Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Cultivating Joy

Wheatgrass

A few years ago, when I really started gardening in earnest, my mother asked where my sudden interest in growing things had come from. "I'm cultivating joy," I replied.

Of course, gardening was only part of it. But it really was a shift in focus of my life, to turn my energy towards things that I found sustaining and nourishing, and away from those I found draining or painful.

I struggled with depression of various degrees and manifestations for many years. But it wasn't until just a few years ago that I feel I really kicked it for good. I can say with relief and gratitude that it has been years since I felt anything like the despair that was all-too-common in my younger years. What changed?

It sounds like an over-simplification, but in some ways, it was just this simple: I stopped waiting for joy to arrive in my lap, and began to cultivate it. I assumed complete responsibility for my own happiness. I let go of negativity as much as possible, not allowing myself to be poisoned by anger or resentment.

I realized that happiness doesn't just happen. It is the result of conscious effort. I no longer pick at my scabs. It does me no good to dwell upon the ways in which the world has wronged me. Instead, I have made choices that have brought me here, to this place in my life. A place where my energy is spent caring for my children, nurturing my own creative spirit, loving and being loved by my life's true companion, and tending to my garden.

Cultivating joy.

This post is part of the Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge, hosted by Jamie over at SteadyMom.

17 comments:

  1. I love this....cultivating joy. Oh, my, I think I am going to start using this to talk about gardening! I can see a little sign in the garden with that on it. I love it!
    -Phyllis

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  2. What a great post! I loved it! It's really true we need to cultivate joy!

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  3. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

    It seems that by cultivating joy in even just a couple ways, we can start to see joy in MANY places of our hearts and lives. And that trickles into everything we do, especially as spouses and parents, I think.

    (Found you at Steady Mom.)

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  4. One of the most inspiring things I've read in a long time, and it speaks to my very core. Thank you for posting this today!

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  5. lovely. me too. for a long time I kept thinking God would make me happy if only I was obedient, or a man would, or alcohol would, or being an obedient child would...none of that did...till I decided to just be. enjoy life. its beautiful. thanks for the reminder.

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  6. Now that is a great post - Cultivating Joy... Love It!!!

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  7. Dear Laura: Please stop over, I have something for you, to thank you for your fabulousness. I really enjoy your writing, your photos, and all your ideas for how I want to live my life with my family.

    Thank you for the inspiration.

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  8. Love it!! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  9. Beautiful post! I totally agree on cultivating joy in our lives. Love the photo.

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  10. excellent!
    {great photo, too!}

    visiting from my3boybarbarians
    www.blessedmoon.squarespace.com

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  11. Great post and reminder that we have to make our joy as much as it comes to us! Really liked this one!

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  12. I love the combination of joy and gardening! Thanks for offering these simple tips for inviting more joy into my life.

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  13. Wow. I loved this post. So profound. And truly real : ). I think that is the best way to live! Cultivating joy. Gorgeous picture. I love green!

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  14. You're right! I had to come to a place like that recently in my life, so I can definately relate. Great post!

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  15. I didn't get to read this the other day, and so glad I did now! Beautiful and so true.

    Jamie

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