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Joy

If it rains, put your ducky suit on and find some puddles. I don`t care how old you are! Most kids can easily lock into joy. After all, their needs are likely met, and the worst problem of the day might be the mound of broccoli on their dinner plates. If they’re lucky enough, they have parents who let them discover the world around them and explore their curious minds. These kids tumble into bed each night exhausted from a full day of playing hard. They aren’t thinking about how happy they are when their little eyes slam shut, they just are.

But what about us grown-ups? How do we experience joy? By that I mean, regularly enough for it to increase the serotonin levels in our brain so the slippery slope can’t gang up on us. Are we resilient enough to find that elusive happiness? With the many demands for our time, energy and resources, are we dedicating time to the important task of following our bliss?

Our friend Miriam Webster defines joy this way:

- the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: DELIGHT

- the expression or exhibition of such emotion : GAIETY

- a state of happiness or felicity : BLISS

a source or cause of delight

A happy and satisfied life is about discovering joy, all the delight, gaiety, bliss and satisfaction possible. I think Miriam did a good job defining the word joy, but really, it’s more of a feeling than a word. How would one put words to that feeling? Each of us could have a go at describing what joy feels like. We can`t help but raise our vibration by that simple act.

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Books Family Parents Spiritual

Shameful Secrets

Shame isn’t a quiet grey cloud, shame is a drowning man who claws his way on top of you, scratching and tearing your skin, pushing you under the surface.
― Kirsty Eagar, Raw Blue

This week we saw courage under the worst fire; a woman baring her shame to the world in an arena sworn to brotherly secrecy, more than half giving lip service to her pain. There was prejudgment in the highest court of the land. Her fear was real, threats to her own life as well as her family, then the ultimate expression of her shame. The long stride she took out of her comfort zone was altruistic, driven by a strong personal code of ethics and integrity that powered her resolve. She unlocked the rusty lock on her heart and turned courageously into the maelström. Under fire she remained graceful, authentic, and by doing so, was able to expose her trauma and shame, her crippling secret. May she find recovery and peace.

I won’t share too much about how I thought the other party reacted, except to say his responses under oath were at best defensive. Outrage coursed through his body as he ferociously denied all claims, and I found his frequent tongue in cheek ironic. His behaviour was shameful, far beneath expectations of someone applying for the highest legal role in the country, and belied his innocence. We will see what further evidence reveals as the next week unfolds.

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