Focusing on Joy Through Hard Times

I’m not going to lie, it feels very scary out here. Every day it’s something. I can practically feel my cortisol levels go up. As a first gen, I know the fear that comes with immigration and la migra. Even though both my parents came here legally and became citizens. 

At the same time, we are not going to sit here and crash out. Of course we are not just all love and light over here. I don’t do spiritual bypassing. There’s some collective trauma and generational trauma that we are holding for our fellow family members and friends. And there’s also a true fear of being sent to a death camp for simply existing. After my crash out earlier today, I realized this is a good time for us to work through the feelings that are coming up right now so that we can heal them.

After writing four pages in my journal around all of the things, here are some tips I have for you.

Focus on consuming longer form content. Even Threads is starting to get on my nerves. I realized after some doom scrolling and seeing fake “breaking news” that I need to focus on long form content. Youtube, Substack, etc. I also am going to focus on getting my news from one or two trusted news sources. And read it like a newspaper at the end of the day instead of letting my day get consumed by short threads designed to get under my skin or bring some strong feelings out of me. My body can’t operate like this long term. No one’s body can.

I also want to focus on the things that bring me joy. In the beginning of the year, I started a private YouTube list I named “YouTube University”. It’s full of things that I wanted to learn like how to shape my nails in different shapes, how to take better pictures, etc. Follow folks that are doing the things you want to learn, growing a garden, making meals at home for less, doing your own hair. We are obviously heading into a recession and we need all the help we can get to keep more money in our pockets.

Start a hobby. Ideally something that keeps you from scrolling. I’ve started to color again, and I love coloring because I know it’s something that I can't monetize. It’s for my pure enjoyment. I’ve tried using colored markers which is what all the coloring girlies over on TikTok are using and I've come to the conclusion that I absolutely hate it. I love the softness of colored pencils. I enjoy holding the colored pencils as well. I try to color a half page to a page every few days. It’s super cathartic and helps my brain to decompress. As a Libra stellium, I need to journal and color to clear my head. Otherwise my anxiety takes over.

I’m also pretty sure that you have the beginnings of a few different hobbies around the house, so you wouldn’t have to spend any cash to start again. Crochet? Don’t forget YouTube University! Knitting, etc. I have crochet hooks and extra yarn from 2020 hobbies I started along with embroidery projects. Take Aaliyah’s advice, if at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again. My kid actually got me into boondoggle again and I have a half finished project I keep in my purse. 

This is also a time to really dig into your ancestral practices. Connect with your altar–or reconnect if it’s been a while. Change your water and light a candle for your ancestors. I mentioned ancestor money as well for money rituals. Cover your crown. The difference that I feel when I cover my crown is incredible. I feel light as a feather. Like the cathartic moment after crying your eyes out–without all that crying. You can use anything to cover your head, a bandana, a scarf or a baseball hat. Keep that florida water and Kolonia on deck. Spiritual baths for cleansing and purging. Make sure your home is a peaceful and safe space.

Also check out the library for free books and resources/groups. Join a book club. Genealogy as part of your ancestral practice. My local library held online classes on how to research for genealogy as a free resource. Go out there and get organized in community. I would love to hold space for folks here locally at the lake this summer. I’d call it Summer Saturdays and we’d get together and bring a book to read or a work in progress of crochet, knit, embroidery even a coloring book and just hold space. Like a stitch and bitch. 

Ponte a perrar! There has been research that has proven the connection between perreando and mental health. So put some bad bunny on and perrea while you cook or clean or just dance and nothing else. Sing! Try something new with friends. One of my favorite TikTok series is a group of young kids that can’t be much older than my oldest son. They get together and try something new each time. They are so sweet. So far they’ve taken a salsa class, pilates, tried boba, puppy yoga etc. They have such a good time together. They make me want to get my friends together for something like that too! Even though I’m sure they were hurting bad the day after that class! Pilates is no joke!

This summer, I plan to spend at least one hour a day outside in my backyard on my picnic blanket with my dog taking some sun while reading a book or coloring, journaling and tarot. So many possibilities and I’m excited about it. Doing that while enjoying my little sunflower patch that I’m planning to start this weekend as a chaos garden with five different sunflowers in different colors and sizes!

What are some things you do to bring some joy? What are you planning to do this spring and summer to bring some joy into your life? Share in the comments!