“True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery.”
What creates zest in your life? Are there many things or one? How do you create the zest in your life?
(Thanks to Lindsey for suggesting this topic. Since this is the end of the alphabet blogs, I’m delighted to be able to write about an uplifting topic. This is the perfect one. I will write some more blogs along the way, but not as much as I have been. Remember that I have written them for years, so you can go to https://georgannespruce.com and search for a topic under archives down on the right side of the page. Again, thanks so much for all the help you have given me.)
Every week when I start to write this blog, my energy lifts. I become more awake, excited about what will come up in my mind, and how it will all turn out. My whole life has been filled with some kind of creative activity that has brought me pleasure, even with its challenges and disappointments. It always feels more zestful to have tried to write a poem or essay than to have only thought about doing it.
Success Brings Joy To Us
It is true that the most joy comes when we succeed at what we have set out to accomplish, but we never experience that unless we take the risk of trying. Anyone who is creative understands this. When we think of creativity, the arts are usually the first area that comes to mind. However, people who create new businesses or products feel the zest of accomplishment too.
While the pandemic may limit some of the activities that bring us joy, it is a time when we have to search a bit more to create new things in our lives. I have a friend who is a terrific cook and she loves to experiment and create new dishes. That is one of the things that gives her joy.
I grew up in a family with little money, but my mother’s ability to create attractive clothes for me from on-sale fabric remnants was exceptional. It was a creative activity that brought us both joy. It also taught me to be creative in my daily life: how I decorate my house, how I match the clothes I choose to wear, or how to search for an interesting way to teach a lesson during the years I taught school.
Mother with daughter at the factory. Family with a fabric.
Do What We Are Drawn To Do
When these activities of life turn out the way we want, we feel joyful. We feel the zest of accomplishment lift us into a more positive attitude, so it is always worth trying to do what we are drawn to do. We often learn from this experience regardless of the outcome.
Twenty-five years ago, I bought my first car. I did some research and was thrilled when I found what looked like the right car and it seemed to be affordable. But I felt very nervous about dealing with the financial part of the sale. I asked my sister-in-law, who was and is a talented, financially aware person, to accompany me.
Buying that car was a new zestful experience for me. Getting it gave me much joy, and I’m still joyfully driving that little Toyota Corolla. I love not having all the complicated electronic items to deal with that are on new cars, and the Toyota still runs beautifully. Buying it was clearly the right decision.
What creates zest in your life may be different from what creates it in your friends or family’s lives. In this time when there are so many limitations, we need to be open-minded and accepting of our differences. We need to have respect for what gives joy to others and continue to find ways to bring joy into our lives and the lives of others. May your day be filled with zest.
© 2021 Georganne Spruce
Related Blog Posts:
Awakening to the Dance 