Drawing from your well of joy
It doesn’t feel right to let Black History Month pass by without talking about joy, because, for me, actively finding and living your joy is a radical, defiant act, especially as a Black person, a Brown person, a Person of Colour.
I say this as someone who has in the past attended writers’ events where I came away with the distinct impression that unless I were writing about my pain and humiliation as a Black woman, no one would be interested in my book. I remember it took me a beat to get over that and keep writing.
So, my message today is simple: find the activities that bring you joy, and do them- no excuses, no procrastination, no waiting for the perfect moment. Be intentional about tapping into your joy, even when your well feels further away or harder to reach. The beautiful thing about joy is that it is always present, just waiting to be found.
This is how I interpret this year’s Black History Month theme, #HonouringOurCommunities, through our joyful stories, experiences, and the people who bring joy into our lives.
So, what brings you joy?
Some of the things on my list include:
- Clear blue skies on a meeting-free day, where I don’t need to be anywhere. I can potter around in my own time, in my own space and on my own schedule.
- Creating stories that appear humdrum but have a bit of magic thrown in – accounts that are a little quirky, where I can lose myself. I am starting to find this again after a dry spell.
- Time in the garden, first thing in the morning (well, for me 😉) – observing the squirrels as they thread their way through our trees and then throw themselves between ours and the ones next door.
- Journaling is still on my list, but now there is also joy in sharing my stories in person. We are already planning for our third year of Brighton-based Open Mics in 2027.
- Being part of a community of diverse coaches – something I did not realise I needed until I became a member of @DECD.
- Belly laughs with friends that have known me for years. I need more of this.
- Playing my piano that signals the end of a working day.
- Starting new things: I’m going to pick up my singing again in 2027 and follow up with the acting classes I started in the summer 😊.
So, I’ll ask again: what brings you joy, and what are you doing to bring more of it into your life?
Getting back into the flow with Off the Page
Thank you, @Jade Thomas, @Andrew Asibong, @Ray Shell, @Maria Cohut, @Gizelle Alissa and Mervin, for stepping forward and sharing your words on Saturday 19th September. It was great to welcome both new and returning faces, and I’m not sure why, but something magical happened as each person stepped forward.
Every single person somehow managed to up their game, including me 😊.
Our next Open Mic is on Sunday 15th November at Afrori Books, Brighton at 7 pm. Our doors are open to anyone who would like to share their poetry, short story, or prose for the first time. Particularly those from marginalised or under-represented groups, so if this is you, please contact us at authorsopenmic@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
In the meantime, please enjoy this short from our September gathering:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UCH1uZee36k
Thank you, @IzzyTaylor for the reel 😊
Until next time