Good question Lost One Flow

Came across a book when I was much younger titled ‘Surprised by Joy’. I’ve always liked that title. It hasn’t been my experience that one can ‘find’ joy, seek it out as if it was a something that you could hold onto. My experience of it is that its a something that happens and surprises, the surprise part of the experience of joy.

This morning I was at a yoga class.  Everyone moving from flow to flow of the routine similar to the other mornings.   Anyway during the class I catch a glimpse  in the mirror of everyone bending and twisting, and could help but wonder of the absurdity of it… but then also a kind of beauty of everyone showing up, struggling through, sometimes if just a moment flowing through.  In that absurdity of the moment I was surprised by joy.

Each of us it turns out have questioned the sanity of getting up at that early hour, especially those days when we arn’t feeling our best and if asked what is the point couldn’t answer. But you show up, engage with the moment, with life as it is, in all its routine absurd struggle and sometimes surprised by the wonder of it and in the wonder joy?

Like a yoga class life will find you twisted up in routine of work and family obligations.. but maybe if one creates the space for it, will glance in the mirror and noting the absurdity of all our striving also see the beauty and be surprised by joy.

I wonder Lost1Flow if the answer to your question is in your avatar name – Create some space within and find the flow.

Thanks for your story and reminding me/us Lost1Flow that if we can create even just a small space to flow that surprises can happen.

I wish you well as you re-engage with your flow. 🙂

Stillness is what creates love,
Movement is what creates life,
To be still, Yet still moving
– That is everything! – Do Hyun Choe

Movement is  time, stillness is eternity. Realizing the relationship of the temporal moment to the eternal—not moment, but forever—is the sense of life. Realizing how this moment in your life is actually a moment of eternity. (Love) – Joseph Campbell

Dear Lost1Flow,

good to hear from you again!

Throw in additional obstacles like chronic illness, making even the daily slug exhausting, and once that hour comes, just too tired to even enjoy it?

I sometimes feel the same, because I too suffer from health problems that are turning chronic, and it’s hard to accept that I can’t do things that used to give me joy.

But I think that perhaps you’re feeling down and hopeless also because of the circumstances you live in, which you were talking about in your previous thread. This is what you said then:

My life is just such a sad existence of going to work, dealing with them, and being too exhausted for much else.

You were completely dedicated you helping your mother take care of your sick father and grandmother. And you felt it’s impossible for you to get out of that circle.

How is it now? Have things moved in any direction?

Dear Lost1Flow

I dont know if you have access to an outside space where you live – we have a small courtyard and over the last few months I have put a small bench which has flower containers as part of it. I enjoy swapping out seasonal plants and have bird feeders I find it a mini paradise where I can relax & recharge my batteries, plus I can see the courtyard from kitchen& dining room so even in inclement weather it still lifts my spirits. Even indoors a small corner nicely set out can help give a few moments of respite respite I have a small zen garden that I enjoy playing with.

Best wishes

Dear Lost1Flow,

what a great question! For me personally, joy comes mostly from interacting with people and fostering relationships, sharing things with my loved ones and creating experiences. There are things I enjoy on my own, cooking and gym, for example but sharing those meals brings so much more meaning. It really is simple in the end (I think), today I am making dinner for one of my best friends, might be able to squeeze a workout in and that’s it. Hopefully will make for a good sleep. They say chasing happiness prevents experiencing it, there is perhaps something to it. I think what Peter and Roberta said hits the nail on the head, small things matter, we all go through the motions.