We have come to the "A" in our acronym YOUCANDOIT. Along with standing for "act", it could also represent "agency". Using our agency for good has been a key component to finding joy since the beginning of time. We become subject to others when we relinquish or give up our ability to act for ourselves and find that we have become the victims of our circumstances. If we want to remain free to choose for ourselves we need to act according to the dictates of our own conscience.
I began my conscious journey to joy more than 10 years ago after having the experience that I explained in the "Y" post. For the next couple months the desire to do something "rebellious" kept growing. I'm not sure if it was really rebellion I was looking for or just the need to do something "wild" that was all about me. One day while we were walking the perfect idea was born. It was time for me to get my ears pierced!!! Not only was I going to take a walk on the wild side, but a new walking buddy decided to climb aboard the crazy train with me. We piled into my friend's van and headed to the local mall where our posse paraded to the Piercing Pagoda. Five adult women with three children in tow. From the look on her bedazzled face, the employee who was working that morning had not anticipated such a colorful crowd. :)
There we were, ready and anxious to get those holes punched into our otherwise plain earlobes. I had always been proud of the fact that I didn't have my ears pierced, but at that moment I couldn't wait to change that. It's a good thing I hadn't done it before because I'm not sure what I would've chosen to do as an act of independence otherwise. You would've thought we were a couple of young kids sneaking out of the house on a school night trying to prove our independence. Piercing your ears just before your 39th birthday may not really sound like a great liberating move, but you'd be surprised at how freeing it really was.
When deciding what actions to take, it's important to differenciate between temporary pleasure and lasting joy. Avoid making choices that go against your values and any covenants you have already made. Joy comes from being true to yourself and the good choices that you have built your life on. When faced with choices I often remind myself "just because you can doesn't necessarily mean you should", but if it isn't going to hurt anyone and if it will bring sunshine to your soul, I say, "Go for it!"
Wow- ten years have passed since that impulsive choice! I amazed myself that day, because it had always felt way too scary to pierce my ears. (Kind of like swimming in the ocean and skiing both were for me, until my husband patiently helped me succeed.) Funny how having a great support group can help make things happen. I am so grateful for the association I have with good friends who possess the same morals and standards that I embrace, because having good, clean fun is living the good life with NO regrets.
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