Saturday 24 April 2021

Joy, or literally floating on air

I googled the dictionary meaning for joy, and the first result was 'Lovehoney sex toys' so that could be the quick answer to how to be joyful, but sorry to disappoint you, I'm taking this prompt elsewhere. Or maybe more appropriately, you'll be grateful to know I'm not going down that rabbit hole...(as an aside, Norton safesearch ruins your search results, you get shops first almost always, no matter what you search for).

The grin says it all.


Joy is more than a state of happiness. It is an expression of great pleasure and delight. It's the mental overflowing into the physical.
And in the holidays I was lucky enough to that.
While planning what to do, I remembered way back in 2019, Santa had taken advantage of an ifly voucher offer, to present at Christmas. The indoor skydiving, while expensive, is one activity that the whole family enjoys, and crosses all age groups. It was a 2 for 1 deal, so excellent value.
Gifted at Christmas, it was unable to used before we went to Norway, and on our return the whole world headed into lockdown and I just forgot all about it.
Not entirely sure what made me remember, but found the vouchers and booked us in.
Now iFly is one of those rare things that is BETTER than you remember it. While I was excited and looking forward to doing it, it wasn't until I was in the air that I realised how good it makes me feel. I was overjoyed in the wind tunnel, and the adrenaline charge when the instructor takes you to the top makes me feel like I could burst with happiness. All stress leaves your body and for a while after, I was exuberant (which is defined as joyously unrestrained). 

I am getting older, and my body is wearing out. I am carrying a lot of loads that way me down, even though overall, life is good. But this feeling, this joyfulness, this overflowing with delight is such a precious experience to be savoured. I said at the time, they need to be able to bottle that feeling. It's far too infrequently experienced. 

Joyfulness and exuberance are indeed the stuff life is made of.

I'm now on a mission to collect those experiences. Can you think of other things that bring intense joy?

Joyfully linking with #FortheloveofBlog

PS Not an ad, I just really, really love it!

24 comments:

  1. What fun! I would love to try iFly - the weightlessness and the free feeling of flying in the air. It's something I need to experience! BTW - LOL to the lovehoney sex toys! OMG! Haha!

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    1. My search was 'Joy meaning' - seriously, Nortonsafe search is the absolute worst but I don't know how to disable it.

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  2. I just joked to both Denyse and Min that food, wine and TV brings me joy and little else. But you've reminded me how much I enjoyed a champagne cruise for my 50th and being out on a boat in Italy. I think the common factor is something kinda frivolous that requires me to hand control over to someone else and just participate....

    I tend to think of joy, happiness and contentment on a continuum. Joy can be brief, fleeting. Happiness lasts a little longer, but contentment is something that comforts us day-in and day-out.

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    1. I'm in a ChampagneClub but we drink abit too much to label it joy - definitely great fun tho!!

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  3. OMG! I SO want to do this!!!! As a child I really wanted to parachute from a plane but as I grew, that became a 'no, no' option! This looks so much fun and you have reminded me to seek one of these experiences out in Melbourne.

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  4. I loved your take on Joy and agree it's more than a state of happiness! Your flight looks so much fun, when I did a zip wire in UK a few years ago despite all my fear of heights and letting go, it was one of the most joyful things I've ever done. A great joyful post for #lifethisweek

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    1. I love ropes courses too...but I did smash myself on one the other day - a topic for a different post.

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  5. So much brings me joy. Joy begins the minute I wake up and last most of the day. Sometimes all day and sometimes part of the day. I think we're just happy people.

    Thank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Happy Tuesday. ♥

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  6. You would like The Book of Joy if you haven't read it, or listened to it. I really loved it.

    It's odd...art brings me job, but there's this annoying lady at work that is a stick in the mud. She likes text and words. She gets in a panty bunch when I go outside the box. It brings me joy, but also annoyance lately.

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  7. That brought me joy reading it. Good on you for an awesome family gift. Our son have himself a parachute ride - strapped to the one who knew what he was doing - for his 41st birthday and the JOY and euphoria were limitless on that day and for quite some time to come. Loved seeing him describe it. His kids (and ex partner) watched him come back to earth!! Thank you for sharing your post for Life This Week. I am always appreciative of the blogging community and you are one of those people in my blogging life. Next week, the optional prompt is Taking Stock. The new set of prompts is on my home page should you want to follow. Looking forward to see you again next week hopefully too. Denyse

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  8. I find I'm at my most peaceful nowadays out hiking, just me and the woods. I'm not sure the last time I actually felt what you are describing though. Roller coaster maybe? I guess I need the parks to open back up #anythinggoes

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    1. It is sad that we lose that feeling as we age...we have to work hard to get it back!

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  9. Oh my gosh this looks like so much fun! Can't imagine what this must feel like :) #KCACOLS

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  10. That looks SO enjoyable, I would love to give it a go sometime! Some things that make me feel great joy are watching the sea, or making my way up a hill and be rewarded with a great view, or listening to music I love while singing along and dancing to it. Kind of basic things I guess, but they definitely bring me joy! Thanks so much for linking up with #KCACOLS! x

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  11. I wouldn't have thought this would have appealed to me but you've really sold it- it sounds like it's really beneficial for releasing physical and mental tension and that's definitely something I need help with.

    Katrina x
    #KCACOLS

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  12. Wow this looks fun, I would love to have a go at this x #kcacols

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  13. My husband would love to do a sky dive, he wants to do a real one out of an areoplane, I think he has a death wish#mischiefandmemories@_karendennis

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  14. Oh my, I can only but imagine how much fun you had! I have to do this some time very soon xx #MischiefAndMemories

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  15. Oh wooooowwww! Look at you go. That looks amazing and so much fun. Isn't it wonderful when you find something that forces you to let go and just enjoy. Thank you for joining us for #mischiefandmemories :-)

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  16. I think I'd be too scared, difficult to imagine the weightlessness. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories

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  17. I loved the start of the post. You made me giggle! I would so love to do the ifly thing. I would be way too scared to skydive, but it feels like this might be the next best thing #MischiefandMemories

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  18. OMG the start of this post was so funny! I definitely find joy in trying something new for the first time and hope to do more of that as the restrictions are further eased. Thanks for linking up with #ForTheLoveofBlog

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  19. Also popping by from #fortheloveofblog

    Katrina x

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