The Joy of Rediscovering What Makes You Happy

Hey 👋🏾,

I want to be honest with you. For a while, things have felt a bit grey.

Between balancing life, work, and everything in between, it's easy to lose track of the things that bring us joy. For me, making jewelry has been my go-to creative outlet since 2020. It has been a way to calm my anxiety and connect with something bigger. But even that, recently, hasn't been enough. 

That’s when I realized something: I needed to reconnect with another activity that brings me joy. I realized that activity is gardening. Gardening was a passion of mine for years. Inspired by my grandfather's ability to grow everything from guava to bananas to pigeon peas to june plum to ackee to yam (the list goes on forever), I would take immense pride in being able to grow fruits and vegetables from seeds to harvest. There’s something about getting my hands dirty, nurturing plants, and watching them grow that soothes my mind. The act of planting seeds and seeing life unfold from the soil is not just calming, it’s a reminder of patience and care—both for the plants and for ourselves. 

The last time I truly maintained a garden was in 2020. We all know the big event of 2020. Each of us was impacted in some way that year. I lost my grandfather in March of 2020, I worked six and a half days a week under some of the most stressful conditions, and then I lost my mother in October. Needless to say, I went through a lot and it definitely stole my joy.

It has been an uphill battle trying to reclaim my joy. I was in therapy for about a year and that's when I learned that I suffered from anxiety and making jewelry was an important outlet for me. As a result, D's Delights became a major part of my life. However, for almost a year now, I've been struggling and I knew I needed to implement some changes. I've slowed down on the business, I've changed jobs, and I've been trying to explore other positive, healthy outlets. 

We all know that mental health is extremely important, but sometimes we forget that it needs nurturing just like those seedlings in the garden. Doing something that brings you joy isn’t just a way to pass time; it’s an essential part of maintaining a healthy mind. Whether it’s painting, hiking, writing, or something else entirely, these activities are more than hobbies—they’re small acts of self-care. 

I encourage you to take a moment today to think about what truly makes you happy. What’s something you’ve put on the back burner that always used to bring you joy? Make time for it, no matter how small. Even a few minutes spent doing something you love can have a profound impact on your mental well-being. 

Let’s take care of our minds, just like we take care of everything else in our lives. After all, a healthy mind is the foundation for a joyful life. 

What brings you joy? Let me know in the comments, and let’s inspire each other to make time for what matters most. 

💜✨