What brings you joy in life?

[Reluctant Watchman]

The question is simple, yet I feel quite profound: What brings you joy in life?

[Reluctant Watchman]

I'll start. I like to garden and be engaged in the process of watching things grow. And knowing where my food comes from. These things make me happy.

[Thinker]

I feel joy spending time with loved ones, nature, feeling the Spirit, a good laugh, dancing to good music… and more.

[Ymarsakar]

Seeing souls grow stronger and overcome their weaknesses. The hero s journry of weak to strong

[IcedKoffee]

Walking in alignment (as best I can) with Yeshua Messiah. In terms of overall piece as well as temporal.

However, for over ten years now I have had a fascination with centenarians (people who live to 100 plus years old). More specifically pockets of centenarians around the world called blue zones. I’m less interested with how long they live but more so the quality of life they enjoy. Not only are they much more healthier than the rest of the world, they also seem happier and peaceful. The tenets that contribute to this quality of life are faith in a higher power than their own. Eating organic traditional foods of their culture and surroundings. Processed foods are very minimal. Living life at a very slow pace without the stresses and anxiety caused by time constraints. Things may take longer to get done but somehow tasks are always accomplished on time. A strong sense of community. These people are never lonely. They are very socially active and meet together often. There is no such thing as a retirement home within these communities. They come together to take care of one another all the way up until death. They are physically active well into their 80’s and 90’s. Even into their hundreds. They garden, farm, fish, do chores, work….etc…..etc. They are far from sedentary.

There are 5 designated blue zones around the world.

Nicoya Peninsula
Peninsula in Costa Rica

Loma Linda California

Okinawa Japan

Sardinia Italy

Ikaria Greece

Unfortunately these blues zones are being co opted by the NWO to push the vegan and smart city agenda. While these communities eat less meat than they do plants. The only 100 percent vegetarian’s are the Loma Linda Californian Seventh Day Adventist. The rest of them eat plenty of meat, and dairy.

[nightlight]

Autumn

[TwochurchesOnly]

grandchildren- joy and rejoicing
art - creative processes
good food - preparing/growing or otherwise sourcing
friendships - kindred spirits, sharing ideas --sharing life, bearing each others burdens

[onefour1]

Being right with God and seeing others do the same.

[mudflap]

popcorn and smoothie night with my wife watching some new show or reading about some new discovery.

finding new trails in the woods. enjoying a good long hike and the sore muscles that go with it.

gardening. and harvesting.

watching my daughter be good at playing drums. or my kids accomplish things that they worked hard for. watching them get smarter than me on something.

nailing the riff on a chart I've been practicing forever.

installing the very last floorboard, doorknob, baseboard, engine bolt, anything.

knitting. I like when stitches all line up and are perfectly spaced, row upon row.

fishing. or catching. take your pick.

bullseyes.

having a billion dollars. lol. just kidding. never cared about money or nice cars, or the latest smart phone.

[LateOutOfBed]

Talking about Jesus/Learning more about Jesus.
A good night sleep.
Realizing my wife still loves me after 27 years... (why does she? I dunno... )
Children/Grandchildren
Baking a cheesecake
Successfully accomplishing any goal (work or at home)
Lots more than this too!

[Seed Starter]

These things bring me joy

Deep Research
Learning about history
Old maps
Writing
Growing interesting things
Manual machining on my lathe
Road trips with my family
Clear blue sky
Sitting in a boat or by the water
Helping my kids reach their goals
Deep conversations with willing participants
Listening to music of all sorts
Seeing God work in my life
Perfect mashed potatoes
Waking up each morning
Remembering loved ones
Thinking about the future beyond immediate difficulties
Focusing on hope
Awakening others in any way to any extent possible
Listening to wiser people than myself

[Reluctant Watchman]

Walking in alignment (as best I can) with Yeshua Messiah. In terms of overall piece as well as temporal.

However, for over ten years now I have had a fascination with centenarians (people who live to 100 plus years old). More specifically pockets of centenarians around the world called blue zones. I’m less interested with how long they live but more so the quality of life they enjoy. Not only are they much more healthier than the rest of the world, they also seem happier and peaceful. The tenets that contribute to this quality of life are faith in a higher power than their own. Eating organic traditional foods of their culture and surroundings.Processed foods are very minimal. Living life at a very slow pace without the stresses and anxiety caused by time constraints. Things may take longer to get done but somehow tasks are always accomplished on time. A strong sense of community. These people are never lonely. They are very socially active and meet together often. There is no such thing as a retirement home within these communities. They come together to take care of one another all the way up until death. They are physically active well into their 80’s and 90’s. Even into their hundreds. They garden, farm, fish, do chores, work….etc…..etc. They are far from sedentary.

