So - I love starting a blog with that word, since it means “in the same way,” and I haven’t said anything yet that I am saying in the same way… but it’s like I’ve already been in conversation with you, the reader, and we’re comfortable…

Sooo, on December 31st, I read the following on a friend’s facebook wall:

“Amid all the chat of resolutions, setting intentions and naming a word for the year 2024, I offer you this: a year of finding delight. Is there anyone who would like to join me in seeking out delight? I already have Ross Gay's "The Book of Delights." I have not read it yet -- and now I know the Universe was waiting for me to commit to this. Dare I say that this article delighted me?”

Thanks for letting me use your words, Vicki Mayk!!

And dare I say that her invitation delighted me? As most of you know, I am already a person who views (tries to most of the time) life through the lens of laughter/ humor/ joy – even the shitty, traumatic, ugly parts. If we weren’t meant to, then why do we have the ability to laugh, to respond with humor (sarcasm – my fav!), to have joy? And the prospect of seeing/ finding/ noticing delight and sharing it with others sounded…well, groovy!

Catherine Price in the New York Times article that’s attached to this blog writes in her review of Ross Gay’s book that “the concept of prioritizing delight may sound silly or almost irresponsible, given the heaviness of current events, feelings of burnout and the upcoming U.S. presidential election, in which it seems democracy itself could be at stake. But this is exactly why it is so important. Far from being a frivolous practice, making a point to notice and share things we find delightful can improve our moods, outlooks, relationships, and even physical health.

How? Noticing delights requires us to pay attention, something that is required for our happiness and satisfaction but can be difficult in our increasingly distracted world.”

Sounds like a “gratitude practice,” right? BUT it’s not!!! Full disclosure: I HATE those and would never do one of those!! They’re almost as bad as saying, (must be said with a thick southern accent for full effect) “I’m blessed!”

Catharine goes on to say, “a delight practice taps into the deep power of gratitude without the risk of becoming trite. That’s because the things that delight us are often novel…

Noticing and sharing delight is also a form of what psychologists call savoring, the practice of deliberately appreciating positive life experiences. Savoring has been shown to boost people’s moods as well as counterbalance our brains’ natural tendency to focus on the things that stoke anxiety and fear.

What’s more, the effects of savoring are stronger if you make a point not just to notice positive things but also to LABEL them and SHARE them. (This is why it’s important to say “Delight!” out loud and put a finger in the air, even if it at first feels silly.”)”

Be sure to read Catherine’s whole article. She concludes with this encouragement:

“This year, like all of them, will be filled with conflict and tragedy. But it will also be filled with delights. Resolve to notice them.”

I have.

But I wanted something more specific in my practice. What exactly would I be doing for the next 365 days? How would I be approaching this? Would I be:

Noticing Delight?

Finding Delight?

Seeing Delight?

Pursuing Delight?

Chasing Delight?

Savoring Delight?

Examining Delight?

Studying Delight?

Embracing Delight?

Oh, here’s a good one:

Trailing Delight?

And more…

Exploring Delight?

Regarding Delight?

Understanding Delight?

Knowing Delight?

Following Delight?

Observing Delight?

FUCKING HELL!!!!! So many Gerunds!!!! But wait, wait, what was that one……

Regarding….? Regarding?? Do I like that? What does that mean? (BRENDA looks it up.) Oh, I like that one! It’s brilliant because – and I do mean the Gerund form of the word “Regard” – the word “Regarding” means:

*to consider or think of someone or something in a specified way,

*to gave at steadily in a specified fashion,

*(of a thing) have relation to or connection with; concern,

*pay attention to; heed

These were, in fact, all the things that I thought I would be doing in allowing myself to consciously experience a year of delights. So, then, my year of delights would be called “Regarding Delight.”

And right before raising my arm and pointing my finger as I exclaim "Delight!" when I regard each day's delight, I am balling my hands into fists right under my chin, and rolling my fingers, maniacally, as if I were a cartoon villain. I'm channeling my groovy 5 year old grandson Kit, who does this very gesture along with the most adorable scrunched up face smile when he gets really excited!!

And, as of today, Day #7, January 7th, it’s been truly delightful because my delights have been realizations of the wonderfully delightful almost overlooked things around me!! I discovered – yeah, actually discovered because I hadn’t noticed it until 2:12am on this Sunday, January 7th – that I not only have a peephole in my hotel room door, but it has its own little door that circles down to cover it!! I felt like I was a passenger on a great ocean liner in the middle of a great Hercules Poirot murder mystery peering out of it, and then, slowly, very slowly circling it around and down to cover the peephole lest the killer find me and do me next…<:*>

Find my daily delight posts on Facebook which is connected to my Instagram.

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REGARDING DELIGHT...2024: A Year of Delight

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