Joy of Nothing

I was recently introduced to a song by Foy Vance – Joy of Nothing. I find myself sitting still several times a day just to listen to and soak up this song. The lyrics I cling to that so deeply touch my soul:

The joy of nothing is a sweeter something

And I will hold it in my heart

I will hold it in my heart.

Earlier this week marked the 38^th anniversary of my parents deciding to take a chance, believe in their love, and say yes to making a go at spending the rest of their lives together. From their love my sisters and I were brought into this world so talking about things I’m grateful for doesn’t make sense without mentioning them. They instilled many of the core foundations and beliefs I hold so dearly today.

Moomy and Daddy, I don’t tell you enough and in case you ever question your legacy, don’t. And if you do, please read and re-read this. You’ve given me so much more than what I’m about to list, but here are some of the things I think of most often. Thank you for giving and teaching me:

-       An innate respect for all things living.

-       An ability to ignore and not take part in gossip. To discover truths about people on my own. I have the utmost respect for your elegance and privacy.

-       That the importance of following passion, discovering your own path, and following your heart is always the right direction. I will forever remember a conversation my dad and I once had. He told me that life is a road. We all have a road we set out on and as we walk along our road, there are road signs, streets, and people enticing us to get off and go on a different road or into the bushes. He said sometimes we will go a different direction and that it’s okay but to always make sure to come back to our road. I am so thankful to have been encouraged to discover and stay true to ME and to get rid of the people who don’t fit.

-       To enthusiastically say yes when someone asks for help and that no matter how many dollars are in the bank, there is always something to give.

-       An ability, passion, and respect for hard work.

-       A belief in education and lifelong learning. An understanding that credentials don’t make someone ‘educated’ or ‘smart’.
-   That family is sacred.

-       The value of laughter and not bringing stress into a relationship. There is a ginormous difference between being able to lean on one another without burdening one another. Disagreements aren’t solved by yelling and being nasty. I watched and now value the strength it takes to have an incredibly soft, compassionate, and loving heart while simultaneously knowing how to say no, have self-respect, and set boundaries.

    And while I’m at it…some other things I’m grateful for:

-       I don’t know what it means to be hungry. I am incredibly wealthy to have never had to miss a meal.

-      My mind. I love to learn and think. I love having the ability to get lost in books, art, and experiences. I’m grateful I don’t know what it means to be bored.

-       My body. I’m continually blown away by how seamlessly my body works. Sure, there are days I feel less than stellar but I can breathe easily and digest my food. I can see, eat, and have four fully functioning limbs. I find much joy both in using my body to be physically active and to sit in stillness enraptured by my senses. I LOVE being alive.

-       My relationships. From my best friends to the acquaintances in my life, it blows my mind that all the people I’m in regular communication with are people I adore and respect. I often find my heart overwhelmed with the love I have for the people in my life and am grateful for the never-ending expansiveness of the heart. Loving has become sort of an addiction and it couldn’t be more sweet.

-      My work. I’m grateful for the ability to share the magic of movement, the incredible instructors who share this passion, our dedicated and inspiring clients, and the numerous amount of family, friends, and mentors who have supported and encouraged along the way.

-       My “skittles” (cats). They are batty, quirky, make me laugh, move my heart, and keep me warm at night. They are purrrrrrrfect! J

-       All things simple. My gratitude list could go on for miles and what I always come back to is that the things, people, and experiences that make me most happy are the most simple. It’s those moments when two friends come together with mussed up hair and weird outfits to share an evening of hysterical laughter, dress-up, and tears. It’s every morning the sun rises yet again and we have another go at writing a page of our life story. It’s keeping in mind how important life is and how non-important the noise is. It’s the loud uncontrollable laughter, the hugs, the love that exists everywhere around us, and the desire to slow down, pause and take notice.
   
    What am I most thankful for? That I can so deeply feel the joy of nothing.