Spark Joy! January 1, 2021 Like many others during this wild time in history, I have had plenty of time to go within and do some soul searching. As a self-proclaimed empath and intuitive, I have for the most part enjoyed my alone time to recharge my battery from a somewhat demanding work lifestyle. Although, this time around felt different. I sensed that I was gestating something new and a birth seems immanent. Finally, after years of pitching my creativity workshops and self-healing mastery classes through art I see how things have finally come to fruition. Now that people are online all the time due to the pandemic and people are also working from home spending less time commuting to and from work, I see that there is a new piece missing from the fabric of life…fun! I have heard many clients shamefully express remorse if their life is ok during this time frame and keep their joy to themselves. I too have noticed the trend and after the no shame movement around mental health, it makes sense to proudly out one’s anxiety, depression, or neuro-divergent approach to life so as to dispel the stigma of mental health issues. Yet, what I see as a by-product and reaction to some publicly sharing issues on social media is that the topic of joy takes a backseat to the more adrenaline filled topics of mental illness and trauma. With all of that said, when is it ok to to express happiness, joy, and fun when so many of us (if not all of us) are grieving the life we once lived?! The truth of the matter is that celebrating feel good is also honoring to those that have died or have fallen victim to financial or situational trauma of this past year and beyond. When we celebrate, we breathe life into the possibilities of a brighter tomorrow or even more importantly, the quality of our Now! When we laugh, we relax. When we relax, our nervous system gets out of flight, fight, freeze, or faun. When our nervous system is calm, we are able to think clearly in a grounded fashion. When we are able to think clearly, we are more creative. When we are more creative, we are open to learn and to co-create new possibilities for a new Earth. My invitation is to give yourself permission to feel happy even if others are not for everyone has a certain set of lessons to learn from their pain. It is not to say, that their pain is irrelevant. It is to say that their pain is an opportunity for new light and growth to come in. So isn’t that something to celebrate and find joy in?! There is so much growth and healing happening here on this planet. I give thanks for what is and welcome what has yet to be. Will you come play with me? What: Spark Joy! Art Playtime Workshop for Adults When: January, 15th, 2021 from 4 pm to 6 pm. Where: Zoom online (you can purchase tickets online here on the Workshop and Class page.) Best regards, Stacey Cohen, MA, LPC