My Joy is Not Silent

My joy is not silent.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When I am the most joyful, I laugh loudly, sing with conviction, or scream with delight.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I recently went trampoline jumping with my daughter, and with each jump I let out a scream. My screams were a mix of laughter, surprise, and excitement. At some point, my daughter said “mom, please stop screaming, it is embarrassing.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I tried to stop screaming for a few bounces, but frankly it was far less fun. So I informed her that I was there to be joyful and my joy is not silent, and went back to my scream jumping.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I have spent so many years being silent, making myself palatable for others; making my worlds, noises, moans, and sighs deliberate. Ensuring that my sounds had meaning and made my point or made others comfortable.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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That intentionality does not work with joy. Joy is spontaneous, free, not ashamed, not small, and not silent.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So let’s stop silencing ourselves and go out and make some noise!

For more from Craft Your Path Founder Jacqueline Misla, be sure to follow her on Instagram at @JacquelineMIsla.