If every decade of my life had a theme it would  be this:

20s = self discovery 

30’s = personal growth

40’ = prioritize joy

(Teens = be a good girl, do the right thing - but, let’s just leave that in the past!)

As my mind was wandering on the treadmill does (as it ALWAYS does) I realized that immediately when I hear upbeat music, I almost always visualize myself dancing and I smile. Yes, it’s super nerdy, but it was also a major lightbulb moment this week after I was perusing yet another book about personal growth.

Music and dance is my most honest self expression of joy.

I’ve come to understand happiness as more of a conditional, fleeting, invigorating external experience whereas joy is an internal, unconditional, grounding feeling. Dancing + music make me happy, but also both bring me joy. My children don’t always make me happy, but they bring me the purest form of joy I’ve ever experienced. See what I mean?

Anyway, onward into a new year and a new themed decade, I’ll set boundaries to prioritize joy. I’ll keep listening to music and creating and executing made-up dance routines in my head while I am moving to make my body feel good.

What is your purest expression of joy? Fair warning, I am done with the small talk, so I am going to start approaching you all at parties with these types of questions!

Oh, an here is the playlist that inspired all this, for your listening and dancing pleasure: