Joy?

  

Despite the fact that the new year doesn't actually begin until the Monday when the kids go back to school, I've tried to get into a rhythm of daily readings right from the get go, on the first of January. Yay me.

Every year I commit to reading through the Bible-in-One-Year. For the last 5 years, I've been re-reading the NLT version. 

This year, just to change things up, I'm giving The Message version a try. So far, so good. I'd recommend it. 

Every year I also choose a daily devotional to read each morning. Last year's inspirational book was Trusting God with Today by Charles Stanley; I recommend it if you're looking for some encouraging words to begin your day with . 

This year, I'm redoing The Songs of Jesus (A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms) by Timothy Keller. Last time I did this one was in 2017.  

Not surprisingly, it's still applicable all these years later. 

Originally, I thought I'd commit to reading the new book I purchased this year, but it just made me angry, so I went back to my Library of Tried and True and dug up the Psalms one by Keller.

The one I am angry at? I bought it during the second week of December without looking through it first (my bad). And the more I thought about committing to reading/writing in it, the more indignant I got. 

I have a friend who has a 5 Year Diary beside her bed. Every night before she goes to sleep, she adds a line of two of the day's highlights. I admire her discipline at keeping this up night after night, year after year. This activity forces you to evaluate your day, then distill it down to the most memorable of highlights. What do you want to remember most about this day? 

The added bonus is that while you're writing today's summary, you get to read, on the same page, on the lines above, your thoughts from January 5 of last year. And the year before. 

I'll have to ask her to know for sure, but I have a feeling this type of journaling prevents your days from all running together into a blur of nothingness. 

ANYWAY, this Three Minute Journal of Joy, is a little bit similar EXCEPT THAT IT'S NOT. 

Each page is good for 3 years. I'm fine with that. A three year commitment is easier than 5. BUT...  each day is to be summed it up in ONE WORD.    ONE WORD? The good Lord created 10 million gazillion words and this journal is telling me to choose just one to describe the day? I can tell you right now, that I can't even think of one word to describe just one hour of the day. Every hour could bring an onslaught of new emotions, varied responses, wild happenings or boring nothingness.

Secondly, I'm to record what brought me joy. 

Thirdly, I'm to write down how I spread joy. 

Do you know what this forces you to do? TO THINK ABOUT JOY ALL DAY. Am I feeling it? How come? What caused it? How can I experience more of it? Is it reasonable to expect to feel joyous every single day of your live-long life? Did I spread joy? How would I know if I did? Can you intentionally spread joy? Does someone have to receive it? Or can you leave it just out there, floating, hoping someone catches it? What if you're doing something for someone and hope it makes them feel joy, but it totally doesn't? What if it annoys them? What if they had no feelings about it at all? What would you write down then? 

And since when did JOY become the point of it all?

I've been focused on gratitude. And peace... compassion... and friendship. For the past decade. Really? JOY is going to be my thing for the next three years? No thank you. What's the opposite of joy? I'll do that. 

BESIDES. TINY, WHITE, ALL-CAP FONT on LIGHT ORANGE PAGES? WHO DESIGNED THIS JOURNAL? A 13 year old girl?

So that was my attitude on New Year's Eve.

And then? On New Year's Day I thought of a word that summed up my day; "reflective'. And I thought of two things that made me feel joy. And I thought of a couple things that I'd done that maybe/might/hopefully have caused a few people to feel joy. (Shrugs shoulders. Unless they specifically tell you, "hey thanks for that; it caused me to feel joy", you never really know.) I guess the point is to just Do The Things. And not concern yourself with the results. 

Despite my intentions, I repeated it again on January 2. And January 3. And January 4. 

Today is January 5, and I've been reading various online posts about 'Choosing your Word of the Year'. Most folks who do this, prayerfully choose meaningful words and then they stick to making sure all their activities and thoughts are filtered through that word for the coming12 months. I may have done this in the past? At least I can remember choosing a noble word in January and then forgetting it by the end of the month. (Likely by the end if the week.) Unless you have that word on display in a very prominent part of your home, you have to be super intentional about keeping it in the forefront of your mind. 

With this in mind, I was pondering what my word could/should be this year? Beginnings? Adventure? Curiosity? Trust? Practice? 

And where would I post that word? On my condo door, so I am reminded of it every time I leave? On my bedroom wall? The wall only I can see from my bed? So it's visible and in my face every time I wake up? In my bathroom? What would that even look like? A post it note stuck to a surface with the word JOY scribbled on it? Or should I make it fancy? Using paints and glitter? 

And then, staring me in the face from my spot (sitting at my kitchen island) was this:

It's technically a Christmas decoration, hauled out of storage every year for the past 25 years. It really should be on a fireplace mantle, nestled amongst evergreens and holly berries, but since 2021 it spends a month every year on my kitchen counter.

Without overthinking it (HA!) I'm going to accept that my word for 2025 is JOY. The universe has spoken. This elegant silver reminder will be right here taunting me. So I will be filling in every page of this blasted peach and white journal for the next three years. If I happen to do something that brings you joy, let me know, K? 

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Yay, I have a word for 2025.

2. Due to a late night obsession to clean something, my craft cupboard, pantry, and games cabinet are all organized. 

3. It felt magical walking under and beside the brightly lit tree trunks at Cultus. It's still Christmas in my home and heart. 

(Are the things I'm thankful for the same things that bring me joy?)

Thanks for reading; feel your boobs, tip generously, don't run red lights, 

xo