That list of tenets is pretty cool. Much of the modern world has gone away from such lifestyles.

[NowWhat]

Spending time with people who love Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon and the Savior.

Dogs.

Great posts, thanks.

[Reluctant Watchman]

One thing I've come to love is the endorphin rush you get after working out, and the subsequent feeling you get at the end of a workout when the blood moves from the extremities back into the core of your body. It literally feels like you are melting. This happens to be a favorite time to meditate after stretching and spending 10 or so minutes pondering. Even the simple act of filling your lungs with air is calming and joyful. The human body is such an amazing gift from God.

[RosyPosy]

The crisp break of a 1911 trigger.

Making ammo at my relaoding bench (very meditive for some reason).

Watching my plants sprout vegetables.

Feeling like a million bucks from dripping in sweat after exercising.

Riding twisty roads on my motorcycle.

Standing knee high and barefoot in a lake while fishing.

[TheChristian]

Jesus of Nazerath .........

[Reluctant Watchman]

Jesus of Nazerath .........

Any aspect in particular?

[LadyT]

My family
My gardens- vegetable one, herb one and flowers. They make me happy. I love the feel of good dirt on my hands and watching my plants grow.

My chickens. I will sit and watch them play. One is like a dog. She follows me around. Sits by me as I garden. She comes when I call her name. It's great.

Looking at the ocean or a large waterfall. I can't describe the feeling.

Making a cake that is beautiful. It make a while to get all the decorations done. It's awesome to see such beauty happen and know your hands did that.

[Reluctant Watchman]

My family
My gardens- vegetable one, herb one and flowers. They make me happy. I love the feel of good dirt on my hands and watching my plants grow.

My chickens. I will sit and watch them play. One is like a dog. She follows me around. Sits by me as I garden. She comes when I call her name. It's great.

Looking at the ocean or a large waterfall. I can't describe the feeling.

Making a cake that is beautiful. It make a while to get all the decorations done. It's awesome to see such beauty happen and know your hands did that.

We have a chicken that acts almost the same way. It was traumatized at another property and they gave it to us. When we let it out of the pen it follows us around. We also sit and watch and talk with our chickens.

A recent trip to CA/OR had us spending long hours just listening to the waves crash on the beach. Extremely cathartic and rhythmic. I’ll also never forget one late night while on my mission to Spain. We travelled hours to a home and the person wasn’t there. So we went to the beach and let the warm ocean wind and waves lull us for a time as the sun set on the horizon.

[Libertas Est Salus]

My kids are my life's greatest joy. There is nothing I love more than being a daddy.

I also love building things. I'm nearing completion of a greenhouse I've been working on for a while, and it's getting really exciting to see an idea come to fruition.

Walking out to my orchard and picking a juicy peach or crisp apple from trees I planted when we built the house. That never gets old, and is always a joyful moment for me.

[Dave62]

Autumn

I was about to say, "Crush your enemies, drive them before you, and hear the lamentations of the women", but I thought "Autumn" was probably more accurate for what brings me joy. Summer where I live is an abomination of sweat, pain and suffering. We are caressed daily with the very breath of Beelzebub himself. Autumn is God's reminder that he has not forgotten us and that the pure love of winter is on its way.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Helping others.

[Cruiserdude]

Autumn

I was about to say, "Crush your enemies, drive them before you, and hear the lamentations of the women", but I thought "Autumn" was probably more accurate for what brings me joy. Summer where I live is an abomination of sweat, pain and suffering. We are caressed daily with the very breath of Beelzebub himself. Autumn is God's reminder that he has not forgotten us and that the pure love of winter is on its way.

"Crush your enemies, drive them before you, and hear the lamentations of their women"
Conan the Barbarian brings me joy as well

[Reluctant Watchman]

This is more of a general statement, but anything that brings me closer to God brings me joy.

One of those things that brings me closer to God is when I learn about a false belief or tradition that I’ve held for so long and striving to overcome it. And then being engaged in helping my friends and family to do the same.

For example, this Sunday we have a couple coming over to our home for dinner. We’ve never met them. From what I gather, the husband was deeply seated “in the boat,” even writing essays about critics of the church. Now he is asking some hard questions.

[Reluctant Watchman]

Another one for the morning. I like creating with my mind and hands. To be able to bring a thought into fruition brings joy to my heart, especially if that thing has purpose and meaning.

For example, we built a chicken coop last year. For a first attempt, it wasn’t so bad. We set up a pulley system for the door, windows for light, vents in the top, and 10-12 degree slanted laying boxes with a lower shelf so the eggs roll out to where the chickens can’t peck at them and also keeps the eggs clean. I’d do things slightly different next time… which also brings me joy because I learned things that I can improve on.