Thursday, March 14, 2019

Day 9: Gratitude sparks joy

The weather was beautiful today and the flowers in my garden are starting to bloom.  I was overwhelmed with contentment.

It was a bit of a disaster of an evening.  I was trying to cook a nice italian dinner. Kids had lots of homework.  In the end,  the house was destroyed.  Dinner was a success.  Homework was completed by 9pm and I was too tired and sore to deal with the aftermath.  Guess who will be scrubbing the kitchen at 6am...  this girl.

But none the less I found myself completely unphasied. Two squirrelly boys having a hard time with homework.  Cool.  Crying and fighting at my feet while i'm handling boiled water.  Yep,  I've done it before.  I was magically cool though what seemed to be a hard evening. But why?

The weather.
Gratitude sparks joy.

In Michigan,  where I grew up the first 50 degree day is celebrated with bbq, frisbee and shorts. It's like a holiday.  Everyone in the whole state is happy.

I had to check out Marie Kondo. I have my own random obsession with organization,  especially of clothes and toys and I was curious to learn if there would be any tips for me.

I was struck by her concept of items striking joy.

I was struck by my calm happy demeanor stemming from the beautiful weather.

I pondered this while i put the kids to bed and realized how deep the connection between gratitude and joy really is.

When things suck for a long time and suddenly they stop sucking... getting a new car after not having one,  starting a relationship after being lonely,  a job when you are broke,  good weather after winter,  health after sickness. 

There is joy.
Deep joy.
Because there is gratitude.
Authentic,  unabashed gratitude. 

In those times I don't choose to be grateful.  I can choose nothing other than gratitude.

It is hard to find gratitude when things are generally ok. Or at least the all encompassing gratitude that sparks joy.

I think life has to slow down enough for the heart to search out gratitude and to be moved to joy from it.

When I move slower,  my heart can meditate on those things that mean the most to me. 
I can find gratitude. 
Joy follows. 

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