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Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
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I think "Joy" is really a different quantity than just feeling "happy" (about some activity, taste, hobby, the weather, place, expectation, whatever). And there's an old related yiddish word, "kvell", as in "my mom was kvelling—bursting with pride".
But there's also another nice definition of 'kvell' that seems to come closest to describing that feeling of pure joy….
"kvell - to feel pleasure, as though rocking from side to side with the sun contained in your belly"!
For me it's stuff like occasionally helping someone out in a time of need, doing very 'satisfying' work, or maybe experiencing great art or music that's particularly "moving".
I spent 6 months teaching a 17 year old to drive a car. And I did it right, put a lot of effort into teaching him things which would keep him from being in an accident later.
And he did not look totally enthusiastic with certain lessons (like to not tailgate or to drive "by the book" in small towns with speed traps). He thought I was nuts when I hauled out the tire chains in the middle of summer, had him put them on the tires, then had him drive around the block with them on.
Anyway, within the last few years, he has thanked me several times for teaching him this or that. The last thank you was for the tire chains lesson as he needed to do that recently - and knew exactly how to install them!
That brought joy to myself as all that work did not go in one ear and out the other!
So I guess that is it - things which take a lot of time and effort, then you get a good end result.
There's much overlap in the questions "what is your passion" vs. "what brings you joy"-at least for me-though perhaps some people see them differently. Related thread: What is your passion in life?
I guess the "joy" question sounds more immediate and short-term, while "passion" might imply a longer-term endeavor.
Drawing, reading, the rare opportunity for good companionship, and whatever makes me laugh instead of cry-those are things about which I'm both passionate & joyful.
Dogs in general, my dog, the beach, beauty, flowers, essential oils, healing baths, hot tubs, smiles, assistance, music, wellness, good food, nice wine, travel and experiencing new things, creating art, beautifying my home and environment, etc.
Hardly anything. Right now all I can think of is my dogs at home and at work, and maybe exercise.
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