An endless supply? Of anything? That’s like 365 days of Christmas forever! Ideas flood instantly into my mind; a myriad of concrete, tangible possibilities crowd in. I imagined it would be so easy to choose until I hesitated to reflect on the possible consequences of my choice. So, I must consider thoughtfully and carefully, because too much of a good thing could easily turn bad; remember King Midas.
Cheesecake? Tempting, but definitely, an unhealthy option, predisposing weight gain and an early death. I can imagine my dinner guests remarking, “Oh, cheesecake…again?”. Timing is important, too. There was a time I might have chosen toilet paper, but that is so last year. Money? feels too crass, lowbrow, narcissistic, plus everyone knows that money doesn’t bring happiness (just ask Mr. Trump). Philanthropy, of course, is an option, though I’m guessing that Melinda Gates deals with obstacles, issues, and logistics as she seeks to donate all of her vast, yet finite, supply (and I definitely don’t need more complexity in my life). Shoes or clothes? Give me some jeans, t-shirts, and a few pairs of comfortable footwear. I will admit that “books” was a tempting option, but I can only read so fast, have been downsizing my library (which already includes a lifetime of unread books, and I find great enjoyment in the challenge of locating the cheapest used books on the internet.
“The things that bring us joy are rarely things”, and, honestly, I don’t need more stuff. We have been intentional in our downsizing efforts, prompted by the fact that our kids don’t need/want any of our things, though we still have a long way to go. Too many clothes, too many crockpots, too many games, too much dental floss and all of the other items bought on sale in order to save a few cents. I’ve reached a stage where possessions often seem more of a burden than a blessing. The truth is, I really don’t need anything, I have been blessed beyond measure, I lack nothing (thank you, God).
So, I’m choosing an endless supply of joy. My personality tends toward a very mild chronic depressive mood (half glass empty), so exuberant joy is something I don’t always feel. I’m not sad, I just don’t relate to the song “Happy Happy Joy Joy" by Stinky Wizzleteats (yes, that’s a thing, Google it). The psalmist promised that joy comes in the morning- but, what if it never had to come, was just always there? Helen Keller, who had every reason not to be joyful, knew all about it: “Joy is that holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow”; I want that. Mother Teresa wisely said “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls”; count me in. Danielle LaPorte believes “Joy is the most magnetic force in the universe”. Carlos Santana: "If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment"; let me be a healer. Endless joy, a win-win for me and for everyone I come in contact with. Endless joy- just like 365 days of Christmas forever!
— cmshingle
Cheesecake? Tempting, but definitely, an unhealthy option, predisposing weight gain and an early death. I can imagine my dinner guests remarking, “Oh, cheesecake…again?”. Timing is important, too. There was a time I might have chosen toilet paper, but that is so last year. Money? feels too crass, lowbrow, narcissistic, plus everyone knows that money doesn’t bring happiness (just ask Mr. Trump). Philanthropy, of course, is an option, though I’m guessing that Melinda Gates deals with obstacles, issues, and logistics as she seeks to donate all of her vast, yet finite, supply (and I definitely don’t need more complexity in my life). Shoes or clothes? Give me some jeans, t-shirts, and a few pairs of comfortable footwear. I will admit that “books” was a tempting option, but I can only read so fast, have been downsizing my library (which already includes a lifetime of unread books, and I find great enjoyment in the challenge of locating the cheapest used books on the internet.
“The things that bring us joy are rarely things”, and, honestly, I don’t need more stuff. We have been intentional in our downsizing efforts, prompted by the fact that our kids don’t need/want any of our things, though we still have a long way to go. Too many clothes, too many crockpots, too many games, too much dental floss and all of the other items bought on sale in order to save a few cents. I’ve reached a stage where possessions often seem more of a burden than a blessing. The truth is, I really don’t need anything, I have been blessed beyond measure, I lack nothing (thank you, God).
So, I’m choosing an endless supply of joy. My personality tends toward a very mild chronic depressive mood (half glass empty), so exuberant joy is something I don’t always feel. I’m not sad, I just don’t relate to the song “Happy Happy Joy Joy" by Stinky Wizzleteats (yes, that’s a thing, Google it). The psalmist promised that joy comes in the morning- but, what if it never had to come, was just always there? Helen Keller, who had every reason not to be joyful, knew all about it: “Joy is that holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow”; I want that. Mother Teresa wisely said “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls”; count me in. Danielle LaPorte believes “Joy is the most magnetic force in the universe”. Carlos Santana: "If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment"; let me be a healer. Endless joy, a win-win for me and for everyone I come in contact with. Endless joy- just like 365 days of Christmas forever!
— cmshingle
Comments
Post a Comment