Years ago, someone broke into my townhouse. I’d gone out of town over the Easter weekend and came back to that lovely discovery. I opened the front door, looked down the hallway and noticed pieces of wood laying in the floor by the back door. I walked into the room, knowing what it meant but not really thinking. I picked up the phone and called my mother who said to me, “Call the police.” Ever the obedient child, I did just that. Dialed 911 as I walked back down the hall and realized that I probably shouldn’t BE in the house right now. One of the first things the person on the other end of the phone asked me was, “Is anyone else in the house other than you? Do you think the person(s) might still be in the house?” I was so shocked to find myself in this predicament, I never stopped to think about that.

I waited in my car while the police showed up and searched my house. Nothing of great monetary value was taken. They think it was some young kids who were looking for things they could stuff in their pockets (money, jewelry, etc) rather than be seen coming from the back of someone’s house lugging tvs, vcrs, etc. Up until that point, I’d felt so safe in my house. So…well, ‘at home’. In the days and weeks to come, I would realize that, while they didn’t steal anything from me that had monetary value, they had stolen my peace of mind, my joy.

How ironic then that I am sitting here in the wee hours of the morning, realization breaking while the morning still wears its nightclothes. I’ve been robbed again. Of my peace of mind, my joy. And I have to ask myself, “Is the perp still in the house?”

I don’t know if the perp is stil in the house but I can tell you that their accomplice is. I see her every time I pass by a mirror. Yes, the joy-stealers have become so adept at what they do, they have me sending them residuals on the regular. Gotta shake your head at the thought of that. Wow. Am I my own kill-joy? And how do I correct that behavior?

I sit and honestly assess where I am in my life. All things told, life still looks good. Yes, a myriad of things have occurred in a short period of time, causing all kinds of collisions in my life. Perhaps it’s all this simultaneous combustion that has me working for the enemy. I mean, the blows from each new event came so swiftly on the heels of the previous event, I’m not sure I had time to catch my breath.

So today I’ve decided to start a “neighborhood watch” in my own life. Monitor the comings and goings, keeping an eye out for suspicious characters. Loiterers. People, places, things, thoughts that don’t mean me any good, aren’t good to/for me, or that don’t bring me any value or joy. Or…me to them.

Stop being a willing accomplice by just letting stuff happen. No, as the property owner, it’s up to me to MAKE things happen. Proactive behavior, not reactive. And so it is.

Here’s to joy in unending waves. Joy that flows freely through my life like fresh air. Joy that permeates my spirit, lodging itself in my spine, my smile, my mind. Joy that overflows until it splashes onto anyone in my path.

Live DELICIOUSLY!
Live JOYFULLY!
LIVE!
~ J ~

~ QUOTABLES ~

Find a place inside where there’s joy and the joy will burn out the pain. ~ Joseph Campbell

Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow. ~ Helen Keller

Joy is the willingness to keep moving no matter what. Joy is courage to go boldly where you are advised not to go. Joy is the freedom and ability to make conscious choices in the face of seeming disaster, by accepting and acknowledging that you are a creative being on a divine journey, and that nothing but the Divine can stop you”- Iyanla Vanzant