I so love this idea: REVEL IN IT. Although “revel” in itself means to celebrate in a “lively” way, to me it doesn’t necessarily have to be about being lively, but rather in living out the full expression of joy or pleasure in something.
Think about that for a minute. What does it look like to find true pleasure in life? With all of it’s twists and turns, like a roller coaster… at times exhilarating – think celebrating big moments, new babies, new jobs, new homes, a big win at work, a friend that made your day with an act of kindness, a gift of a genuine compliment – and at times a stomach-churning dip – think of all that yucky stuff that can disarm you, like a virus sticking around too long, heartbreak, or a bad decision. Generally, most get off of the ride with a big ole’ smile and a certain energy. Perhaps you’re happy you endured and didn’t puke (sorry, but let’s be real!). Or maybe you really felt the fun and scary come together for a great experience.
I’m not sure if the roller coaster analogy works for everyone, but the key point is that life should be revered, and reveling in all it has to offer is a choice. The alternative, of course, is to be a cynic and find the opposite of pleasure – pain, anguish, suffering, torment. (Ouch!) When you lay it out like that, it seems obvious that reveling is not just important, but necessary for our mental health game, which eventually translates into our physical health.
Today, I hope you will take stock of life’s many gifts, even those that aren’t what you would have chosen. Together, they unite to create lives that are worthy and purposeful and create the fabric of JOY that makes it all beautiful.