What Brings You Joy?

Where is your Happy Place?

When our summer home, the lake house or cabin as we call in the south, sold, I lost mine. I lost my place, the place you go to get away. The place where you call your “home away from home.” This place was my happy place. Yes, I still have memories and photographs to look through. But my place of peace and writing, my home of 30+ summers, was now gone. All the friends, family, and loved ones that shared this special place know how wonderful it was. But, at the end of Summer 2017, it was time to let go.

It’s now summer again, with new beginnings, new memories, I wonder where will my new place be? Where will I write? Well, right now in the comfort of my own clean living room. Yes, I said clean! Isn’t that exciting! Ok, maybe that’s one of the small joys in life for me. But, what about you; what in life (big or small) brings you joy?

What or Where brings you Joy?

Is it a warm bath at the end of a hard corporate business week? Is it going to the gym where you can release anger, frustration, and angst you have against the world? Or is it at church worshiping God our Father? Singing, “Just As I Am, Thank God!” Praise be his name! “I come broken to be mended, wounded to be healed, desperate to be rescued, and empty to be filled.” All He asks us to do is to come as we are, John 6:37. Without God we are lost and “by the blood of Christ the Lamb” we are saved and accepted by Him.

We have so little to give (so we think), and most of the time we give so little. We give it to God, and he makes something wonderful, something so glorious!  Even when we think we’ve done all we can and there is nothing left.  God makes something amazing!

I think of my trip to Honduras, and how little those people have. They have less than us here in the good ‘ol U.S. of A. But, their hearts and spirits are so full; hearts that are so full of joy and love!

I sat and thought about what brings me joy. Here are my answers. Some maybe funny, weird, or crazy, and some heart felt.

Warm Bath– Yes I am that person that likes to unwind at the end of the day. I try to make it a nightly ritual, however with the girls, it’s not always that easy. We have a “set bedtime” and try to keep our normal patterns with them.

Anyone who has ever fostered a child, or had a child with specialty needs, knows that having a routine is gold. Ones off, it is so hard to get settled. Routines are good for everyone. It helps prepare you for the day. Routines allow structure in this chaotic world. Having a routine allows you to develop good habits so that you can fulfill your ultimate goals in life.

Waxing– Such a painful, yet satisfying moment during the month. Anyone who deals with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) knows the life. Part of it is unwanted facial hair. Some choose to shave it, wax it, thread it, electrolysis, and others just deal with it. Well, during the process of fertility treatments, weight gain, and irregular menstrual, came the unwanted facial hair. Yes, I said it. The thing everyone can see, but no one talks about except under a whisper. Girl, I know what your saying, I don’t have to hear you say it.

Well after a good cry and self-pity, I decided to do something about it. I decided to choose what brought me most joy in life. Joys can change, and that is ok! I use to get manicures, but after a while, I realized not only do I grow a lot of hair, I also grow a lot of nail. So I decided to change it up, and use the money from my nails, and start waxing. (I actually saved some money.) Yes, at times it is painful, but the after effect and feeling I get is the best. I feel free for a moment of one of many symptoms. Guys, this is real life stuff. The struggle is real! I may later on do a post on PCOS symptoms, geared mainly towards this one. But for now, I will leave it at this… Do what makes you happy!

Exercise– Do what makes you happy! If you feel good about it afterwards (non-guilt) keep doing it! There for a while, I would get monthly massages. They were amazing, relaxing, especially after a long stressful month trying to meet your productivity goals at the office. Having an office job has its highs and lows, one of the lows being stress, and lack of movement. Of course once I started treatments and the weight gain got out of control, I wanted to do something about that as well. I switched from massages to working out at OTF or Orange Theory Fitness.

It was glorious! Yes, there were days I thought I “might die,” but I kept doing it. Weight gain, is another post for another time, but I’ll leave you with this. HITT workouts have been pretty amazing. It was like a drug high. I felt so good about myself, and my accomplishments. I felt healthy and strong. During the times I didn’t think I could do it, I would close my eyes, picture my happy place (Mountain view at San Ramon), and press on.

Cleaning toilets– Yes, I said it! Cleaning toilets brings me joy! This sounds so strange, but anyone that has gone to a third world country should also find joy in cleaning a functioning, American style toilet. After my trip to Honduras, I had so much appreciation for our finer things in life, indoor plumbing and air conditioning.  Two things we take for granted here in America.  It is the little things in life that make things so grand and filled with joy!

I loved meeting the people in Honduras. Their land was so beautiful! (One of the views is my go to happy place.) I remember a hike we went on in what I believe was San Ramon. The view was breath taking! If I remember correctly, there were about three different countries you could see from the top of the mountain. The hike was very challenging! There were times I wanted to go back, I wanted to quit. Philippians 3:14, “I pressed on.” I wanted to “see the prize.” I wanted to see what God had in store for me at the end.

At that moment, when I reach the top, I looked at the view, took a deep breath, and with tears in my eyes, I thanked God. Philippians 4:13, is what I chanted to myself the whole way up. “I CAN Do all Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me.” All these little kids from Honduras ran beside me (without shoes mind you.) They kept saying “vamos! vamos!” English transition, “let’s go” or “come on!” These kids knew what was at the top. They were so excited to share it with us, such beauty at the top. The children knew what God had made, and wanted to show us! Show us His good works, His creation.

So many times we take our lives for granted. What we know, and what God shows us. We need to show others, tell others. I hope my blog allows me to do the same. To tell others my story, to show others what God has done for me. Has it been easy? No! It has been hard, tiring, sleepless nights, what seemed like endless days of meetings, court costs, tears, and heartaches. Yes. But I tell you, Philippians 4:8-9, “what ever is… true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good….” All of these are “praiseworthy,” put these into practice, share with others, and God will be with you through it all, through “the prize.”

What is it that brings you joy? I would love to hear you share in the comments.