If You Could Write A Book ...

We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, 

even if it is only picking grapes or sorting laundry.”

~E. B. White

Join Our 30-Day Pilgrimage into Joy!

Day 23: We profess our particular penchant for Joy. 

What if you could write about about something that truly brings you Joy?

A book about your particular passion, expertise, or even a hobby that ushers in quiet satisfaction or a sense of timelessness?

Just out of curiosity, I did a search to uncover a list of all the books that had been written with"The Joy of ...." as their focus, pondering what the focus of my own "Joy of" book would be. Here's a sample of what I found. 

Of course, there was the classic, The Joy of Cooking, written over 75 years ago by Irma Rombauer. And then there's The Joy of Sex by Alex Comfort penned in 1972. (Truthfully, I don't recall that I ever read either of these.)

What intrigued me the most were "Joy" books about more unusual loves. Here are a few Amazon.com turned up:

The Joy of Signing

The Joy of Vegan Cookery

The Joy of Vegan Baking (Yum!)

The Joy of Not Working (I kinda liked that one.)

The Joy of Pickling (Yes, seriously, pickling food.)

The Joy of Living and Dying in Peace by the Dalai Lama (Okay, I have to get that one soon.)

The Joy of Living (Now we're talking!) 

I'd just finished reading the May issue of Shambhala Sun where the author, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, shared from his new book Joyful Wisdom. I actually read The Joy of Living this winter and loved his perspective. In the article, Mingyur Rinpoche says:

"We choose ignorance because we can. We choose awareness because we can... If you're determined to think of yourself as limited, fearful, vulnerable, or scarred by past experience, know only that you have chosen to do so. The opportunity to experience yourself differently is always available."

I love this concept and resonate with its truth, having embraced it in my own life. I do believe that we choose our orientation in life: What I'm to be is up to me. If this book intrigues you as it has me, there's a nice little video about it at UTube with Mingyur Rinpoche himself. 

If I were to write a "Joy of..." book, it probably would have been the "Joy of Living." But since that title is already taken, I'd opt for "The Joy of Going Slow." 

You see, after many years of living in the fast lane, I learned how much I love to go slow. To wander and watch. To listen and learn. To savor and see deeply, listening intently. Today, I am happy to say that I honor my slowness and am benefiting from my turtle-like approach to life. I am happier and healthier than I have ever been. I even walk slow, which often drives my family absolutely crazy. I am not in a hurry to get anywhere anymore.

I think I could write a pretty good book about how to slow the pace of our lives and  live fully alive and aware, with intention and great joy. I doubt many people would buy it, but I'd write it anyway. What about you?

Considering your interests, your passions, what "Joy of..." book would you write if you could?

I'd love to hear ...

~~~~~

On Thursday, we will have our final Joy-journey guest, Cindy La Ferle.
Cindy is a prolific writer whose award-winning essays reflect upon the simple joys in life, especially family. You can learn more about her at http://www.laferle.com/. And there will be a Book Giveaway! Cindy's book, Writing Home, is a treasure! So stop buy, make a comment, and be entered in the drawing. See you Thursday!

(Photo courtesy of frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/litchick)