Stuff We Love: Joy
Catch yourself being happy--you'll thank yourself later
Recently I saw a photo a friend captured of me during a weekend away in Chicago, and I was struck by how happy I looked. Joyful, with a side helping of silly and a dash of “probably about to crack wise.” I think we all need to have photos of ourselves that take us by surprise like this, that show our inner beauty reflected outward. This week’s image captures that spirit of joy we should each attain for ourselves. It’s contagious–I dare you to look at this vibrant smile and not want to smile yourself. Another cherished photo of mine features my parents and brother meeting my first son for the very first time; I’ve never seen my family look more beautiful than in that moment. When a dear friend’s son welcomed his first child into the world last week, his mom captured the palpable love and happiness on his face as he greeted his new daughter.
From our most memorable to our tiniest bits of silliness, seeing ourselves happy makes our burdens that much lighter. So we have a challenge for you camera-shy girls, because we all know how some of us carrying extra weight avoid being photographed. Take your camera out with a good friend who makes you giggle and get some great photos of yourself. Or at your next big event, take a chance and make sure you’re part of the photographs from that day instead of being the one behind or hiding from the camera, to firmly ground yourself in the happiness of that moment. I can tell you that as a big girl with a few more years under her belt than some of you reading now, you’ll look back on those joyful moments from decades ago, feel that happiness shining through and wonder why you ever felt the need to hide.
Tell us: what brings you joy? What does your happiest photo, memory, or both, look like?
Hey this is important! You think you’ll remember these days forever but believe me, you don’t. It’s so easy to remember all the sad and hard times, unfortunately….Thanks! Kathi
This is exponentially more important when you have a daughter. Let her see you be happy and beautiful, inside as well as out. Show her that beauty is in the self-confidence and satisfaction of a healthy life and a healthy outlook, not in the number at the back of your jeans. That goes for skinny as well as fat! Be YOU.
One of my favorite photos of me was taken by my boyfriend (now husband) in the winter. We were at Old Fort William walking around on our own checking out the pioneer buildings. There was a old wooden well with canopy that he asked me to sit on. I’m looking off to my right and the sun is making the edge of my face glow. I have just a little Mona Lisa smile on my face. Shortly afterward he had an enlargement made for his room. We still have it but now it hangs on the wall in my pseudo-office.
The other one is one of our wedding pictures. We have just said our “I do’s” and are walking down the isle holding hands each looking in a separate directions of the crowd with big smiles on our faces (well, big for me).
Things that bring me joy: my husband, my pets, nature, finishing projects, a pain-free day, emotional stability, loyal friends, good jokes, evening TV, watching movies, chocolate, being able to drive.
I had a dream go down in flames, and it broke me for a little while. There’s a picture of me from a few months after it happened. It’s just a self-portrait in the mirror, not one in which I look especially gorgeous, but I had just realized that I was truly happy again, truly my own self again. That picture is the reason I currently have a wonderful boyfriend who loves me dearly. He saw it and had to get to know the girl who showed so much personality in such a simple picture.
The things that bring me joy are the people I love, my dogs, babies, long walks outside, creating things, a really good dinner party, and that wonderful feeling you get after exercising.