This sounds amazing, Lou! Congratulations on The Joy Experiment. It's so weird that your post should arrive in my inbox just now. Last week I started the Writing in the Dark writing intensive, in which Jeannine Ouellette pointed me to The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. In it he challenged himself to find and write about "a delight" every day. Then I stumbled on an interview with Dascher Keltner on the podcast On Being called "The Thrilling New Science of Awe." Now, The Joy Experiment. I tend to be pretty slow to pick up on signals but do you think the Universe might be trying to tell me something? Anyway, this sounds really cool and I can't wait to see what unfolds as you take this forward. My joy experiment this month is taking up Gay's practice of finding and writing about delight each day. And so far it's been really fun.
I also love Lou’s timing! I’m in the middle of learning to shuffle dance at 56 after a lifetime of telling myself I’m not a dancer - all as part of an experiment to be more playful. Thanks for creating a space for us to connect with like minded people, Lou!
I'm so looking forward to seeing you do the running man, Yvonne! 💃 I'm really excited for a bunch of us just cheering each other as we inject not just purpose, but also FUN and PLAY into our lives. So happy you're here!
Oooh - thanks for mentioning that book by Ross Gay. I've been meaning to pick that up. I'm going to do that now before I forget again! (okay, done!) I think the universe is indeed sending us some signs, Cathy! Thank you for being a Lounger! 😉
I totally agree in your experiment to find joy in small pursuits, not just the expensive, “once in a lifetime” big events. I try to visit places in my town I’ve never been, or enroll in free or low cost online courses to find joy in simply learning.
This goes along with my current post 'Do The Happy Dance'. I hope you'll take a quick look at it. It's like the prequel to yours! Thanks for your thoughts and inspiration.
I just joined The Lounge. Thank you. I’m pretty good at trying new things, I think. This structured way to challenge and commiserate will be a new thing for me as I’m very much okay to try things on my own. For my 70th birthday, two weeks ago, I attended my first drum circle. It won’t be my last.
Have you read Meditations for Mortals? It’s pretty wonderful and I think you might enjoy it. Looking up your other writing and book suggestions—thank you 💕
Enjoyed reading this. Slow productivity is a great concept, and the Joy Experiment sounds amazing. I also aspire to feel 'astonishingly alive', thanks, Lou.
Way to go pulling in the joy Lou! I have been struggling with a similar disconnect and am unwilling to carry on like this, it’s too much. In my effort to change things I am getting back into the cold water to shake up my system. I’ve done it before and it works like a charm but, as so often happens, I’ve got away from it.
That's the word: Disconnected. I've been trying to describe the odd feeling I was having last year. Thank you! I'm so curious — are you talking about the morning cold water plunge? Or swimming in cold water? Or was it a metaphor for something else 😅. (I can be dense at times!)
To make it easy I just step into the cold shower. Going down to our frozen lake and cutting a hole in the ice is too much for me🤣 However, me stepping into cold water is a miracle because I have a big aversion to cold so it’s been a great way to do the thing I never thought I could do.
This sounds amazing, Lou! Congratulations on The Joy Experiment. It's so weird that your post should arrive in my inbox just now. Last week I started the Writing in the Dark writing intensive, in which Jeannine Ouellette pointed me to The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. In it he challenged himself to find and write about "a delight" every day. Then I stumbled on an interview with Dascher Keltner on the podcast On Being called "The Thrilling New Science of Awe." Now, The Joy Experiment. I tend to be pretty slow to pick up on signals but do you think the Universe might be trying to tell me something? Anyway, this sounds really cool and I can't wait to see what unfolds as you take this forward. My joy experiment this month is taking up Gay's practice of finding and writing about delight each day. And so far it's been really fun.
I also love Lou’s timing! I’m in the middle of learning to shuffle dance at 56 after a lifetime of telling myself I’m not a dancer - all as part of an experiment to be more playful. Thanks for creating a space for us to connect with like minded people, Lou!
I'm so looking forward to seeing you do the running man, Yvonne! 💃 I'm really excited for a bunch of us just cheering each other as we inject not just purpose, but also FUN and PLAY into our lives. So happy you're here!
Oooh - thanks for mentioning that book by Ross Gay. I've been meaning to pick that up. I'm going to do that now before I forget again! (okay, done!) I think the universe is indeed sending us some signs, Cathy! Thank you for being a Lounger! 😉
I'm so excited 🩵
💃 Me too!
I totally agree in your experiment to find joy in small pursuits, not just the expensive, “once in a lifetime” big events. I try to visit places in my town I’ve never been, or enroll in free or low cost online courses to find joy in simply learning.
Way to go, Sally and I think that's the key. We can't "postpone" until the "big trip"! Cheers!
This goes along with my current post 'Do The Happy Dance'. I hope you'll take a quick look at it. It's like the prequel to yours! Thanks for your thoughts and inspiration.
Thanks for letting me know, MP and I'll be sure to check it out! Cheers!
I just joined The Lounge. Thank you. I’m pretty good at trying new things, I think. This structured way to challenge and commiserate will be a new thing for me as I’m very much okay to try things on my own. For my 70th birthday, two weeks ago, I attended my first drum circle. It won’t be my last.
Oooh that sounds like fun, Juel! I'm thrilled to get to know you some more inside The Lounge! Cheers.
Have you read Meditations for Mortals? It’s pretty wonderful and I think you might enjoy it. Looking up your other writing and book suggestions—thank you 💕
Thanks for the book recommendation, Alice. Adding to the list! Cheers.
Enjoy!
Enjoyed reading this. Slow productivity is a great concept, and the Joy Experiment sounds amazing. I also aspire to feel 'astonishingly alive', thanks, Lou.
Your daily long runs must be part of your joy experiments! cheers, Tinashe!
Way to go pulling in the joy Lou! I have been struggling with a similar disconnect and am unwilling to carry on like this, it’s too much. In my effort to change things I am getting back into the cold water to shake up my system. I’ve done it before and it works like a charm but, as so often happens, I’ve got away from it.
That's the word: Disconnected. I've been trying to describe the odd feeling I was having last year. Thank you! I'm so curious — are you talking about the morning cold water plunge? Or swimming in cold water? Or was it a metaphor for something else 😅. (I can be dense at times!)
To make it easy I just step into the cold shower. Going down to our frozen lake and cutting a hole in the ice is too much for me🤣 However, me stepping into cold water is a miracle because I have a big aversion to cold so it’s been a great way to do the thing I never thought I could do.
I am laughing and smiling at some of the choices you have made for your experiment! Go be joyful!!
I discovered half the fun was in choosing the things to do! 😂 Cheers, MaryAnn!