finding joy 1/22
week in joy:
happiness is
Welcome to the new subscribers who joined up this week. This is my thirtysomething (I stopped counting) edition of Finding Joy, something I do each Monday where I review the small (or large) joys I experienced during the week. This allows me to concentrate on all the good things that happen amidst the terrible state of the world (and sometimes my life).
This was a good week, probably my best in a long time. I didn't have any major catastrophes, good things happened, and I was happy for most all of it. I've been feeling pretty good lately, so much so that I put therapy on hold for a while. I had been feeling like each week in therapy was an exercise in dredging up old stuff that I am over. It was making me feel bad instead of good. That's not to say the previous months didn't help; my therapist did a great deal to get me to this spot where I am content and happy. It felt good, though, to say: I don't need this right now. Mentally, I am in a better place than I've been since about 2011. Let's call that a small joy.
so long sucker
Big new on the hockey fan front this week. My beloved Islanders fired their coach - deservingly - and I am ecstatic. Lambert was the wrong fit for this team and wasn't getting anywhere with them. I'd been waiting months for him to get fired. And while it seems weird to cheer on someone losing his job, that's sports. He'll land another NHL job somewhere along the line. Meanwhile, the team has a new coach that will hopefully get more out of them than Lambert did. This was reason to celebrate.
pretzels and socializing
Thursday night I went to a work holiday dinner. I've only been working at the museum for a couple of weeks, but everyone made me feel really welcome and at home. I also ate some of a pretzel that was as big as my head. It was nice to be social after spending most of the week hibernating. I'm not a very social person, I'm not great in a large group of people, but everyone I work with is so nice that I ended up having a really good time. It feels good to work with people I genuinely like and go to a job I enjoy. Speaking of, the museum has put me in charge of their newsletter, and I am going to run with it. It's great to be in a job where I get to use my skills.
a new addition
This might not seem like a big joy to you but I had to buy a third shelf for my CDs and I'm thrilled about it. I'm trying to recreate my old CD collection (with newer additions as well) and I was so happy to add a third row. I spend a lot of time at home, especially in the winter, and I am always listening to music. I get such joy out of getting new CDs and albums in the mail, and watchingmy collection grow brings me happiness.
new music
Speaking of music, I'd like to introduce you to a new favorite band whose music brings me such joy. They are called A Place for Owls and they are from Denver. Their music is sweet and charming and warm; I feel a real sense of comfort listening to them. They remind me a bit of one of my favorite bands, Manchester Orchestra, and that is a high compliment from me. I got this album in the mail this week and these songs playing while the snow was falling just felt so right. Please check them out.
in other news
Professional weirdo Ron DeSantis suspended his run for president, and while that is a great joy in and of itself, it brought us this tweet. A+.
breakthrough
My biggest joy this week? If you read Friday's newsletter, you know. I had a ig mental/emotional breakthrough this week in which I realized that my husband leaving me three years ago this month was the best thing to ever happen to me. I am free. I am mostly healed. I have stopped grieving. This, to me, is joyous.
I hope you had a great week and that they days ahead are filled with joy. Thank you, as always, for being here with me on my journey (sorry the photos are so big, I don't know how to resize them on here).