body feels SO good for doing this.
Big: I have completed 65 days of the 100 day project (painting 100 tiny watercolor beaches) which means I’ve consistently painted for 7 weeks! I don’t remember the last thing I have done that consistently and I am loving all the little scenes I’ve done.
Perfect timing. And I am not surprised. I was asking someone else about something they did, art wise. They shared it was on Canva. I haven’t gotten the app yet. Taking that step soon. Walking, hiking, outdoors, helps me mentally, physically, spiritually & emotionally as much as anything. Except for your third share: an outdoor project. The space you envisioned turned out spectacular! Great work by both you & Nate. Teamwork :-) Something about focusing on an outdoor project that soothes the savage death replays in my brain. At 34 1/2 months in and another heart wrenching loss three weeks ago, I can say I feel like I am just beginning to breathe again. Thank you Dana, for all you write, document & share. I appreciate you. The girls (fur babes) and I are coming to join you on one of those outdoor days soon!!! Can’t wait!