Yes, joy! Big resistance in and of itself to the haters and the scoffers and the beat-'em-downers. And also big fuel for the work! How else would we get our energy?
Yes, let's exercise those muscles of exultation and exhilaration! I hear your insistence on enjoying what joy there is, while not turning the face away from the suffering that dominates the experience of so many people, animals, plants, and perhaps the earth herself. Enjoyment is respect for the force of nature. Well done.
What a lovely mental image: you grinning. I like that. And yes on Simone Biles' performance: I could watch that video over and over. She's a fierce and joyous one, and she has perhaps not silenced the haters, but she certainly won big today!
Yes .. joy ... yes! Thank you for reconnecting us, and for embodying it in the blessing of rain. Also, I'm so glad you mentioned Simone Biles. I watched her tonight win the individual gold, and it felt so damn good, as they raised our flag and played the national anthem, to feel (temporarily) good about being an American again. Thank you, Simone! I also love Suni and her story of comeback from health struggles.
It feels like these five young women on the US Olympics gymnastics team are all approaching their sport with a kind of joy that transcends all they've come through, a beautiful gift that makes their gymnastics talents shine even brighter. It's also inspiring that they are a range of ages, from Hezly Rivera at 16 to Simone Biles at 27, and they come from a range of backgrounds, cultures and races. Thank you again for "seeing" me and for that great interview!
"The sharp smell of microscopic lives in the soil coming awake and beginning to respire,.. " there's so much grace in recognising the vibrancy of life all around us. The joys in seeing the kind of kindness that has steadfast conviction, has recently been the most precious to me.
Thanks much, Phyllis! I really enjoyed answering Jeanne's interview questions and in the doing, I learned new things about why I'm passionate about this work. :)
Rain after a long dry spell is joy personified. I can just smell and feel it as you describe. These two phrases: "the fizzing energy that joy brings" and "exercising the muscles of exultation and exhilaration is one of the best ways to resist the de-humanizing forces at play in the world" especially struck me. Lately, I have been thinking about joy, so the appearance of your evocative writing on joy is especially timely!
After a week of computer frazzles and news scandals I am seeking respite near the Finger Lakes National Forest and outside my morning just now while reading this I heard the rustling of birds. In the underbranches of a pine, I saw two mourning doves. "What are you two fighting about?" I wondered. Not a fight. Tells your where my head was at. I watched to erupt in joy to see their dance.
Jill, I am sorry about the computer issues and the news, and I am very glad you have a place you can retreat to near the Finger Lakes NF when you need respite! And how lovely that the mourning doves were courting to lift you out of grimness and into joy. May your day continue in beauty of all sorts.
I am enjoying the shift in energy with the events of the news. May our nation and the world be bathed in joy. My prayer for the moment. Thank you for your beautiful musings that come to my inbox. They are a fav. And since I have missed much of the Olympics I watched, with a feeling of immense joy, Simone Biles work her magic and joy on the mat. Thank you for sharing that. Tons of love and joy your way.
"May our nation and the world be bathed in joy." What a luminous prayer! Thank you for reading, Susan, and for engaging with such joy. Blessings to you!
Thank you, Susan! And congratulations on the interview and also the wonderful rain (congratulations seems in order for rain in the desert). I'm dropping in here again between trips, and your words are always orienting and grounding.
Thanks, Emily! Congratulations are indeed always in order when we get rain--it's an event to celebrate, since we're always on the knife edge between green and drought. I hope that your trips are fruitful ones, and that you're finding time to nurture you in the midst of it all.
Yes, joy! Big resistance in and of itself to the haters and the scoffers and the beat-'em-downers. And also big fuel for the work! How else would we get our energy?
Exactly! (And I love your phrase, "beat-'em-downers." I'm stealing that one! Hugs to you.
Back atcha! 🩵
Yes, let's exercise those muscles of exultation and exhilaration! I hear your insistence on enjoying what joy there is, while not turning the face away from the suffering that dominates the experience of so many people, animals, plants, and perhaps the earth herself. Enjoyment is respect for the force of nature. Well done.
"Enjoyment is respect for the force of nature." So true and well-said! Thank you, Diane.
