I spent this past weekend practicing, over and over, finding delight. I admit I haven’t read Ross Gay’s famous book on the subject (The Book of Delights), but I’ve listened to him on a few podcasts, and OH. Soooo good. (Here’s one: How to Let Joy Heal Us with Ross Gay.)
I’ve been thinking about both how much we need delight in this time when the waves are so choppy, and also how much finding delight is an intentional practice. Like any other “exercise,” we may feel resistant to starting a search for delight. Just as our bodies would much prefer to conserve energy rather than do a workout, our brains fall subject to their well-worn negativity biases. And actively seeking small delights doesn’t necessarily come as a natural habit.
How can I find delight right now, when so much is so dark, in the broader world and in my world? Because I must. Because there are still delights to be had. Finding the good and the glimmers is not a Pollyanna exercise in denying either the disasters around us or our daily distress. It is life-giving.
Today as I write, I’m choosing to recall the delights I found this weekend. Why? To re-live them here with you, just for a moment. For another smile.
On Friday, a walk with a friend, short and sweet, into Hillwood’s gardens. Just one hour that changed my mood. Then candles and fresh-from-the-oven Kineret frozen-turned chewy warm challah to ring in Shabbat. A few episodes of The Good Doctor to follow the ups and downs of amazing autistic surgeon Shaun Murphy and watch some lives being saved.
On Saturday, the smell of challah French toast greeting me as I woke. A rare treat in the form of taking a Saturday class, online, about book publishing. Sharing my son’s excited joy about his new pair of very cool sneakers. Finding daffodils and crocuses in bloom, on a neighborhood walk with two long-time friends. And a dinner at the house of a dear friend who reminded me that YES it’s okay to ask someone if they are available for dinner that same night. If they aren’t, no worries. And if they are, OH the joy of spontaneity!
Then Sunday, despite the clock change disorientation, sunshine. Morning yoga. A date with my 12-year old at the National Zoo, where a baby chimp swung, played, and teased, and a Komodo dragon followed us, scratching on the glass. Finding an adorable “Hang in There” t-shirt at the gift shop. A connective phone check-in with my parents. More Shaun Murphy, and some parental-obligation-paperwork done on the couch with my husband, our togetherness lightening the load.
All this, while the world spins. All this, while my world spins. So much delight, packed into 48 little hours.
What were a few of your delights this past week? Please share in comments below, so that your delights can be ours, too.
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