If it brings you joy – just do it!

A cheery hello Tuesday to you all,

Today I have a simple question for you –  and the question is this – what do these things have in common?

1. Watching pelicans fly in and land on the ocean during a brisk morning beach stroll

2. Tap dancing to a funky tune in the kitchen

3. Drumming along on practise pads, to some cool tunes with ear phones blaring

4. Spending a few hours in silent contemplation

5. Sharing a delicious meal with good friends

6. Bicycling around a new town

7. Colouring in with crayons in a super large children’s book

8. Walking in nature

If you guessed that they are things that I love to do – you would be right. And today it suddenly struck me that doing the things you love – no matter how silly, or insignificant, or strange they may appear to others, is indeed what lifts the soul and fills you up with joy.

So why is this an important thing to know?

Because when you are feeling a little down or a little blue, it is great to know that there is a special place of solace that you can go to. And for each and every person this place will be different. So it is really good to take the time to discover just what those things are, that really fill you up and reignite your soul with a joy for life. Take the tie to discover what activities, really charge your batteries and put a smile on your face?

It can be an outside activity, an indoor activity, something you enjoy alone or something you do with others. It can be quirky and weird or it can be quite mundane and ordinary. There are no rules here at all – and what gives you a buzz, may no doubt be a bore for someone else ha ha .

The point is – you need to know how to go to “your happy place”.

You need to know where that place is.

And you need to know how to get there.

Whilst preparing for some work today, I was listening to some music on my new Bose headphones, and before I knew it, I had a smile on my face, my feet were tapping along and my fingers were drumming to the beat on the table. I was more conscious of this as I was sitting in a cafe, and I have never worn headphones in a cafe before. Not wanting to bother anyone with my music, I threw the headphones on and very soon I was jiggling about and dancing away in my seat. Swaying to the beat and accentuating all the accents in the music with a strong head nodding of sorts ha ha.

It was because I was in a public setting, where people are usually a little quiet and reserved, participating in conversation, that I became aware of how much my body was oozing joy and excitement as I swayed along to the music. I suddenly had an epiphany, that listening to music and creating movement and rhythm brought me incredible joy. And I did not need any sort of financial renumeration to do it. I mean, I was sitting having breakfast at the time.

I soon paid my bill and found myself, headphones securely fastened to my head, in the rather brisk morning air, tapping along the promenade and looking out into the ocean. It was a glorious Sydney day and in that moment, despite everything else that was calling me for the day, I just felt totally connected to me.

All my problems and cares just washed away.

All the stuff of everyday life became meaningless.

All the work that needed to get done, faded into insignificance for that moment and I was simply full of JOY.

Joy. Joy. Joy.

Love. Love. Love.

Thanks. Thanks. Thanks.

That is all I felt.

And I thought to myself, as I continued to tap dance along, under that tree with all the seagulls flying about – wow – how could I have missed something so simple for so long.

What could be better than listening to some funky tunes, on a stunning Sydney morning, wrapped up in a warm coat and tap dancing under a tree?

You see – it is these little things that count. These quirky little affectations that are unique to us all – and that make us who we are, that truly bring us the most joy. So you have to let them out and allow them to be fully expressed and free.

You may love baking biscuits in your undies.

You may love painting fruit.

You may love the challenge of suduko.

You may love singing opera at full pelt in the shower.

You may love coaching junior soccer on a Saturday.

You may love snowboarding with a weird hat on.

You may love disappearing into a good book.

You may love volunteering with a community organisation.

You may like dressing up as a clown and washing car windows.

Whatever it is – that makes your soul fill up and your face grin from ear to ear….then do it.

Feed your soul.

Nurture this little quirky you.

Celebrate your “weirdness” and let it flow out of you like a damn that has burst its banks.

For this my friends is where the JOY lies.

This is where the JOY manifests.

This is where the JOY expands and grows.

So bring your JOY out of hibernation and get to expressing yourself in ways that bring you true JOY.

Allow your soul to fly.

Allow your heart to sing.

And allow yourself to fully experience the quirky, joyous, fruity little being that you are.

The JOY isn’t out there  - the JOY is in You.

Who knew?

#DiscoverYou. #LoveYou, #BeYou

Christine