✨a message of joy✨
I’m sending you a love note from my side of the internet that you happen to be reading from YOUR side of the internet to tell you that you should probably take a break from the internet even thought I have no right to tell you anything of the sort.
That’s it. That terrible, run-on sentence is all I really wanted to say.
Except…it’s not just the internet. It’s the constant barrage of information, content, books, movies, shows, or talking heads we keep consuming at top speed. It’s the constant hum of distraction and chaos and nonsense. Even the good stuff can be way too much. It’s like we’re afraid of silence and solitude.
Please know that I’m often terrible at sitting in the quiet. My thoughts are so loud and obnoxious most of the time that when there is quiet, I want to fill it up with noise. I want to put on music or a podcast or listen to an audiobook. When I’m home alone, I turn on the tv for company. Being more aware of this lately, I have gotten much better at embracing the quiet than I used to be but my distrust of silence is something I’m still working on. (And I will be working on this until I die because, apparently, I really like noise.)
When a theme keeps coming up, over and over again, I actually do try to pay really close attention. And, if I’m being honest, the idea of rest and silence and taking a break ::gestures wildly:: from it all has been a reoccurring message that won’t leave me alone and I’m starting to wonder if it’s because our joy is so attached to our ability rest. Because maybe it’s when we allow ourselves to be still and rest we get to see more joy. Or maybe it’s that we make more space for joy.
I don’t know if that’s true, but it feels true.
Obviously, I don’t have all the answers, or any of the answers, but I’m trying to learn how to get quiet. Breaks from the internet and screens…more time outside…less noise, less chaos when and where I can. Even if it’s just taking my coffee outside in the morning for a few minutes of quiet instead of mainlining caffeine with the scroll of doom. It’s a start.
But since I’m a giant hypocrite, I hope you’ve enjoyed your love note from me and my side of the internet telling you to get off the internet.
I’m the worst.
✨seeking joy✨
What I am watching, reading and listening to
📺 Watching: We saw Thor: Love and Thunder over the weekend and I just thought you should know that I freaking loved it. I do think that Thor: Ragnarok is still my favorite of the Thor movies but Love and Thunder is definitely a contender. The soundtrack alone raises movie’s scoring and is Ridiculous Joy Playlist approved.
📖 Reading: Does it count if the book I’ve been “reading” is an audiobook? I mean, it counts as a book but should it be included under the “listening to” category? WHO CAN SAY. But I’ve enjoyed the latest book I’ve been listening to called The Last Bookshop in London which is about, you guessed it, a bookshop in (WWII) London. The book gives off strong Guernsey vibes so I can’t help but love it.
🎧 Listening: Sometimes podcasts will hit you at just the right time and that’s exactly what happened here with yet another message of rest. It’s got a spiritual aspect to it, yes…but even if you only listened to the first 8-ish minutes there are some really interesting pieces of information that point to rest and retreating.
✨joy from the internet✨
⚾️ Wholesome baseball moments.
🗺 How many people in YOUR feed are in Europe?
🤜 But also:
😆 I can’t be trusted here:
👚 Inquiring minds:
💦 Summer truth:
⭐️ I know I’m not the only one to go nuts over these pictures but I’m sharing them anyway because I love them so dang much and I actually want to hang all of them up in my home:
🌟 Especially this one omg:
💫 Some good information on all this space information and goodness.
✨ More space:
🐢 I laughed way too hard at this and then sent it to my family:
✨ moments of joy ✨
things I don’t want to forget
My daughter named the pool llama Leonard. He brings us so much joy and also has no regard for personal space. Leonard brings us all joy.
✨ ridiculous joy ✨
the icymi on IG kind of joy
✨ I forgot that I talked about this on last week’s TMSG.
✨ a joyful heart ✨
Just a few things that caught my heart or my faith this week.
💛 Grief and joy:
💛 Do what you are called to do:
our daily prayer for the week…
Our Father
Lord, grant us the ability to think with Your mind, to hear with Your ears, to see with Your eyes, to speak with Your mouth, to walk with Your feet, to love with Your heart. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Love you all…have an amazing rest of your week!!
❤️ Jill
p.s. I’ve fallen asleep twice proofreading this. I just thought you should know the reasoning behind any strange spelling or grammar.