Reclaiming Joy: It's Not Too Late to Begin Again

Episode 77 August 19, 2025 00:22:57
Reclaiming Joy: It's Not Too Late to Begin Again
Your Odyssey Podcast
Reclaiming Joy: It's Not Too Late to Begin Again

Aug 19 2025 | 00:22:57

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Show Notes

What if joy isn’t a reward for getting it all right—but a return to yourself?

In this soul-stirring episode, Tara and Karen invite you to reclaim the joy that’s always been yours. Not the performative, Instagram-worthy kind—but the grounded, gritty, everyday joy that reminds you you’re still here, still worthy, still becoming.

We talk about how joy gets buried under burnout, why honesty is the first step toward healing, and how the smallest acts of rebellion—a playlist, a boundary, a breath—can lead you back to yourself.

Because joy isn’t just a feeling. It’s a lifeline.

✨ Listen in for real talk, practical reflection, and a timely reminder:
You’re not too late. You’re not too far gone. You get to begin again.

Featuring:
— Jill Scott’s “Golden” as your personal anthem
— A journaling prompt to spark your next joy moment
— A quote to carry into the week ahead

Music: Love Is Waiting

Produced in collaboration with VMJ Arts Collective

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Episode Transcript

[00:00:03] Speaker A: Welcome to youo Odyssey Podcast, where your guides, Tara and Karen invite you on a transformative journey toward wholeness and personal growth. Each week, we'll discuss topics related to the human experience and offer insights to help you along the way. Please note, this podcast should not replace medical care or advice. We are not licensed healthcare professionals or mental health therapists. If you enjoy enjoyed today's episode, subscribe so you don't miss out on our future discussions. So, explorers, let's dive into today's episode. Hey, explorers, it's Tara. Today, Karen and I are inviting you to reclaim your joy. You, you know, the vibrant joy that sometimes gets overshadowed by busy days and endless to do lists. But it's always with you. We're not after the picture perfect Instagram style of joy. Instead, we're focusing on the beautiful, messy joy that nourishes your soul. The kind that softly whispers, you're still here and you matter. [00:01:21] Speaker B: I love that. I love that. It's like it doesn't have to be a birthday party every day of the week. [00:01:26] Speaker A: You know what I mean? [00:01:26] Speaker B: It's like it's there. You can tap into it anytime, anymore. Sort of just waiting for you to be like, yeah, let's go, Joy. [00:01:33] Speaker A: Let's go, Joy. So, before we dive in, how's your heart feeling today? [00:01:39] Speaker B: Have you asked yourself that question? [00:01:42] Speaker A: If not, do it now, wherever you are, right now, in the car, on a walk, or hiding in the bathroom for a minute of peace. We're glad you're here. This conversation is for you, and we can't wait to explore it together. [00:01:56] Speaker B: I want to point out first, before we jump in, what a lovely narration voice you have. [00:02:01] Speaker A: I get it from my mom. She called it her telephone voice. [00:02:04] Speaker B: It's so present and soothing. [00:02:07] Speaker A: It's gonna be great for the audiobook. [00:02:08] Speaker B: Yeah, it's gonna be great. Okay. [00:02:10] Speaker A: Thank you. We live in a world that often says joy is something we earn. It's something we should find only after we finish our tasks, raise our kids, or fulfill our responsibilities. [00:02:21] Speaker B: Oh, good Lord. [00:02:22] Speaker A: But what if joy isn't a prize to be enjoyed later? What if it's essential for us to feel complete? What if finding joy again is actually the way to rediscover who we truly are? [00:02:37] Speaker B: What if all of those like, it's really important to look through the lens of joy and find it in the little moments. Just find peace in the little moments and find whatever rest or whatever it is. If you look for joy, you'll find it. I can pretty much guarantee it. [00:02:53] Speaker A: All right, Karen, And I are gonna let you in on a little secret. [00:02:57] Speaker B: Ruh. Ro. [00:02:58] Speaker A: Joy is not something you earn after everything and everyone else is taken care of. [00:03:02] Speaker B: Heck no. I really wanted to go elsewhere. [00:03:08] Speaker A: Where were you gonna go? [00:03:09] Speaker B: I would say, hell no, girl. It's fine. [00:03:11] Speaker A: Okay. Joy isn't the destination. It's how you know you're heading in the right direction. It's actually the map. [00:03:20] Speaker B: Joy is actually the first two and the last letter of the word journey. It's there. It's in the journey. Literally. Yes. [00:03:28] Speaker A: Joy in the journey. Joy is the signal