I have often believed that those in politics who have a title or office usually find themselves absurdly consumed by the political world that they are living in. Whether it be a school board member, council member or mayor, county official, or a state or federal elected official, you more often than not find that these public officials talk, inordinately and incessantly, about their politics and many make the mistake that the entire world cares as much about political dithering as they do. Note to the ruling rule-they do not care all that much, if at all.
The reality is most of the population do not care about politics in any form. And for those who have some remote interest in politics, they are not concerned about the minutia and machinations found in politics, like who will be the next district chair or who will run together in the next election cycle. In the converse universe, the sad and larger truth is that most who are infected with the political virus cannot be causally involved in politics; they dive headfirst and are overwhelmed and consumed with the politics of the moment, and they stay in that captive state swimming forever in that political pool. With that, they suffer the inevitable consequences of having little outside view beyond politics.
The inherent problem that comes home to roost with that limited universe is that this political preoccupation leaves little room for other more meaningful or emotional pursuits. And other than the exhilaration or near intoxication that comes with the election win or political accomplishment of the day, there are few days or even moments that you feel that rare and unexpected and fleeting emotion of joy, a joy unrelated to your politics.
But here is experiencing talking, you need to make some time and focus on the magic of the day that does not involve work or politics. Find joy from playing with your children, your grandchildren, from watching a sunset or performing some charity for others or from seeing something special. Go capture the pureness of joy and when you do, I suggest you embrace it and savor it as you never know if you will encounter that rarity anytime soon.
Part of the grand design that prevents us from experiencing this exhilarating elation of joy is that we are always burdened with an ever-constant weight of unshakable responsibility, and with that, a great sense of obligation always encapsulates and somehow manages to inhabit our total being.
My suggestion, my request, and in someways a mandate to others, is to find that moment of joy and happiness and wrap your heart and soul around it and enjoy it.
A few weeks ago, I had such a wonderful and amazing experience, a moment of joy that took me by surprise. I recently walked my beautiful and loving daughter, Ryan Marie, down the aisle as she married the man of her dreams.
The day was long planned, but I was never really ready for it to happen. The day was beautiful and full of life-affirming goodness as you saw the best in our society coming together to witness one of the most captivating moments in our lifetime. To watch the exchange of handwritten vows and love publicly professed to one another reminded me of the raw pure goodness that this life offers. I marveled as the attendees witnessed the marriage of my daughter and my amazing son-in-law.
I took in that moment, that day, that emotion, and as I did so, I pushed away everything else in life that was once important and was swept away by this brilliant moment of absolute joy.
I can’t imagine that these moments happen often.
And I observe and note, sadly, that normal people, at best, only capture a handful of those exquisite moments in life. And for people in politics or people who are hard-driven and obsessed with some goal of professional success or political ambition, they will always miss the boat and will never allow themselves to be visited by wholesome joy.
Lesson of the day- slow down your life and focus on the intrinsically powerful and magical moments that define and capture the essence of our existence.
Joy is a rare emotion and is only enjoyed in a small moment in time. The truth is that this specialness, this pursuit and capturing of joy should be more readily accessible and attainable to all of us, and much more frequently.
As a recent recipient of this once unfathomable feeling, I state with some authority that I shouldn’t let another day or opportunity go by without experiencing this feeling, this moment, this thing called joy. In our lifetime this elusive emotion should be more constant than an exception.
Time to go find that Joy in your life.