Remembering to Pack My Joy!

by Christina Randle

I’m driving to work this morning – very early. I’ve got a big project and several important tasks due, giving two local speeches and leaving town tomorrow for a big 3-day conference. I’ve been up for several hours already rehearsing my speech, pouring over my project and thinking through the day. My left brain is already exhausted.

As I glanced to my left, I saw out of the corner of my eye another professional just like me heading out before the sun is up. Another glance revealed something much more poignant - there is a smile on his face clearly a reflection of the joy in his heart as his head bobbed to the music playing on his car stereo. He catches my eye and sharing a smile and a wink. It’s not a romantic wink or a ‘hey baby what’s happening’ wink. It seems like a ‘remember, you can be in your happy place too’ wink.


His day was probably pretty close to how mine was in terms of important things to do. I realized that while I’d been getting ready for the day, I’d forgotten to pack my smile, joy and fun. As I re-engaged on the road, I checked in with myself. My frontal lobe is throbbing with all the thinking I’ve already done as I looked at the clock and it read 6:47 AM. As I glanced in the rear-view mirror, there was absolutely no smile to be found anywhere. Forcing my mouth into a smile form made no difference internally or externally to get me to the joy that seemed to emanate from this total stranger.

My choice was clear. To continue with the left-brain, stoic approach or ease and balance it with some joy, a smile and delight. I know the groups that I will be speaking with today would probably appreciate me bringing those qualities with me. As this realization came, it felt as if I were just opening my eyes for the day.

All of a sudden the sun beamed to me from the horizon, the cool breeze was blowing across my shoulders, the water rippling down carrying spotted ducks on Ladybird Lake as I drove across and the cars along the road became humans that I shared the road with. Gratitude enveloped me as I recounted all the many blessings I had – from the simple pleasures provided by nature to the work that we do in the world, the wonderful people I get to work with, our clients, my family, friends, birds and butterflies, flowers, my back porch for watching sunsets and read my current favorite book, the smell of baking chocolate chip banana bread, the blood rushing through my legs as I ride my indoor bike or my outdoor bike. Yes, I could feel it rising inside. I am blessed. And with that, the joy came forth.

Did you pack your joy today?