that you're aligned. It's a clear sign that something deep inside is awakening. When we overlook or postpone it, we can easily slip into feelings of being lost, bitter, or invisible. [00:03:44] Speaker B: Old Cannoli. I've experienced two of the three of those in the last 24 hours. And I know what I know about joy, but I was in that sort of lost, kind of like, who am I? What do I do? What am I? And I couldn't find the joy. And then as soon as I remembered, I was like, oh, that's right. And I am like, 110 joyful. [00:04:02] Speaker A: I'm, like, fully pumped. [00:04:03] Speaker B: I'm like, that's who I am. [00:04:04] Speaker A: It's the 180. For me, personally, I used to think that joy had to be big, like vacations and spa days, big career moves. But lately, joy has looked like putting my phone down, putting it on do not disturb, embracing a solo walk, or listening to the birds in my backyard. [00:04:23] Speaker B: Now, what shifted for you? But what made it go? [00:04:25] Speaker A: The big momentum external to internal. [00:04:28] Speaker B: Oh, yes, ma'. Am. Yes, ma'. Am. And deeper Self awareness sort of coincides. [00:04:34] Speaker A: When we start following those little nudges. Yes. We find ourselves again. Joy is like our personal gps. Just like your GPS recalculates when you take a wrong turn, Joy helps you pivot and find your way back on track. I love that we are recording this episode today. [00:04:55] Speaker B: Because, you know, she. Sometimes she gently nudges you and sometimes she's like, slaps you upside the head. But either way, yes. Yeah. [00:05:05] Speaker A: If you're feeling a lack of joy, it's like the GPS saying recalculating. It's a sign that something needs to change. And instead of ignoring it, we should definitely pay attention to it. [00:05:16] Speaker B: Like, pay attention to that. If you are feeling mediocre and blah and life is kind of gray and boring, you might want to look at that and see actually what you're focusing on and what you're looking at and what you're holding on to like, as tension even in your body. And then, you know, take one of those really deep vocal sigh releases and then see again, look again. [00:05:43] Speaker A: Okay, here's something simple we can all try this week. At the end of each day, ask yourself, what felt good today? Not what you checked off, not what you accomplished, but what felt good today. That's the beginning of your map. And if nothing felt good, that's information too. It's feedback. It's your soul tapping you on the shoulder, saying, hey, it's time. [00:06:10] Speaker B: I love that what felt good today can be, you know, kind of like your North Star. Like, you start with one thing or one step, and then you begin to add to it. Right. And just be like, oh, I can see a little bit more clearly all of these little nuggets. And I'm going to lean into those. [00:06:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:06:28] Speaker B: And then it's like compounding interest. [00:06:30] Speaker A: Joy, interest. I love it. [00:06:32] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:06:33] Speaker A: Another secret about joy. Reclaiming joy starts with the fundamental truth. You can't reclaim what you won't admit you've lost. [00:06:43] Speaker B: I love that if you're showing up and pretending, then you're never going to get to the fact and the reality that you actually aren't joyful, you aren't happy, you aren't fulfilled. Admitting there's a problem or there's something wrong and you have work to do to change it. Awareness to do, Deepening self awareness, all of that. [00:07:05] Speaker A: This admission often means confronting uncomfortable feelings. It requires honesty, both with yourself and others. [00:07:15] Speaker B: I don't know which one is harder. For some people, one is much harder than the other. [00:07:19] Speaker A: Yes. Sometimes the first step is acknowledging that the joy you once felt has dimmed. Like Karen said, sometimes we hide behind a facade, pushing through the motions of life while our hearts long for something more. Yeah. [00:07:35] Speaker B: It's in the noticing. [00:07:36] Speaker A: Right? [00:07:37] Speaker B: Huh? I used to love that. [00:07:39] Speaker A: Yes. [00:07:40] Speaker B: I might not love that anymore. What do I love? What would bring me joy? You know, just kind of getting curious, asking questions, noticing. [00:07:47] Speaker A: Yeah. You know, I love that you started with things that we can say once we notice that joy is a little further than it once was. And it could also sound like, I don't feel good, I'm not laughing like I used to, or even I miss the person I used to be. Mmm. [00:08:06] Speaker B: That's a big old red flag, isn't it? [00:08:07] Speaker A: Yes. When we say these feelings out loud, we