Joy in Movement through the Journey

Wow! August already...the dog days of summertime. As I sit here and write this blog, I find myself reflecting back over a bit of time, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the world and the space around me. At the same time, a sense of joy and gratitude also exist in that same space. With a few weeks of summer vacation left and anticipating a new school year, as well as next steps here at Lion and Lamb Fitness, it is easy to find anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, but that would mean I would have to compromise being faithful to life’s process and finding joy in the journey called life. This blog is only me thinking out loud and in text so that it, hopefully, touches someone else. I am not a therapist or counselor, rather just sharing my thoughts, experiences, and connecting the dots to others, whose words and research I have found helpful in my own space. I sincerely hope you enjoy it...

Joy...what is it exactly? Well...I have looked in many spaces and could summarize that joy is a calm and contentment on the inside regardless of what is going on around me. At least, that is what I have learned through my faith teachings and reading dictionary definitions. Joy and happiness are not same nor equal. As I understand it, happiness is a fleeting feeling. For example, I can be happy about going on a vacation, seeing a friend or family member that I haven’t seen in some time, making something delicious for dinner, and the list goes on. Those single circumstances don’t necessarily fill me with the joy I’ll need to navigate through life though. With joy, I can know, through faith, that I can remain content during hard times, knowing that all things will work together for my good (Romans 8:28).

Look around though. I am reminded daily that the world that we live in could steal my joy in a moment, if I allowed it. COVID19 Delta variants, racial tension, wildfires, floods, political circumstances, social media and the feelings that can leave me with by watching other people’s snapshots of their lives (that so many times look better than the space I am in)...oh yeah, and the stuff that goes on in my day to day...ugh! The cool part is that I believe I have a choice. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, (and side note, my favorite movie of ALL TIME) said that “You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control.” As I’ve said before, I am not a therapist or a counselor, and if you are struggling, finding professional support is an amazing gift and something I am not ashamed to say that I have taken advantage of in my life. A favorite preacher of mine, Joyce Meyer, also shared in her book, Battlefield of the Mind, “One of the greatest revelations of my life is: I can choose my thoughts and think things on purpose. In other words, I don’t have to just think about whatever falls into my mind.” Quotes like these give me gentle reminders about the opportunity that I have to choose, and when I can choose movement...it helps me so very much, whether I choose to move my body through walking the dogs, exercising, or gardening or moving my mind to learn something new...maybe a new yoga pose, maybe reading about new things for my jobs, or taking a professional development/certification.