Joy Is Not Always Easy
10 joyful things worth sharing.
Let’s try something different.
June is coming to a close, and the thing I wanted to write didn’t get written, so I’ve made a list of joyful things worth sharing.1
The Shoes That Brought You Here
It’s a powerful metaphor that anyone will recognize if they were ever raised one way, only to realize their authentic self needed to follow a different path to find their deep truth and happiness.
I’ve been saying it everywhere and it’s true: this one of the best things I’ve read in a long time. Gorgeous. My favorite Pride month read this year. 🏳️🌈
When Wonder Lives in Our Scars
The Power of Owning Our Stories & Our Art.
Another favorite about the joys of being yourself.
Companions in Sadness, Companions in Joy
‘Dukh-sukh’ is a common expression across Punjab and other parts of South Asia. In my family, we use it to express a sense of company found in sadness, tiredness, or stress: a companion who is not there to fix your worries, but to share in the feeling and ultimately soothe it, making way for something pleasurable and easier to endure.
Finding joy amidst loneliness, through shared food.
None of the above pieces are easy to read, I know. But joy is not always easy.
Sometimes, the hardest thing is to allow your emotions to come up in order to find joy at the other side of whatever you’re feeling.
Sometimes we experience uncomplicated joy - like enjoying ice cream on a summer day, or crunching leaves under your feet in autumn.
Other times joy brings other feelings with it - guilt, resentment, pain, sorrow. This feels weird and it’s also hard; but stay with it, if you can. Allow your joy to be complicated, deep and complex.
Allow it to be gloriously human. Just like you are.
Small is where the best connections are made
Reciprocity, mutuality… these are the words I am tired of sacrificing. I am tired of sacrificing the sincere joys of a small, mundane life at the Altar of Acclaim. There’s something so healing, I told Robin, about seeing someone casually describe small things as valuable.
Small is where all the best connections are made. The intimate conversations. The tender one-on-one interactions. We make ourselves small enough—we get on our hands and knees if we must!—in order to peer at the stems and the dirt, and we imagine all the microorganisms rumbling and intersecting underground, nourishing the blessed soil. There’s another word for this kind of small: Sacred.
It’s okay to be known by a small number of people, to have a small number of readers, a small number of friends. You are known by the people who know you. And so: You are known! Fully emerged. What you’re doing counts.
“The sincere joys of a small, mundane life” is what I want the most. I have dreamed of acclaim and fame in the past, but once life knocks you down, and knocks you hard; once you’ve lost some people and some parts of yourself, you realize that there’s nothing better than simple, small, everyday joys.
Nothing better than a life that allows for those joys.
🎬 Movies
The Fall Guy - Don’t listen to the haters - this is outrageously fun. Even more so because I’m a sucker for meta and the entire movie is a meta movie. And don’t get me started on all the actual stuntmen stuff. Just awesome.
Book Club: The Next Chapter - What I love most about his one - besides that it’s fun - is the narrative that older people (and especially older women) are worth of love, romance and adventure.
Speaking of books and movies…
If reading books was like watching movies 📖
🪟 Window Swap
WindowSwap is a place on the internet where people from around the world share the view from their windows to help someone else relax, focus, meditate and travel without moving.
It’s here to fill that deep void in our wanderlust hearts by allowing us to look through someone else's window, somewhere in the world.
I saw this on someone else’s blog - don’t remember where, sorry2 - and fell in love with it. Such a labor of love, kindness to strangers. This feels like having hope, like having faith in humanity.
🎙️How to travel without even leaving home
Whether you’re going somewhere new and exciting for the summer or taking a well-earned staycation, there are endless ways to venture into our world and plug into wonder. Saleem Reshamwala is a filmmaker, journalist, podcaster – and an expert world traveler. And even though he’s been to far and wide places, his hyperlocal and unique style of traveling will change the way you plan your next trip.
I shared this podcast episode last week, but it really deserves a mention here. It’s such a joy, so much fun. It really transported me to other places, in the most delightful ways.
🌈 Self Centered
Besides the lovely reminder to look for things that help you find your calm center, there’s this, which is so fucking true:
Pride flags. My family and I recently went to Seattle for a wedding. We spotted so many Pride flags as we drove around the city. One of my twins said, “I know we can feel safe here.” In that moment, I understood the true power of a Pride flag—to say you are welcome, you are safe, you are loved.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Jennifer also featured this gorgeous Pride flag by Transpainter and holee sheet I love it so much. All his stuff is gorgeous. I wish there was shipping to France, because I’d have already ordered this fabulous Queer Joy print. 🥰
🌳 May & June Quests
To round-up this round-up, let’s look back to the latest quests for joy - you probably missed some of them, but there’s always time to look for joy. 😊
The Quest For Joy - the one that started it all. Because joy is not only possible, but necessary.
A Season of Hope - The joys and wonder of early spring.
The Joy of Everyday Rituals - Find connection and meaning in the smallest things.
That Being Home Feeling - The many joys of breakfast.
Reclaiming Lost Joy - It’s never too late.
Summer is Bullshit - Some ways of making it less of a crappy season.
That’s It For Today!
I’ll be back with a new quest next week. In the meantime, tell me: is there any particular type of joy you’d like to explore?
Until next time. —Nospheratt
Inspired by one of my favorite artists, Austin Kleon
If you know where, please let me know and I’ll add a link!