Hello Dear One,
Many years ago, I came across this interesting word: Anhedonia. It is a French word coined in 1897 by psychologist Theodule Ribot and means the inability to experience pleasure. Those suffering from depression or other mental disabilities may actually “fear pleasure.” They feel that if they for a moment enjoy their life, disaster is just around the corner. While life certainly contains bumps in the road, it is important not to get stuck in the rut. Life offers many pleasures as well.
I have been known to be a workaholic. Probably stemming from my childhood when more than once my mother caught me lying on the glider staring up at the clouds daydreaming, and I got reamed out. Wasting time, that’s what she called it. Time to daydream in my marriage and while raising two sons, working and attending college, there was barely time for a quick shower. Perhaps, if I had valued sheer delight more, I would have found more me time. But better late than never. Jim is on the mend and needs less assistance and I stopped teaching; still pastoring, but only six months of the year. And wa-la, time for pleasure. I am reading material that interests me and not work related. And, hold on, I have discovered Netflix and have been binging on a series which shall remain nameless because it is valueless, but super funny and entertaining. So, I ask you, “What are you doing for sheer delight?” Give yourself permission to enjoy your life. Now is the time, today is the day. Daydream. Just let your mind wander. Enjoy some down time. Am I enjoying my life to the full and overflowing? No yet, but I am on the journey and it feels so good. Make time for pleasure, you deserve it. Linda