On my 40th Birthday Trip to New Orleans I made it a point to enjoy every single thing that I love without compromise or guilt. If there was something I wanted to eat, I ate it, if there was something I wanted to do, I did it. I took the days slow, listened to music and danced in the streets. I asked strangers to take photos of me and my friends and didn’t feel selfconcious about the request and I walked away with memories that were a work of art. So when I think about what is bringing me joy right now, I think about that trip and I look forward to outside opening back up and creating more just like it.
Until I can do that, I knew I wanted to bring that trip out of my iCloud and into my everyday life to enjoy over and over again. Thankfully my world is filled with creatives so I commissioned one of my closest friends Susie Cortez to recreate the moment in an original painting.
The end result and watching her creative process was more than I could have imagined and anticipating this painting hanging in my home gives me what can only be described as pure joy. I’m not only reminded of that NOLA trip, but of how important it is to honor your life and surround yourself with people who are honored to celebrate that life right along with you.
So I’m going to throw this question right back to you. What has brought you moments of joy? Your kids? Yummy dinners? A favorite book or movie? Tell me in the comments below and let’s keep the joy train moving.