Day 13
...the liberating art of letting go
Welcome to Day THIRTEEN of our A-Z+ of Seasonal Sanity Savers – 2024.
Today’s marvellous letter is J, and we’re diving into the art of flourishing joyfully this festive season. So ‘Joy‘ seems only appropriate – but not the big, grand moments but the small, quiet sparks that light you up from the inside.
Make a list of the things that truly bring you joy. Keep it personal: think of cosy moments, favourite treats, or solitary walks that recharge your soul. Once you have your list, choose one thing each day to weave into your festive rhythm.
Maybe it’s a morning tea ritual before the world wakes, or escaping into a good book between gatherings. Joy doesn’t have to be loud; it can be as soft as a sigh of relief when you honour what makes you happiest.
Carry this list with you, peek at it daily, and let it guide you to show up as your truest self, energised and at ease.
And here is beautiful poem from my favourite, Donna Ashworth –
“Joy Chose You”
Joy does not arrive with a fanfare
on a red carpet strewn
with the flowers of a perfect life
joy sneaks in
as you pour a cup of coffee
watching the sun
hit your favourite tree
just right
and you usher joy away
because you are not ready for her
your house is not as it should be
for such a distinguished guest
but joy, you see
cares nothing for your messy home,
or your bank balance
or your waistline
joy is supposed to slither through
the cracks of your imperfect life
that’s how joy works
you cannot truly invite her
you can only be ready
when she appears
and hug her with meaning
because in this very moment
joy chose you.
Quietly, and joyfully yours,
-Joanna
Tomorrow’s letter is K, any guesses? If you had to pick a positive word starting with K to add to your own festive sanity kit, what would it be? Let’s keep flourishing, one joyful step at a time.
Cage Rattler & Bias Shifter – Helping organisations unlock potential by shifting extraversion bias | Coaching quiet leaders | TEDx Speaker | Trainer | Founder, CEO – Flourishing Introverts | Host – The Flourishing Introvert Talks and (dropping) Pebbles in the Pond | Author – The Flourishing Nudge | Co-Flourisher, Co-Founder – Intent to Flourish