What does it mean to do joy? Can we just make ourselves feel joy? What if we are doing something we don’t like or don’t want to do? Do we dare do joy when we or others are dealing with adversity or feelings of loss or fear? This is Day 5 in my thirty-one day joy challenge.
How can we bring joy to the things we don’t want or like to do? Can we feel joy and fear? Joy and loss? Joy and dissatisfaction?
Maybe if we bring our sense of curiosity and wonder even during times of uncertainty, like right now, in this time when some people and organizations are curtailing travel, conferences and others are stockpiling gloves and masks and still others are being quarantined and more.
How can we find joy in all of this? Maybe sometimes we can find a way to play with it.
As I wrote yesterday, I believe play is a door to joy. Humor is one way to play and gain perspective. That said, maybe at some point in the future people will look back at the world and appreciate all that came about because of the concerns about the coronavirus, perhaps:
- Quarantine Me! Will be the name of a new game, and a best seller.
- Some people will tell the story of the time they were relieved not to have to go to that conference, that meeting, that reunion …
- Tattoo businesses will flourish – who doesn’t want a mask-line tattoo?
- A long lasting fashion trend of hazmat suits will take shape and unisex dressing will be all the rage.
- A song or folktale will arise about the time when the world worried about the same thing.
- We’ll will look back on lower gas prices with glee!
- People may learn to relish cooking and eating at home.
And now real life interjects – literally – a friend who just read my draft of this post suggests that other readers might feel I am being insensitive. What they ask about the people who have contracted the coronavirus or those who are quarantined? How would they feel if they read this?
WHAT? Could it be I’ve run into a killjoy? … Am I a killjoy?
Let me be clear, play can be a door to joy. It can ease stress, help us relax and think clearly. It can give us perspective and help us connect with others. I don’t believe there is anything we can’t play with. Of course, play, like story is a tool and we can pick and choose when to use the tool.
And there has been fear and loss involved in this situation in all kinds of ways and for many people. I certainly don’t wish anyone additional feelings of fear, grief or loss.
Are making jokes – having a moment of joy – appropriate in a time of fear, loss, etc.?
What do you think?
Enjoy the stories and have a playful day,
Mary
