Last night, I ended up behind a car with a license plate that said, “SEE JOY.” This was such a simple thing, but such a great gift. Sometimes, all we need is for someone (in this case, a car – ha!) to remind us that we can open ourselves to the possibility of joy. We are invited.
Sometimes, there are consistent sources of joy where we know we can return continuously,
Sometimes, we use our intentions to cultivate joy whereever we are, even in hardships that are anything but joyful,
and
Sometimes, joy just shows up, powerfully as a complete and utter surprise.
Whenever and however it comes, we can lean into it, open to the experience. Earlier this week, a friend shared some words from poet Mary Oliver:
Don’t Hesitate
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its a way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.
SEE JOY.
