The Nature of Joy

“A Return to Joy 14″, Pamela Sukhum

“Joy is not something we earn, achieve or create. It is what radiates forth from us and as ourself when enough of what truly is not us falls away.” ~ Pamela Sukhum, (www.infinitevisionart.com)

The nature of joy. Found in everyday interactions within the unfolding of life moments; in the ability to see and create beauty and to treasure it; and embraced by gratitude for simply being alive as ourself.

As I write this there is a small container of dark chocolate covered organic almonds by my side and the taste of one single almond delights me. The only challenge is that I can’t seem to stop at one so the joy keeps expanding….and so do I!

Having followed the visionary art of Pamela Sukhum for many years now the quote above caught my attention. Borne out of her passion for creating art and desire to share that joy with others, artist Pamela Sukhum, launched the Beautiful Project in early 2006 and has since worked to inspire and empower communities world-wide through the vehicle of art. A testament to the light that shines through her as she has continually listened to the calling of her authentic expression and let everything else fall away.

This to me reflects the nature of joy when someone takes away any barriers to living life transparently and full on. As elders it can be as simple as waking up in the morning to another day of life and if we are wise enough being grateful for the moments that are given to us and expressing that gratitude through being present and aware in as many moments as possible. Even the difficult ones. This is joy transparently disguised as everyday life.

Saying what matters, accepting ourselves and others as we are, and realizing that this day given to us is truly a gift. We may not have another.

Sometimes joy sneaks up on us, unexpected and a guest who was not directly invited but has come to play. Like the moments experienced with Raleigh the Golden Retriever who decided he did not want to be left out when I broke out in a wild dance to James Brown on a cold rainy day last year. For me free form dance and movement has always been a harbinger of joy as it is one area of life where I feel absolutely free to express as if no one is watching…and even if they are it wouldn’t matter.

As I opened my body to the beat of song and rhythms there was a sound of toenails clicking on the hardwood floor behind me. In turning around I saw that Raleigh was dancing too with the biggest Golden Retriever smile on his face. What joyful moments when I became “Dances With Dogs” while he was simply being his unrestrained natural Golden Retriever self!

I wonder if when we die that the last moments will be flashes of all the joy we have felt in our lives. Now wouldn’t that be a joyful passing….

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I invite you to watch the video below which touched me deeply. I will never experience a long marriage such as Doreen and her husband in the video below – 65 years married – yet I deeply honor and am inspired by their devotion to each other and the everyday challenges, wisdom gained and pleasure in simply being together that has come of that partnership. These two represent the nature of joy to me in the acceptance of being perfectly imperfect.

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“I would like to choose to live with open hands and an open heart, to welcome joy and enjoy storms, and to believe life is fragile and beautifully imperfect.” ~Doreen Gail Hemp

“Perhaps one of the nicer things about getting older is realizing that things don’t need to be perfect. People get things wrong and plans change. Over time, many of the things that once felt important begin to matter less, leaving more room for what really does.

It can also change the way we see the people around us. Love becomes less about expecting everything to be easy, and more about accepting one another as we are. People don’t need to be faultless to be deeply loved.

Maybe a good life is one where we become a little softer with each other. Where we say what matters while we still can, and don’t waste too much time on the small stuff. Life may be messy and unfinished, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. Perhaps that is part of what makes it ours.”

Featuring Doreen Gail Hemp.
Filmed in Pringle Bay, South Africa by Reflections of Life.

This is the second film that we’ve made together with Doreen. If you missed the previous film, you can see it here : In Awe of Beauty – https://youtu.be/l860_0ZBhb4

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Gaye Abbott, Wildly Free Elder, 08/08/2026