I’m grinning! And it is impossible to watch that gymnastics performance without tears flowing like the rain in your garden. Thank you!
What a lovely mental image: you grinning. I like that. And yes on Simone Biles' performance: I could watch that video over and over. She's a fierce and joyous one, and she has perhaps not silenced the haters, but she certainly won big today!
Yes .. joy ... yes! Thank you for reconnecting us, and for embodying it in the blessing of rain. Also, I'm so glad you mentioned Simone Biles. I watched her tonight win the individual gold, and it felt so damn good, as they raised our flag and played the national anthem, to feel (temporarily) good about being an American again. Thank you, Simone! I also love Suni and her story of comeback from health struggles.
It feels like these five young women on the US Olympics gymnastics team are all approaching their sport with a kind of joy that transcends all they've come through, a beautiful gift that makes their gymnastics talents shine even brighter. It's also inspiring that they are a range of ages, from Hezly Rivera at 16 to Simone Biles at 27, and they come from a range of backgrounds, cultures and races. Thank you again for "seeing" me and for that great interview!
❤️
"The sharp smell of microscopic lives in the soil coming awake and beginning to respire,.. " there's so much grace in recognising the vibrancy of life all around us. The joys in seeing the kind of kindness that has steadfast conviction, has recently been the most precious to me.
That's the line that stood out to me, too! A beautiful, specific detail. I loved it.
Thank you, Sarah! (I love the title of your Substack, BTW. Such a great image!)
Thank you!
Congratulations, Susan! Well deserved.
Thanks much, Phyllis! I really enjoyed answering Jeanne's interview questions and in the doing, I learned new things about why I'm passionate about this work. :)
It’s a joy to find your musings in my in box!
Thank you, Jane! Many blessings to you and Jerry, and a warm hug too!
Rain after a long dry spell is joy personified. I can just smell and feel it as you describe. These two phrases: "the fizzing energy that joy brings" and "exercising the muscles of exultation and exhilaration is one of the best ways to resist the de-humanizing forces at play in the world" especially struck me. Lately, I have been thinking about joy, so the appearance of your evocative writing on joy is especially timely!
What a lovely way to express it: "joy personified." I am glad that your thinking about joy and my writing come together this way. Blessings!
After a week of computer frazzles and news scandals I am seeking respite near the Finger Lakes National Forest and outside my morning just now while reading this I heard the rustling of birds. In the underbranches of a pine, I saw two mourning doves. "What are you two fighting about?" I wondered. Not a fight. Tells your where my head was at. I watched to erupt in joy to see their dance.
Jill, I am sorry about the computer issues and the news, and I am very glad you have a place you can retreat to near the Finger Lakes NF when you need respite! And how lovely that the mourning doves were courting to lift you out of grimness and into joy. May your day continue in beauty of all sorts.
I am enjoying the shift in energy with the events of the news. May our nation and the world be bathed in joy. My prayer for the moment. Thank you for your beautiful musings that come to my inbox. They are a fav. And since I have missed much of the Olympics I watched, with a feeling of immense joy, Simone Biles work her magic and joy on the mat. Thank you for sharing that. Tons of love and joy your way.
"May our nation and the world be bathed in joy." What a luminous prayer! Thank you for reading, Susan, and for engaging with such joy. Blessings to you!
Thank you, Susan! And congratulations on the interview and also the wonderful rain (congratulations seems in order for rain in the desert). I'm dropping in here again between trips, and your words are always orienting and grounding.
Thanks, Emily! Congratulations are indeed always in order when we get rain--it's an event to celebrate, since we're always on the knife edge between green and drought. I hope that your trips are fruitful ones, and that you're finding time to nurture you in the midst of it all.
Thanks, Susan. Yes, I think I am. I’m noticing and also remembering to be particularly kind to myself during this really full time.
I'm glad. It's not easy, but good for you!
No it’s not!:)
I enJOY your writings so very much, and like the rain in the desert, your sense of timing, for those in need of your writings is miraculous 🫶
Thank you, Wendy. I am glad this came at the right time to nurture your own spring of joy! Many blessings!