When was the last time you felt pure JOY? Experiencing joy takes only seconds, really, but we need to slow down and be open to finding it.
Children have a powerful ability to be joyful. They live in the present and every new experience has potential. It is thrilling to watch and discover what lights them up.
This little one came to class wearing a serious expression and clinging to her mom’s leg. The minute she noticed these little chicks, she transformed. It took exactly one second. When she actually held one successfully, she lit up with joy!
As we grow older, we get distracted and begin to overlook the tiny moments. We get caught up in our schedules or look down at our phones, and we miss what is happening right in front of us. These distractions weaken our once-powerful ability to notice. We lose sight of what lights is up.
As parents, what kind of example does that set for our children? Children are always watching us. They do what we do, not what we say.
We make it a point to model manners, respect, resilience, etc. Please remember to mindfully model joyful behaviors, too!
Ingrid Fetell Lee @aestheticsofjoy says, “The power of the aesthetics of joy is that they speak directly to our unconscious minds, bringing out the best in us without our even being aware of it.”
Slow down, look around, be present, feel grateful, get outside, connect with what lights you up, find your JOY, and be the best you can be, so your children will, too!