Slow and joy are both favorite things around JoyBody Studio, as you all know. But as we have entered the holiday season, I notice the same old frenetic energy mindlessly taking over. And even when we try to resist, it can feel like we’re caught up in a tsunami of to do lists and shopping and cooking and baking and well… people-ing.
And we’re supposed to feel all fa-la-la-la-la about it but that just feels like yet another added pressure.
On top of that, if you’re into Christmas and advent, it’s supposed to be a deeply spiritual season of entering into your own fecundity and seeing what is there, waiting to be born into the world when the light returns. So hurry up so you can get to your meditation/prayers/mass/whatevers.
AND one more … on top of THAT, so many people are pushing year end workshops or certifications or specials on their products/classes, etc., and the idea that if we really hustle, we can make some freaking magic in our work or our small businesses before we get to breathe for a few days around the year change. At which point, you BETTER have some damn good ideas about your goals for NEXT year because it’s COMING IN HOT!
My god. That exhausted me just writing it.
So here’s another idea: SLOW JOY.
Stop the madness. Put down the pen and paper (unless you’re journaling or writing poetry but if you’re making yet another freaking list… put it down and walk away!).
Part of this practice will be the act of saying no.
Take a moment and look around and decide what actually really truly matters.
Get rid of the rest.
Then for the rest of the month, it’s SLOW JOY time.
Every day, moment to moment, just notice the little things. Just notice. You don’t have to write them down or make art from them or wax poetic … unless you want to and it feels like it’s part of the slow joy.
I want you to notice, too, the easeful things, or more like… what would the easeful thing be? And then do that.
Notice the soft and kind things. Take them in and also create them.
And notice the giggling things. We don’t do this even a fraction enough. Seek out laughter. But also? LET YOURSELF LAUGH. I see too many people stopping their laughter.
And spoiler: I think we should continue this, like, for the rest of time.