What Sparks Joy – Then vs Now

I thought it would be interesting to compare what ‘sparks joy’ [using the popular KonMari {Marie Kondo} term] for me now in my 50’s as compared to what sparked joy for me back in my late teens.  I would have compared my 50’s to my 20’s except that I got married at the age of 20.5 years and I think a comparison to my single days would be more interesting.  So, let’s see what a difference 30+ years can make.

What does ‘Sparks Joy’ mean, and what is joy?

To be clear, here’s a definition of what the term ‘Sparks Joy’ means:

When something sparks joy, you should feel a little thrill.” A literal tokimeki (ときめき), in Japanese. The thrill, though, can come from many things. It can come from the fact that you really love and enjoy an object, like a favorite sweater.

And here’s a definition of what ‘joy’ means:

A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

Why am I talking about Joy?  Well aside from the fact that joy feels good, it IS good for us too and I’m all about anything that is good for us!

The benefits of feeling more joy

• Promotes a healthier lifestyle
• Boosts immune system
• Best antidote to stress, anxiety and pain
• Improves physical health and supports longevity
• Boosts productivity

Ok – let’s start the comparison!

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What Sparked Joy Then (in my late teens)

• New clothes
• New shoes
• New anything
• A night out with friends
• Parties
• Music
• Singing
• Fun times with friends
• Going to the beach and getting a tan
• Nightclubs and dancing
• New love interest/infatuation
• Holidays

ID 65808028 © Studio Grand Web | Dreamstime.com

What Sparks Joy Now (in my 50’s)

• When my kids are happy
• The first cup of coffee of the day
• A cool breeze on a hot day
• Warm sunshine on a cold day
• Beautiful nature in its various forms
• The sound of the birds morning songs
• Sunrises and sunsets
• Early morning and late afternoon beach walks
• Singing 
• Travel, holidays and exploring new places
• Photography – especially when I get a ‘perfect’ shot
• Cuddles with my dog ‘Ava’
• Dinner or lunch out with a nice glass of wine
• Watching musicals
• A browse at the markets and all the better if there is some live music
• Walking – along my local waterfront or in a rainforest – paying attention to what I see, hear, and feel
• Pilates – closing my eyes and feeling my body getting stronger and more flexible, along with a sense of gratitude for a functioning body
• Spending time with family
• Time with good, genuine friends
• Beautiful gardens
• A new outfit that makes me feel good
• How my skin feels after using my beautiful natural plant oils skincare products on it
• Getting into bed on fresh sheets day 
• Bed under the doona on a cold night
• Being cosy indoors on a cold and rainy day/night
• A clean and tidy house
• Reading a good book
• Floating in the pool on a hot day
• Being creative and productive
• Being helpful to others
• I could go on, and on … but I’ve gotta stop somewhere!

What’s still the same or similar?

I still enjoy music and singing

I still love the beach but no longer for getting a tan.

I like it best early morning and late afternoon when the harshness of the sun is gone and we have that beautiful golden light that follows and precedes sunrise and sunset.  I love the feeling of walking with bare feet on the water’s edge. I love the sounds made when you walk through soft sand.  I love to plonk down in the sand and feel the breeze on my face and wriggle my toes in the sand.  I love watching the seagulls and looking for pretty shells.  I notice everything where once I noticed not much at all.

I’ve always loved swimming pools in summer!

I’ve always been an animal lover

I’ve always enjoyed reading

I’ve always enjoyed fun times with friends (just that what I perceive as fun times has changed)

What girl (of any age) doesn’t get joy from new clothes that make her feel great?! 

I will always love a holiday!

What are the main differences?

The first thing you’ll notice is that what sparks joy for me has expanded from then to now.

The second thing you notice is that what sparks joy for me now are much simpler things than then. 

I think we become more ‘grateful’ and ‘mindful’ (without even realising it sometimes) as we get older.  Once we become aware of it, many of us try to hone this ability to maximise its benefits (more joy!).

This increased ‘gratitude’ and ‘mindfulness’ may come to be because the older version of ourselves realises that we have fewer years of life left on this earth than the younger version of ourselves did.  I believe that gratitude and mindfulness actually starts to come more naturally to us, as a way of soaking up this beautiful life that we have and savouring it, because we don’t want to miss anything, especially the good bits!  We want our remaining years to be good, joyful years.  I actually think that Mindfulness and Gratitude could be very important aspects to healthy and positive aging.  

Here’s a  few favourite ‘joy’ quotes, because we all know I love a good quote:

The essence of life is not in the great victories or grand failures, but in the simple joys. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss the joy is to miss all. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our life and everything to do with the focus of our lives. ~ Russel M. Nelson

I hope you’re finding some joy in each of your days. What would be on your list for what sparks joy for you ‘now’?

Ciao for now,