Snacking on Joy. By my sister Judith.

Tagging along with my sister Deb on her journey through her frightening disease has caused me to face mortality more forthrightly than I ever have in my life. But accepting mortality has not led to sadness or despair. Rather, it has led me to cherish life more than ever. I’d like to share what I’ve learned.

I recently read an article in the Washington Post about how to enhance joy in one’s life by savoring it in small pleasures – “snacks” of joy, if you will. This immediately brought to mind an ongoing conversation Deb and I have been having about mindfulness –being totally present in each moment, rather than thinking about how we are going to remember it or what we will say about it. It is so easy to miss an actual experience because we are categorizing it or creating a memory. The mindfulness we have been discussing goes well with the concept of snacks of joy. And with daily doses of joy, comes gratitude for having them. We can feel gratitude on a daily basis for the small gifts life bestows on us. We may be crying more these days, but we are also feeling joy and gratitude deeply.

Judith wrote that a while ago but I’ve been saving it and I’m happy to share it tonight.

My snack of joy today was as simple as putting eye make up on. It’s been 10 days since the pink eye, and I finally can wear mascara again.

My snack of joy today was feeling well enough to get my haircut and picking up Judith and going to the mall.

My snack of joy today was buying some new shorts that fit and two bikinis. I had to first ask myself if bikinis are appropriate for a 63 year old woman. I quickly answered myself sure why not? If not now, when?

My snack of joy today was having dinner with Lee and Mike at Whiskey Joe’s on the river.

I like the concept of snacks of joy a lot. It is such a simple idea, but one that we often push aside in favor of stewing or fretting or feeling negative. Quite simply, we all need constant reminders to savor the snacks of joy that come our way and/or to create snacks in what may seem to be a food desert.