How Much Joy?

Sunday I went to a concert at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater with my daughters and granddaughter. It was a tribute to the music of Peter, Paul and Mary and the trio of singers included a singer I love to listen to, Ann Reed. This was the first live concert I have attended in years. I had forgotten

How Much Joy

I felt listening to live music. It was a vivid reminder to me to actively plan to do things which bring me joy in my life.

I thought I was choosing joy often. And I was, sort of. But the pandemic and growing older has had a way of narrowing my life to home, family, photography and nature. Don’t get me wrong I love all those things and they bring me joy. But there are other things which also bring me joy that I let go of along the way for various reasons.

I wish I could describe how totally filled with joy I felt sitting in the small dark theater listening to folk music that I love. It was one of the best days of the past few years for me. I left the theater determined to seek out more opportunities to go and listen to music in small live venues.

The Mystery

By now I know it’s impossible
to make someone else
fall in love with the world,
so when you say to me,
Look, Mom, the sky, it’s so beautiful,
and you stand there in the glow of sunset,
soft pink shining on your face,
I fall more in love not only with you
but with whatever it is
that opens us to wonder—
whatever grand mystery it is
that breathes warmth on our tight scales
and whispers to us, open,
then helps us get out of our own way
as one by one the petals unfurl,
and my god, the beauty,
the mystery, the beauty.

   — Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Another activity that I love but haven’t done for years and years is to go to plays, especially those presented by amateur groups. I love the energy of people who are acting in plays simply for the love of acting.

Don’t Stop Living Before You’re Done

I realized that I am ready to go out and seek out the kind of music and plays that I love and to find loved ones and friends who would like to go with me to them. Sunday at the concert my daughters, granddaughter and I were laughing as we looked around at the audience around us. My daughters and granddaughter were probably the youngest ones there. Yet they enjoyed the music immensely as well.

It was a great reminder to me to keep on seeking out experiences that bring me joy. I want to live as fully and joyfully as I can for as long as I can. How about you? Are there things that bring you joy that you’ve stopped doing for one reason or another? How much joy can you embrace?

May you walk in beauty.

Note: The reflections in the pond this morning were beautiful.