November 7, 2022.

This is the evening prior to the US mid-term elections, the eve of the fall lunar eclipse- seen here for many hours- an event that will have an impact on us in ways we notice and in ways we don't.

I notice a spinning-up energy inside me after days of needing to rest and feeling old and remembering, again, the research of a group of 80 years olds from a care home who were driven to a "play camp" specially designed to return them to a time in their lives when they were younger. The camp was a time travel experience, back to the 50s. Fifties cars, houses, kitchens, living rooms, music, games, gathering places, clothing. The 80 year olds played! They relived their youth. They did fun things all over again. When the bus came to get them to take them back, they erupted into a touch football game- this remembered way of bonding, of connecting and working together.

So poignant that last detail– to think of leaving your past again, this time so much more vivid than your memories. Now the old is layered with new memories and, perhaps, a forgiveness of the past, or, at least, a generosity towards the past is accessible. Is Gratitude for the good in life more visible?

The research captured the physical experience of the 80 year olds and determined they'd regained their healthy markers. Some had lost years of aging. Their blood pressure was lower, stress was lower. The impact of joy and play was experienced and known. This joy thing seems so important. With experiences of joy, maybe you can ready yourself for whatever comes next. You have a memory of what is possible. An experience of super-gratitude.

Reality check on Joy: We may feel the loss when joy floats away for awhile. We may feel the desire for joy. We may cycle through loss with less avoidance. We may enjoy the build up to joy again.

Is this true for you?: We all want to be connected, loved, belonged, sheltered, and cared for. Our best self wants to be caring, sheltering, welcoming, loving.

Why is it challenging to think of joy as reachable most days? We may be afraid of the responsibility of feeling super-gratitude (the giving back action seems so unavoidable when we’re feeling full of joy), we may be afraid of failing short of joy’s expectations (does joy have expectations?).

The risk of joy seems appropriate for a cold, cold, cold full moon morning walk.

Turning towards joy in the frigid air, shaking hands and cold-sparked lungs seems victorious.

Remembering, again, the ways we play and engage with life (even in the cold, the dark, under the light of the full moon) contribute to more connectedness, deeper connectedness.

Morning. Morning. Morning. Good. Good. Good.