Start With Joy
You can’t go wrong when you be and do with joy.
Wow, it’s mid-November.
I can’t believe we’re near the end of 2024.
The years seem to fly by. Perhaps, it’s the day-to-day routine consisting of a full-time job, school, family, kids, cooking, cleaning, and other daily tasks that consume time.
I started watching the Great British Bake Off on Netflix last week. I enjoy watching it more than I thought I would since it's not my usual cup of tea.
I wondered, why do I like this show so much?
One season had a baker that migrated from India. You could see and feel the joy in his being and doing through a television screen. He seemed to be at and do with ease when it came to the baking challenges compared to the other 12 bakers, who were stressed and anxious.
He ended up winning Baker of the Week more than once, made it to the season finale, and won!
Then it occurred to me why I like the show so much. It’s because these people, who migrated from another country, have full-time jobs, go to school, have family and kids, and other day-to-day routines that consume their time went to the Great British Bake Off, not for the prize money (which the show doesn’t offer), but as amateur bakers to be and do with joy. They share snippets of their personal lives throughout the episodes, which I appreciate, because it shows how and what they enjoy outside of daily routines that require most of our time.
Even those who performed the baking challenges under stress and anxiety were there because they started with joy. Perhaps, the stress and anxiety were due to ego-driven desires overpowering true joy because they were no longer being and doing with true joy, but more focused on the result, end goal, or outcome.
It made me realize that no matter what, time will always be consumed by our daily routines, and it’s important to utilize some of that time to be and do with joy.
So, it’s mid-November, and I want to encourage not only myself, but you to start with joy.
It doesn’t matter if it’s almost the end of 2024. We don’t have to wait until January 2025 to start with joy. Why not today?
One thing is always for sure that you never go wrong when you be and do with joy.
With Love,
Jasmine
I’m currently reading Letting Go by David R. Hawkins, which is really helping me practice letting go and being more present.
I’m also currently reading a few pages of A Walk in the Wood: Meditations on Mindfulness with a Bear Named Pooh by Dr. Joseph Parent and Nancy Parent to help calm my nerves and wind down before bed. If you grew up watching Winnie the Pooh like me, then you’ll love reading it, too!