J – Joy

These are very short excerpts from Susan E. Schwartz & my recently published book “Aging & Becoming ~ A Reflective Enquiry”. Susan E. Schwartz is SES, I am SS – my writings are italicized. This is from the chapter ‘Joy & Journey’.

SES: Jouissance … a source of creativity and we could say that the suppression of jouissance prevents women from expressing their voices. Organizing or planning for fulfilment now, we realize that what was intriguing earlier in life, what seemed so necessary, may be no longer. Maybe our joy now resides in different aspects, more thoughtful observations and reflections, and this is also part of what defines jouissance. pg 70

SES: Remember, the journey has jogs in the road. It is not a straight path. It has ups and downs and obstacles that provide life-expanding experiences, even when they seem limiting. If not for the jog or the detour, we may not make it. Like in the fairytales, the heroine finds herself in the most unlikely circumstances. She has to get lost, leave all she knew and find another way to proceed. Being on the road of the unknown with its twists and turns is the only option. pg 70.

‘The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse’.

Helen Keller

26 Comments on AtoZ April Blog Challenge J Joy

    • Isn’t it a lovely quote! Thank you Sara. Those challenges and knowing that in some way, that by surmounting them our psyches or souls are stronger. Thank you for saying!

    • Joy on the wing – a lovely image. And yes, as I write, all is very jittery indeed. The MAOB dropped in Afghanistan; North Korea getting twitchy and UN responses to it all. Peace in our time would bring joy I like to think … Hope you’re having a peaceful blessed Easter Hilary. Susan

  4. “…the heroine finds herself in the most unlikely circumstances. She has to get lost, leave all she knew and find another way to proceed,” clarifies my journey through divorce fallout in a way that makes me want open a channel to the past and cheer myself on. Once free from the suppression of jouissance, my fondest memories are the road trips, exploring new ways to proceed. Thanks for this clarity.

    • That’s lovely JoAnna that this spoke directly to you and the joy in finding other new paths that allowed jouissance to emerge – thank you for coming by.

  6. I found these two words interesting, joy and journey… its a call to find joy despite the twist and turns of life, for what after all joy is ?? love the way khalil gibran writes ” your joy is sorrow unmasked. The deeper the sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain ” Love your commitment for blogging 🙂

    • That is such a beautiful quote Genevive thank you – I’m writing it out again to imprint in on my heart. Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. The deeper the sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain’.

      Happy Easter blessings to you and family xx

  7. Love this, Susan — especially what you say about the heroine needing to get lost and “find[ing ] another way to proceed.”

    • Thanks for coming by T.J. – reminds me for the moment of the song, amazing grace, I once was lost but now I’m found …

  8. I love Helen Keller’s quote. She was so intelligent especially considering that she was blind and deaf. Finding Joy with the twists and turns that she experienced must have been extraordinary. Thanks for the delightful post! You brought me JOY!! 😉

    • She certainly experienced much in her life Gwynn in spite of being blind and deaf. Like many if not most of us, those twists and turns can either upbraid us or set us off in other directions, hopefully to become more of who we are – thank you for coming by 🙂

  11. I often say I like to keep my feet on the joy trail. But I really do think it’s helpful to understand the trail takes twists and turns. To expect it to be a well-worn never evolving rut diminishes what is possible and narrows us I think.

    I’ve been thinking recently that perhaps aging (across all aspects of our life journey) would be simpler if at each stage we looked radically different that previously. Then we might not be so inclined to expect that what once worked/pleased/seemed so right to have the same effect. We’d see clearly that we were different than we once had been and hold that without any negative judgment.

    • Thanks Deborah – there’ll always be twists and turns! Probably some stumbling as well. We address in our book about what once pleased us is no longer of such significance. Other issues become of greater value. I like how you say ‘…without any negative judgment’.

  12. A quote by William Blake has been displayed on my windowsill since we’ve moved: “Catch joy on the wing.” Happiness is fleeting, but joy can be a daily choice.

    • That is a beautiful quote by William Blake thank you Marian. A little more time and attention is needed to appreciate what is in front of our eyes.

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