I’m a list maker.
I put even minor things on my to do lists.
First, because it relieves the stress of trying to remember every little thing I need to do.
But my favorite part of making lists is being able to cross things off. When I’m able to cross even one thing off my list, I feel like I’ve done something with my day.
A couple of weeks ago I made of list of things I needed to get done as I wrapped up winter quarter. I also included the title for a blog post I was thinking about writing: Choose Joy.
The next few days, every time I checked things off my list I saw it staring back at me:
Choose Joy
It wasn’t long before I decided I’m keeping it on my list.
Because you know what? I forget to do it ALL the time.
How can that be? I mean, it’s JOY. It feels AMAZING. It makes my heart burn – in a good way.
But I often find myself choosing everything else.
Stress.
Boredom.
Anxiety.
Frustration.
Discontent.
Why do I do that? Why do I so easily forget the things that bring me joy and fall into the things that keep me down?
Does this happen to anyone else?
(Let me say, I believe joy is different from happiness. Joy can exist in the face of adversity and even sadness. It makes the worst of situations bearable. It’s a sense of peace. A sense of contentment. A deep, abiding love for life and all that comes with it. But when it’s not there, everything is off balance, irritating, upsetting. In short – wrong.)
So true to form, I spent most of my spring break doing random things. I appreciated the unusually warm, early spring weather, but didn’t really get out to enjoy it. So on the last day I had to myself, I decided (with a little coaxing from my husband) to go to one of my favorite places to take some pictures of spring in all it’s glory.
Because that brings me JOY.
Here’s a little preview. I’ll share more in the coming days …
~mwe
Oh, yes, it is easy to forget to choose joy. Stuck in traffic, I can either admire the spring-flowering trees, or let rage build up. Isn’t that something? Thanks for the reminder… I think I’ll keep it on my list as well!
Beautiful flowers and photos.
Thanks, Jeremy!