surrender to joy

I have definitely touched on this subject before, however, since it continues to circle back in my life I feel led to revisit and share with you again today.

It’s Okay To Feel Joy Through Grief.

This time around for me, it kind of feels like watching a movie you’ve seen over and over, yet every now and then when you rewatch it you notice something different in the movie. Maybe it’s a line that you didn’t hear before that made the end of the movie make a little more sense. Maybe it’s a character in the background you didn’t notice before.

My Auntie Barbara passed away this past week. Grief, for whatever reason, continues to make its way into my life, just when I think I’m finally healed and everything is okay.

However, what I noticed about this time around, is that I didn’t handle it the way I would have in the past. I didn’t respond to it in the same way. I cried, but I didn’t fall apart. I found myself laughing at various points throughout this past week. I chose to surround myself with family instead of seclude myself. I found myself in complete, and utter joy for moments and didn’t feel guilty about it.

I believe the last time I wrote about this, I shared with you that we can feel joy even through grief. I shared that because it was something new that I was trying out, and I was encouraging us to try it together. This time, I’m sharing it with you because I have continued on this path. I have learned that this new form of surrender is 1000% necessary for the healing of the soul, and there is absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

Not everyone will understand it, and your words trying to explain it to them might not help in the moment. But, I do invite you to connect with joy as you grieve. Joy is contagious, even if those around you aren’t showing symptoms {yet}.

Joy does not mean the absence of pain. It is solely the presence of love.

With Love,

Mama Shye