Things That Bring Me Joy
Thank you to Catherine Ohrt for inspiring today’s post.
So what brings you joy?
A few months ago I attended a community gathering called A Conversation About Womanhood via Zoom. We were talking about dealing with and living through grief, and one of the panelists, Subomi Ajibola, said that in order to live through and amidst grief we must rejoice. She said that to rejoice is to reclaim our joy, and I’ve been sitting with this definition since then. The process of reclamation is claiming something back, which means, according to Subomi, that our joy is inherent and immutable.
My joy is my mother’s heartbeat after months of being far apart, nestling my head in her chest and listening to my first melodies again.
My joy is in the silence we share each day, on the phone and worlds apart. Seeing her reminds me where I come from and that I have a home.
My joy is turning down the volume of my computer and turning up the volume of music. Sometimes it is just my voice, and sometimes it is a song. My joy is in the rhythm that transports me to different places and new feelings.
My joy is waking up at 8AM on Saturday mornings as the sun peaks her head into my bedroom then floods it with her light. It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me.
My joy is being heard and seen.
My joy is laughter.
My joy is the cacophony of New York that reminds me so much of Lagos.
My joy is wearing perfume before bed because I can.
My joy is watching reality television and basking in the vast iterations of life that are possible.
My joy is writing because there was a time when I thought I would never write again after my laptop was stolen and I felt like my words were taken from me.
My joy is in overcoming.
My joy is in spontaneous nights in Williamsburg with my friend Anna that remind me I’m still alive.
My joy is lighting a candle and letting the smell waft throughout my space.
My joy is me, the happy and sad, the inspired and tired, the restless and self-assured.
Joy resides in me at all times. Joy resides in you at all times.
What are you waiting for?
Rejoice! Claim back your joy.