Joy, Joy, Joy!

by Mary Jo

As my Christmas contribution to our Word Wenches Christmastide postings, I want to talk about what gives us pleasure.  I've read two articles recently that said we find the greatest and most lasting pleasure in experiences, not things.  Not that things aren't nice, but if you're debating taking a trip or buying a new dinette set and telling yourself that the trip will be over in days but you'll have the dinette set for years--remember that being "practical" isn't always the best choice.  Twenty years from now, the dinette set might be history, but a wonderful experience will provide lasting memories for you to cherish and share and smile over.  

And it doesn't have to be a big experience.  Over the weekend, my sister and I went shopping together, even though neither of us much likes shopping.  We didn't buy much, but we had a wonderful time laughing together at places like the well stocked kitchen gadgets department that included such delights as cherry chompers and a six inch dragon whose jaws could be used for cracking nuts.  

Experiences are precious.  What are some of your favorites?  Are there some bright shiny new experiences that you're anticipating for the future?  May they be joyous!

Mary Jo, who finds joy in her cats.  In the picture below, The Panda Puss is obvious, but if you look closely in the front, you can see the head and ears of Smokey MacGregor.  This may be his first Christmas tree, because he takes great joy in playing with the ornaments!  

 

Comments

[Shannon]

I am strange in that I mix up my stuff with experiences. I have an extensive selection of earrings, and I have stories associated with about half of them. Selecting one pair over another is often about remembering the good times and who I was with when I bought that particular pair or where I was. This week I wore Cat Snowman earrings from the Brighton Pavilion which brought back memories of that day in Brighton. Besides the earrings, I bought a silly/special watering can that I lugged around the U.K. and back to the States. Wrapping that for Christmas was a challenge. But Mom still uses it for her more delicate plants.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Shannon, that's lovely. The experience is triggered by the object. Adding an story makes an object so much more interesting1 I'd love to see that watering can!

[Vicki W.]

I tend to buy earrings when I go on special trips as well. I've also bought some very small pottery pieces so that every time I look at them I remember the place and people.

Sitting in a meadow in delightfully warm and perfect weather in Rocky Mountain National Park (earrings and books.)

Train trip from Vancouver to Whistler and a quick visit to the museum (hand made rope bracelet as well as earrings.)

Many trips to Dahlonega and other parts of north Georgia (earrings and pottery). I love going to the mountains in the summer when it is so hot. It is always cooler and usually greener too. I like green trees versus sandy blazing hot beaches.

A very cheap, tacky bookcase we hauled back to Georgia from Canada one year when we went to visit my grandparents 40 odd years ago. I still have it packed full of books too. Grin.

More earrings when we went to Sacramento and Yosemite National Park.

And I can truthfully say, I'd never pick a dinette table over a trip. I'm using the table my Grandma had at her house - nothing fancy but it works just fine.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Vicki--

I'm see an emerging theme of earrings as a trigger for remembering wonderful experiences! It makes sense, since earrings are small and easy to collect, and distinctive styles can instantly recall a particular time and place.

I admit the dinette set isn't a good example. Maybe a couch. They tend to deteriorate faster.

And I would NEVER get rid of a bookcase!

[Karin]

I do love bringing home small momentos of the places I've visited. It might be a piece of jewelry or a t-shirt, or it might be a rock or seashell. Nothing can really match the epic post-college backpacking trip I did around Europe, but I have enjoyed many vacations here in the States since then. I've been to every state except Hawaii.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Karin--

With your rocks and seashells, you're a traveler after my own heart! (Including the trip around Europe, in my case after my sophomore year of college. The poor girl's Grand Tour. *G*)

I hope you get to Hawaii, since you've checked all the other states off your life list. Hawaii is wonderful. I've made it there, but I have about 4 of the Lower Forty-Eight I haven't made it to yet. Working on it!