One of the things that made me smile as I looked back through journal number six from 1997 was a page that started with this prompt:
“Let’s make a list of all the things you can think of that bring you joy.”
Number one on my list was a great day of golf with good friends.
There were afternoons sitting by the wood-burning fireplace at the Delta Meadowvale, looking through magazines and drinking hot chocolate.
Going to a movie at Celebration.
A whole day at home with nothing to do but lie around, read, and study.
Apple crisp and Trivial Pursuit parties at my friend Stacey’s house.
Sunday night movies with Tim and Darlene.
Dreaming up big schemes and solving marketing puzzles.
And, of course, having money. They say money can’t buy happiness…but having it certainly brings me joy. :)
What struck me most was how many of those same things still bring me joy 30 years later.
I still love going to the movies.
I still love spending time in beautiful, resort-like surroundings.
I still love having a day with nothing to do but read and study.
And there’s almost nothing I enjoy more than cracking the code on an interesting marketing problem.
Some people like Sudoku. I like a good marketing scheme.
We hear a lot about keeping a gratitude journal. But I think there’s something equally valuable about keeping a joy page.
An inventory of the people, places, activities, environments, and little rituals that reliably light you up.
once you know what brings you joy, you can begin deliberately putting more of it into your days
Because once you know what brings you joy, you can begin deliberately putting more of it into your days.
Some of those things can fit into a two-hour block. Some can become weekly rituals. Some might be environments you create around yourself every day.
And some may not fit into your life right now…but even remembering them can bring back the feeling.
So here’s something you might do today:
Open your journal to a fresh page and write at the top:
“What are all the things that bring me joy?”
Then start making your list.
You may be surprised by how simple many of them are.
And once you see them all together, you might find there’s room for one of them in your calendar this week.