Simply Joy
(This is a note I wrote down in 2018 and recently found in my files)
On my morning walk with our dog Annie, I had an immense sense of joy for no reason. We came upon a huge, snow white magnolia flower that I paused at to take in its grand aroma and beauty. Then there were two ducks that have been hanging around this house I sometimes walk past. They were strolling together as we passed by, not letting us get too close. I kept being moved to tears by everything I saw. Next, we came upon a bunny just lounging on a lawn and it didn’t budge as we passed but seemed perfectly content where it was. Dogs across the street poking their noses through a fence and barking loudly didn’t even disturb the serene creature.
It was as though I was in love with everything around me. Before we had left for our walk I had been listening to my favorite radio program (roadhome.fm) and heard this lovely Bobby McFerrin song (The Garden), but unfortunately it had thunder in it and it made Annie start trembling immediately—I felt so bad for her. Near the end of our walk I noticed her tail was down a bit and I recalled how scared she was earlier from the thunder sound and it made me want to cry again. This feeling of immense joy mixed with vivid sadness continued as I got in the car to go to the gym and listened to the radio. Everything I heard and saw was touching my heart as if it had expanded beyond myself.
I could say I was joyful for no reason but if I really think about it, there were so many reasons right in front of me to be joyful. There is no doubt in my mind that I had this experience because of my mindfulness and meditation practice that has changed my brain in positive ways. Simply typing these words makes me want to cry again—tears of joy.
On my morning walk with our dog Annie, I had an immense sense of joy for no reason. We came upon a huge, snow white magnolia flower that I paused at to take in its grand aroma and beauty. Then there were two ducks that have been hanging around this house I sometimes walk past. They were strolling together as we passed by, not letting us get too close. I kept being moved to tears by everything I saw. Next, we came upon a bunny just lounging on a lawn and it didn’t budge as we passed but seemed perfectly content where it was. Dogs across the street poking their noses through a fence and barking loudly didn’t even disturb the serene creature.
It was as though I was in love with everything around me. Before we had left for our walk I had been listening to my favorite radio program (roadhome.fm) and heard this lovely Bobby McFerrin song (The Garden), but unfortunately it had thunder in it and it made Annie start trembling immediately—I felt so bad for her. Near the end of our walk I noticed her tail was down a bit and I recalled how scared she was earlier from the thunder sound and it made me want to cry again. This feeling of immense joy mixed with vivid sadness continued as I got in the car to go to the gym and listened to the radio. Everything I heard and saw was touching my heart as if it had expanded beyond myself.
I could say I was joyful for no reason but if I really think about it, there were so many reasons right in front of me to be joyful. There is no doubt in my mind that I had this experience because of my mindfulness and meditation practice that has changed my brain in positive ways. Simply typing these words makes me want to cry again—tears of joy.
