Last week, I had the privilege of attending a community dialogue session organized by our Organizational and Community Development team and sponsored by Wells Fargo.
This was the fourth in a four-part dialogue series that has taken place over the last several months. These sessions consistently spark reflection, and this one stood out for a message I can’t stop thinking about: don’t reschedule joy.
Rev. Dr. Sterling E. Freeman addressed participants and offered a powerful reminder about the role joy plays in our overall wellness. He challenged us to consider how often we treat joy as something optional. Something we’ll get to after the meetings, the errands, the obligations.
So when he asked the group what gives you joy, I paused. There are a lot of things that give me joy. Some small like a watching a Seinfeld episode. Some larger like one of my kids’ graduations.
But the question made me think more deeply. I have clear goals and routines for my physical health. I want to be strong. I want a healthy heart. And the older I get, the more I realize I need to stretch. That desire for physical wellness leads me to make time to lift weights, go for a run, jump rope, attend a yoga class at the Y and reconsider the Krispy Kreme doughnut I’m about to eat.
What I don’t have are specific goals for joy, happiness or even my mental health. I’ve rarely stopped to ask myself: Bruce, what makes you happy? What brings you peace? What are your mental health goals? And more importantly, I’ve never created a plan to intentionally care for the well-being of my heart and mind.
What a daggone miss on my part.
So many of us are disciplined about scheduling our responsibilities. We set calendar reminders for everything from work calls to dentist appointments. But joy? We leave that to chance. We assume it will show up when we have free time.
Dr. Freeman reminded us that joy deserves the same intentionality we give everything else. Whether it’s a walk with a friend, reading for pleasure or a few quiet minutes alone, joy belongs on the calendar.
At the YMCA of the Triangle, we talk often about belonging, wellness and connection. Joy should also be part of that practice. When we make space for it, we strengthen ourselves and our communities.
