Can't Steal My Joy

What are you allowing to steal your joy?  

As summertime rolls around, I always feel relieved to see the sunshine and soak up some natural vitamin D again. As a therapist, I know how much brighter days can affect our mood and energy. Yet many of us still need a reminder to slow down and enjoy it—even if only for a few minutes (without getting sunburned, of course!).

A few Saturdays ago, someone asked about my plans for the weekend. My answer was simple: I was going to sit outside in my chair, enjoy the sunshine, and watch the birds. And that's exactly what I did. I read a book, took a nap, and most importantly, gave myself time to recharge.

As summer arrives, our schedules often become even busier. Between vacations, sports, family reunions, lawn care, gardening, and countless other activities, this season can sometimes feel more hectic than the rest of the year. When life starts moving too fast, I find myself returning to a simple question: What am I allowing to steal my joy?

There are certainly plenty of candidates. In fact, I once told my mom that most of mine end in "-ing." Cleaning. Gardening. Organizing. Shopping. Mowing. Can you relate? Some weekends, we simply need permission to do nothing at all—which, ironically, is an "-ing" I can fully support. Other times, we have responsibilities that can't be avoided. The key is not allowing those tasks to rob us of our peace and joy.

I often tell my clients that I am on the downhill slope of life. Looking back, there are certainly things I wish I had done differently in my younger years. But the reality is that I can't change the past. What I can do is make the most of the time I have now. I am determined to live it with greater purpose, gratitude, and peace.

So tonight, as I head out to weed the garden after the temperatures have cooled and before the mosquitoes completely take over, I'll admit it's not my favorite chore. But then I remember the reward: harvesting fresh peas, pairing them with new potatoes, and enjoying a meal that reminds me of summers at my grandmother's house, served on melamine dishes much like the ones she used.

One lesson I continually share with my clients is that we all have a circle of control. Unfortunately, there is far more outside that circle than within it. We can't control everything life brings our way, but we can choose where we place our focus. We can choose gratitude. We can choose perspective. And we can choose not to let life's frustrations steal our joy.

After all, we only get one life. Let's not spend it giving away the very joy we're meant to experience.