{"id":99934,"date":"2025-09-26T06:35:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T06:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/26\/what-is-your-joy-span\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T06:35:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T06:35:46","slug":"what-is-your-joy-span","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/26\/what-is-your-joy-span\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Your Joy Span?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"Joanna<\/p>\n

For the past few months, I\u2019ve been diving head first into perimenopause<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026and a funny side effect \u2014\u00a0other than waking up drenched (the other morning, Anton said, \u201cMom, I love you; I don\u2019t love your bed sweat\u201d) \u2014\u00a0is that I keep thinking about what specifically makes life feel meaningful. <\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s because I\u2019m closing the door on my childbearing years<\/a>, or because I\u2019m entering a new life chapter<\/a>, or because death<\/a> doesn\u2019t seem quite<\/em> so abstract as it used to \u2014 but for whatever reason, I feel a pressing, almost physical desire to lean into things that matter, that bring delight, that lift up my loved ones. Decades from now, what will I look back on and be so glad and grateful I did more of?<\/p>\n

Last night, I called my mom to tell her about this surprisingly urgent feeling. \u201cI took an exercise class the other day,\u201d she told me, as she stirred pasta noodles. \u201cThe woman said, \u2018Don\u2019t think about your life span; you\u2019ll die when you die. Instead, think about your health span and your joy span.\u201d My mom paused. \u201c\u2018Joy span.\u2019<\/em> I loved that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maybe that\u2019s what my body is telling me: remember your joy span. Whereas my 20s and 30s felt all about hustling and building, my 40s, and soon 50s, now feel like more of a time to pause and soak everything up. To notice the moments where you feel warm and content or giddy and excited or calm and blissful, and do more of those.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s on your list? Simple pleasures<\/a> I\u2019ve written about in the past:<\/p>\n

Sunny autumn days
Bagels with scallion cream cheese
Watching movies with both my children cuddling against me
Reading in bed
Funny teenager texts<\/a>
Jacket potatoes
Opening up roses<\/a>
The grassy waves<\/a> at Storm King
The word \u201cperipatetic\u201d
When you read something so beautiful<\/a>, you put your hand on your heart
Magic tricks that are impossible to figure out
A deep night of sleep
Kettle chips<\/p>\n

\"toby<\/p>\n

Plus, every single thing about my children, of course<\/p>\n

\"dog\"<\/p>\n

My friend\u2019s dog<\/p>\n

\"love<\/p>\n

This hilariously French dinner scene from Love Is Blind: France<\/a><\/p>\n

\"jessie<\/p>\n

Chatting with beloved friends<\/a><\/p>\n

\"freddie\"<\/p>\n

When Freddie<\/a> ends up wearing two pairs of glasses<\/p>\n

Also, I remember calling my dad<\/a> every evening during quarantine. He lived alone, and one day he told me, \u201cThe only person I\u2019ve spoken to in real life this month is the fish guy at the grocery store.\u201d The pandemic was tough! So, we got into a routine of talking every night, either for a few minutes or an hour. Since there wasn\u2019t much to report \u2014\u00a0neither of us was doing much \u2014\u00a0we would ask random questions, like \u201cWhat\u2019s the most beautiful car, in your opinion?\u201d and \u201cTell me about a sailing trip you really enjoyed?\u201d (me to him) or \u201cHow do you try to teach the boys a love of learning?\u201d and \u201cWho do you picture writing to when you work on Cup of Jo?\u201d (him to me). We went down rabbit holes about all things big and small. I treasured those conversations, and he once texted me, \u201cThank you for the calls, they\u2019ve come to feel as steady as the wolf howling at the moon.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, I think I\u2019ll call my dad tonight; read in bed with the boys; and put some salt-and-vinegar chips in a bowl. My heart already feels full.<\/p>\n

What about you? What increases your joy span? What are your simple pleasures? Have you felt this kind of strong desire before?<\/strong><\/p>\n

P.S. How do you think about death<\/a>, and what do you think happens when you die<\/a>? <\/p>\n

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191<\/span> COMMENTS<\/p>\n

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