Ordinary Joy: Puppies and BFF's

This blog is part of a series of posts that chronicle my participation in Reverb 10. Reverb 10 is an online event that encourages its participants to reflect on the past year and gear up for what's to come in the next. A prompt is given each day to fuel some personal reflection. Although I'm a little late on starting the challenge, I'm still looking forward to 18 days of honesty, acceptance, and growth.

December 27 – Ordinary Joy

Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?  (Author: Brené Brown)

I experience profound joy in ordinary moments every day with my Weetzie Dog. I feel a maternal love when I find her curled up in her doggie bed outside my door. I take joy in looking at her sweet, sleeping face and her tractor-esque snores. I love kneeling in front of her, knowing that she will immediately wiggle over and crawl into my lap, burying her head in my chest. Her existence makes me indescribably happy. She's getting a little old for her breed, so in 2011 I plan to cherish every moment I have with my baby.

She doesn't like pictures very much. Or Christmas.

I also experience profound joy yesterday when I received a surprised visit from my best friend, Alyssa. We've been friends for 10 years, since we were locker partners in the 8th grade. Now that Alyssa is a graduate student at NYU (my best friend is sooooo impressive), we only see each other a couple times a year. I cherish every visit with her and I have been known to drop EVERYTHING when this girl calls and want to swing by really quickly.

Yesterday's visit was so special. My family was getting ready to go to my dad's house for dinner and a gift exchange when our house phone rang. The caller ID listed her number and the three women in my house screamed with joy, "ANSWER THE PHONE, GET IT GET IT OMAGAAAAAH." (We are not subtle women.) Long story short, Alyssa was on her way over and we managed to convince her to come with us to my dad's for a quick visit which turned into a three-hour visit.

Something about having Alyssa at a family Christmas gathering was so incredibly powerful. Talking with her and watching her integrate herself into the situation with such grace reminded me how lucky I am that not only that she is in my life, but that she chooses to let me be a part of her life. She is the strongest, coolest, friendliest woman I know. It is rare that I feel truly comfortable with people, but something about Alyssa's presence melts all of my anxiety away and allows me to be myself. She is one of the few people who have seen the real me without all the barriers I put up and she loves it. Her visit yesterday reminded me that I do have the ability to communicate as myself, not as a character that I create for a situation.

Profound joy and acceptance from an ordinary visit from a friend. I couldn't ask for a better Christmas gift.

From left: My sister Sam, Alyssa, moi