Joy Eyeballs

 #lettingjoyin is a space I intend to hold as a training ground for Joy Eyeballs.  

As an early childhood educator, I sometimes wonder which came first - the chicken or the egg?  Did my stubborn optimism and relentless inner sunshine draw me into a career nurturing the original pint-sized vessels of sunshine who walk this earth, or has spending so much time with them made me a student of their worldview and subsequent master of finding joy in all the little-but-big things crossing our paths daily?  I suppose it doesn’t much matter. I do know that when someone notices and comments on my simple, childlike and at times even naive view of the world, I don’t mind.  In fact, I take it as the ultimate compliment.    

I choose to cultivate my Joy Eyeballs.  

My high school graduation quote read: “Keep your face to the sunshine and you will not see the shadows.”  At that time, I could think of no greater accomplishment in life than to follow Helen Keller’s powerful example of staying unshakably sunny no matter what obstacles came my way.  Watch what you wish for.  Bold statements are going to lead to bold challenges to test your resolve.  

It hasn’t all been sunny, and I haven’t always succeeded in choosing to sit on the side of the bus that keeps my face to the sunshine.  Surprisingly, I’m glad for that regardless of what my adolescent self might have to say about it, because both sides of the bus have had their share of gems to teach me.  Life isn’t complete without the yin and the yang.  

In my story, I’ve come to recognize that the shadows fuel my stubborn optimism into action.  They offer the gifts of understanding and empathy which ignite overwhelming surges of motivation.  I pay attention to those sparks best in the darkness.  But I can’t let myself get stuck there, and I know that it’s the fruits which my Joy Eyeballs have gathered on the sunny side of the bus that keep me believing it is possible that my action might make a difference.

Right now there are enough shadows - both on the inside and on the outside - that I’m designating a season for mindfully and actively moving myself to the sunny side of the bus each day.  Spring is here!  Days are longer than nights, and there is no better time to take on the challenge of noticing, savoring, diving into and splashing around in the joy that is right under my nose.  Even if it is just for a few moments each day, the fruits gather and multiply.  

As I hold this space for honing Joy Eyeballs, know that there is a jaded part of me rolling her eyes at the sunny side of the bus. I know well enough that keeping your face to the sunshine will not eliminate the shadows and it sure doesn’t serve anyone to ignore the shadows altogether.  But I also know it also doesn’t serve anyone to hunker down in the darkness for too long, and we can each feel our own tipping points.  In all its hard frostiness, winter has given us its gift of quiet darkness, rest and time for rejuvenation.  And now…. Spring!  

On this first day of spring, I woke up with an earworm that I don’t mind sharing - Blue Rodeo’s ‘Rose-Colored Glasses’.  When my husband and I first met we were both going through some darkness.  His natural inclination was sitting on the shadow side of the bus, and he paid me a great compliment by declaring that this song was about me with my stubborn optimism and relentless inner sunshine.  I like it, I choose it and I think this childlike worldview is worth holding onto and returning to as long as possible.  Simple - yes; naive - I’m actually not so sure… Now that I’m deeper into my journey, I feel a nuanced difference between slipping on Rose-Colored Glasses and choosing to activate Joy Eyeballs.  The former is a space of sunshine sans shadows while the latter implies sunshine among shadows.  

So in my sunniest teacher voice, I invite you to activate your Joy Eyeballs and join me in the ultimate game of ‘I Spy’.  Take notice of anything and everything that brings joy and spend a few extra moments lingering while it lasts.

She sees the world through rose-coloured glasses

Painted skies and graceful romances

I see a world that's tired and scared

Of living on the edge too long

Where does she get off telling me

That love could save us all, save us all.

She takes my hand and leads me to nowhere town.

No matter where I stand it's always neutral ground,

And in the cool of the evening blue

I feel so tired and alone

Where does she get off telling me

That love could save us all, save us all.

And it's day after day

I keep hanging around can you tell me why

Night after night, yeah I know I should leave

But there's something in those eyes

That keeps me hanging on, I'm hypnotized

It breaks my heart and I don't know why

Tell me why, tell me why

She sees the world through rose-coloured glasses…