Well, here we are. Yet another week of July is starting. How is it possible that we are already looking at the month of August beginning in just 12 days?
I’ve always been someone who has believed that the season of Summer just flies by; however, it seems like it flies by even faster amidst a pandemic.
Anyone else feeling this or is it just me?
Well, regardless of how fast it seems to be going, it’s time to get to this week’s post.
So, grab your favorite morning side-kick beverage and get comfy because we are going to delve deep into the word of joy.
When looking up the definition of joy, I found the following:
NOUN:
-a feeling of great pleasure and happiness
While I will be the first to admit that experiencing this definition has been difficult throughout the pandemic of COVID-19, I will also be the first to admit that I’ll be DAMNED if I let it take away my joy.
Kathie Lee Gifford once said the following, which is a quote that I find resonating with me deep down recently:
“Certain things are negotiable in life. I’ll give a little more time, I’ll take a little less money–but joy–if you don’t have joy in your life, what do you have?”
Stop.
Pause.
Think about that quote.
Let me write it again, so that you can really let it sink in.
“Certain things are negotiable in life. I’ll give a little more time, I’ll take a little less money–but joy–if you don’t have joy in your life, what do you have?”
Now, more than ever, it is so important for us all to step back, examine our lives, and figure out what our joy is.
As the title of this blog says, my joy is NONNEGIOTAIBLE.
My joy is…
-Helping customers across the United States navigate a pandemic in regards to restaurant equipment and supplies needed to sustain their business and safety of all. These business are the livelihood and in some cases, helping them to save money and figure out new ways to survive in a world of unknown is priceless.
-Giving customer service representatives feedback in regards to their work to help them give service that exceeds the expectations of all customers.
-Sharing music on social media that allows people to identify emotions, feel emotions, and experience emotions.
-Eating lunch with my parents after virtual church on Sunday mornings and being able to catch up on the happenings of our lives, talk about anything and everything, and to laugh.
-Spending a night alone with some wine and episodes of The Golden Girls.
-Spending quality time with friends whom I love to enjoy each other’s company and love life despite the circumstances.
-Spending time planning the next “change the world” task for Mr. Sunshine to undertake in the new year. Why yes, that IS happening in 2021. Any guesses?
What is joy to you?
Do you know when to say “no” to people or tasks in your life because you are fully aware of the entities that you want to spend time on because they are the ones that bring you joy?
Being in this quarantine state for the past 5 months has really made me reflect on lots of different aspects of my life.
But one thing that I’m 110% sure about with no doubt in my mind are the aspects that bring me joy.
And what’s even more clear to me is the action of saying “no” to the aspects of life that don’t bring about that feeling of joy in my soul.
My joy is nonnegotiable.
So, don’t try to take it away from me.
Because you won’t.
You can’t.
It lives in my soul like a fire that ignites the passion of change in the entire world around me. The entire community of individuals who make up our families, our friends, our community, and our world.
My joy is nonnegotiable.
How does the definition of joy fill your soul?
Stop.
Pause.
Think.
“Certain things are negotiable in life. I’ll give a little more time, I’ll take a little less money–but joy–if you don’t have joy in your life, what do you have?”
Sprinkle sunshine always,
JP!
Mr. Sunshine Smiles 