Joys amidst the blahs 🧡

Hey there, friend.

Quick note: If you’re new around here or simply missed the email sharing this weekly joy ritual of mine, you can read it here. (You know, if you want a little context)

So, I have to admit- I've felt a bit blah this week. Not completely- I came into it happy and well rested from my vacation and grateful for the privilege to get away and be in nature. At the same time, there's been this haze of something's-not-quite-right over me.

Most likely due to a combination of the post-vacation blues and the fact that the news keeps on news-ing.

And then the juxtaposition of Taylor Swift announcing her new album on the same day the White House announces that the National Guard would begin policing DC, reminded me that both anger and joy can reside within the same space...

… and that it’s important to let them.

Because joy isn’t frivolous or naïve, it’s fuel. It’s what fills us up and keeps us going when the world feels relentless.

We can’t deny the heaviness around us. But if we only let in the hard and never make space for what delights us, we run the risk of becoming apathetic, shutting down, forgetting what we’re fighting for.

Joy doesn’t erase the pain or the anger. Joy sits beside it, reminding us that beauty and connection still exist. That we can laugh, create, love, sing along, dance in our kitchens, and be moved by something beautiful in the midst of something ugly.

Leaning into joy gives us resilience.

And so, here are the joys I've leaned into this week:

Within the last year, I've become a bit of a Taylor Swift fan. For years, I just didn’t get it. I appreciated her talent but her music just wasn't for me. Or, so I thought. While visiting my friend Kristen in Minnesota, I was given a crash course in all things Taylor Swift. It’s literally all we listened to during my visit. When I returned home, TS songs were on repeat in my brain (damn, they're catchy). And now, almost a year later, I listen to her music pretty regularly (folklore and evermore are my fave albums, btw). My sister jokingly called me a "Swiftie" and I think she might be right. While I didn't stay up until 12:12am for the announcement of her upcoming album's title (I haven't leaned that far into Swiftie territory yet), I’ve been into the online fun of discovering all the hints Taylor's been planting over the past year (or more) as to the theme of it. She really is a mastermind.

I discovered this week that hummingbird moths are a thing (who knew?). I saw this odd insect hovering around the butterfly bush but at first thought it might be a young hummingbird. It flies and moves just like one. With a closer look, I realized it was some sort of insect and had to Google "pollinator insect with fan-like tail" because I had no idea what I was looking at. They’re pretty cool to watch.

Lastly, I launched the free Courtney Lewis Wellness Self-Care Practice Library on Monday! I've been thinking for a while now about how I could bring the self-care practices that keep me sane(ish) to more people. I know that not everyone has the resources or capacity to invest in something like my eMbodied Membership (which is an extensive library of guided yoga, meditation, and breathwork practices) so I wanted to make these practices more accessible. It feels really good to be able to offer what I do best- help others slow down and tend to their nervous system, in a way that's accessible to everyone (especially in these heightened times).

I hope you're doing well and taking time to slow down, breathe, and take in the little joys in your life.

Courtney

Other joys:

Author Gretchen Rubin was recently on the 10% Happier with Dan Harris podcast. They talk about how aphorisms can help you remember and apply all those nuggets of inspiration we come across, how to make decisions that lead to a bigger life, and how to handle indecision. Give it a listen: Apple 🎧 Spotify