In these most turbulent threshold times, many of us wake up feeling anxious and troubled. These feelings are shared by hundreds of millions of others in the collective unconscious. When I feel overwhelmed by such feelings of despair, I try to remember the practice, “Joy is the Medicine.” It is easy to lose hope for a positive future. Despite many challenges, I pause and remember the simple pleasures: my breath, the light streaming in my window, my community of friends, and my ability for creative imagination.
I have a bird feeder attached to my office window, and the finches remind me with their joyous chirping that life is a joy. Outside my apartment, daffodils are blooming on a narrow patch of ground, a vibrant reminder of resilience. This brings to mind a quote by Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, “As long as the Earth can make a spring every year, I can. As long as the Earth can flower and produce nurturing fruit, I can, because I’m the Earth. I won’t give up until the Earth gives up.” This inspires me to move into my day with confidence, knowing that although I cannot cure all the world’s ills, I can choose my actions not from fear but from qualities of generosity, creativity, and kindness.
After all, planet Earth is not some sort of galactic penal colony; it is a place filled with beauty. As Mary Oliver so perfectly puts it: “Instructions for living a life: Pay attention, Be astonished. Tell about it.”
Justine Willis Toms, D.H.L. is co-founder with Micheal Toms of New Dimensions Foundation/Radio. She serves as Creative Producer, CEO, and Host of New Dimensions. Besides her radio work she leads workshops on “Finding Grace in a Chaotic World.” She is co-author with Michael Toms of True Work: Doing What You Love and Loving What You Do and author of Small Pleasures: Finding Grace in a Chaotic World. She, along with Michael Toms, was selected for induction to the 2011 Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Justine is a founding convener of the Millionth Circle Initiative and has been actively involved in circle work since 1980. www.newdimensions.org
