The Art of Joyful Living

How can we live truly joyful lives? So much of our time is spent just getting through the day – taking kids to school, going to work, picking the kids up from school, playing chauffeur until dinner time, helping with homework, putting the kids to bed, taking three breaths and doing more chores before finally getting to sleep – then starting the routine again the next day.

The daily routine is packed with responsibilities and necessary duties – for most of us it’s rush rush rush all the waking day. The weekend arrives and we rush rush rush to catch up on household chores, banking, gardening, dog grooming and a host of other activities. It can become quite repetitive and stressful never having a few hours to relax and refresh. This is the key to establishing some joy – actually taking time to reflect and rejuvenate.

Sometimes taking a nice long bath is just the remedy for a worn out body. Candles, music and solitude combined with hot relaxing bubbles really helps the cause. Add a little glass of wine to sip while the water cools and a body can feel quite revived.

Listening to music is an easy way to soothe a stressful soul. Musicologist Oliver Sacks has studied the effects of music for many years finding that it can ease depression, can animate people with Parkinson’s disease who cannot otherwise move, give words to stroke patients who cannot otherwise speak, and calm and organize people whose memories are ravaged by Alzheimer’s or amnesia. (http://www.oliversacks.com/musicophilia.htm) This remarkable man offers exquisite proof that we are musical creatures and in fact our DNA imitates notes that produce harmonies. The more tranquil and peaceful a person, the more harmonious song the DNA creates.

We can develop our own “personal song” to sing whenever we feel blue or just need to get vibrating at a higher level. One doesn’t have to be able to “carry a tune,” just vocalize a series of sounds that make one happy. Being able to “sing” one’s “song” is one of the tricks to living joyfully. I like to sing my song while driving, it helps me focus. The sound wakes up the nerve endings and helps oxygenate the blood. While singing, deeper breathing usually takes place, so all in all it’s a very healthy, joyful exercise. Go ahead, give it a try. You might actually look forward to the daily commute!

More about Joyful Living next time.

Art is a Concept: Conceive it, Believe it, Do it!!

Susanna Jade