Pausing for Joy
Celebrating new beginnings, pleasant surprises, and more spacious reveals from life in the slow lane
“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.”
—Guillaume Apollinaire
Ahhh, that pause, that breather… when we can give joyful moments room to grow more joy.
Seems like a good deal to me.
Which is why I do these monthly video recaps* that I love so much. And here it is again: my latest installment of life in the slow lane.
As a former high school teacher, September has always been about new beginnings: new spaces, new faces, unexpected and pleasant surprises. This past September was a banner month in that regard.
Topping the list was getting to celebrate our daughter and son-in-law’s move to a new home: padding around its mostly empty spaces with their fluffer-nutter, Remy; vibing its spacious nooks and crannies; building on the excitement that comes with making a space your own.
There was an extraordinary encounter with Shakespeare’s first folios at the Folger Library in Washington, DC. If you find the Bard impossible to decode and relate to as I have all my life, this place will wake you up to his genius in the most user-friendly ways. You might even tap into some of your own Shakespearean wisdom — one upside down and backwards letter at a time — as I did here playing with a sample type set:
And if that wasn’t fun or pleasantly surprising enough, getting to escort Kamala back on the plane to Boston — courtesy of our daughter who had attended the Democratic Convention in Chicago — was a trip in itself. Most everyone was into it (I think).
How about that harvest moon, super moon, and partial eclipse happening all at the same time? Was anyone kept awake all night by the energy of it too, like I was? Here’s the scene that I stumbled on that night:
Those were just some of the highlights. There was plenty more wonder and beauty to behold last month, but I’ll let the video recap* below speak for itself.
How about you?
What new beginnings have you experienced recently, and maybe even celebrated?
What is something that has pleasantly surprised you?
Tell us in the comments. And if nothing comes to mind, you have a whole new month to find out…
A whole month to receive the bounty of joy that eagerly awaits an open heart.
Have a spacious October!
Ahhh 🏡
Video
Life in the Slow Lane — September 2024
Music credit: “Flight of the Stumble Bee” by Danny Green
______
* New to my monthly video recaps of life in the slow lane? Click here to learn why I do them.
In case you missed it…
If Your Home Could Speak, What Would it Tell You?
If you were to have a frank conversation with your home, what would it tell you? What would it say it likes about being your home, or doesn’t? What would it say it needs more of, or less of? Take a guided tour of your home and find out.
PS, paid subscribers can join the chat about this post to deepen the meditation experience. Look forward to hearing what spaces in your home spoke to you.
Love this video for September. I am inspired by both your words and by the 1 Second Video....I may try again. Thank you for the peak into your slow lane. Terry
I like "life in the slow lane" . I like to pause, take deep breaths, refocus, and many times things come to my mind which are important, and which I had forgotten to do or to take care of. Also giving thanks for friends, and praying for people affected by hurricane - I live 3 1/2 hours away from Asheville.