give ourselves permission to genuinely explore. [00:08:14] Speaker B: Them and also to console ourselves. Right. Like you actually haven't been that way or you aren't that person. Is that Something you want to revisit? Is there something you want to bring more of back into your life? Or are there new things to explore in the evolution, in the growth? [00:08:32] Speaker A: Yeah. Speaking our truth opens the door to deeper emotions, revealing what is truly weighing us down. This honesty doesn't need to be harsh or filled with self judgment. Instead, think of it as an invitation to reconnect with yourself. [00:08:49] Speaker B: It's kind of like the facts, ma'. Am. Just the facts. Right? You want to stick to how do I feel? What do I know to be true? [00:08:55] Speaker A: And. [00:08:55] Speaker B: And that podcast episode I was telling you that I was listening to last night with Kristen Linklater. She had a book and a workshop called Freeing the natural Voice. Freeing your natural voice and was saying there are things that even when you just speak them, there is a valve or an emotion. Something is released. And sometimes that's all you need to do. [00:09:18] Speaker A: Just admit it. Like say it feels. [00:09:20] Speaker B: Something happens, something shifts. [00:09:22] Speaker A: When you admit everyone experiences highs and lows, high seasons and low seasons in life, Acknowledging where you currently stand can create the space for change. [00:09:35] Speaker B: Joy is a spectrum like anything else, just being aware of where you are on that map. Where am I? [00:09:41] Speaker A: How far away from joy am I today? [00:09:43] Speaker B: You can measure in degrees. I don't care how you measure it. Inches, centimeters, kilometers. [00:09:50] Speaker A: Each moment of honesty moves us closer to understanding what joy looks like for you. Now you don't have to stay in a place of dissatisfaction. Recognizing your truth is the first step in moving forward. [00:10:02] Speaker B: And I think once you speak it aloud to yourself and then you speak it aloud to people that you trust, that you feel safe with. It's almost like then the answers and directions start to come. [00:10:13] Speaker A: Now, A, B and C, what is it? The first step to change is admitting you have a problem. You can't reclaim what you won't admit you've lost. [00:10:21] Speaker B: And it's a natural part, I think of a lot of human experience. To lose sight of that every now and then to kind of just be like, huh, I am not as happy or joyful as I thought I was or used to be. [00:10:33] Speaker A: Yes, it's in those moments when life. Life's a little bit too hard. [00:10:37] Speaker B: Life was lifeing yesterday. [00:10:41] Speaker A: In a world that often celebrates grand achievements, it's easy to overlook the small joys that illuminate our everyday lives. [00:10:51] Speaker B: The stopping and smelling the roses. I swear, smaller joys are really honestly the big joys. Anyway, that's just a little secret I'm. [00:10:59] Speaker A: Gonna let y' all in on. That's the secret. Joy isn't found only in the milestones like promotions or weddings or vacations, the simple, fleeting moments that make up our day. Joy lives in presence, not perfection. [00:11:16] Speaker B: Presence. I was literally just saying, oh, wow. [00:11:21] Speaker A: These moments are where authentic joy resides. I mean, think about it. It's the spontaneous laugh with a friend, the warmth of the sun on your morning walk, or cozying up with the book on a rainy day. [00:11:38] Speaker B: Yep, I got mine already right in my backpack. Yeah. [00:11:42] Speaker A: These are not landmark events, but rather the everyday experiences that we weave together to create this tapestry of joy. [00:11:50] Speaker B: It's like the sweet simplicity. Sometimes you do want the seven layer. [00:11:54] Speaker A: Cake with all the trimmings. [00:11:56] Speaker B: And sometimes you just want a cookie. You just want a dirty little ice cream. I don't need all like. It's just the beautiful, simple things that you notice that you often take for granted. And as you say, when you are connected, when you are in the present moment mindful, you can see those things more clearly, and they begin to fill up your joy. And then you sort of get your like, oh, I'm kind of hooked on this joy. Well, and then you want to have more joy. And then you're like, all of a sudden you're back in joy. [00:12:26] Speaker A: Because we recognize or remember or reclaim that joy is not waiting at the finish line of some grand endeavor. It's available to us in the present. [00:12:35] Speaker B: Right here, right now. [00:12:36] Speaker A: We've talked before in a previous episode about the joy inventory. That's not something you have to wait until the end of the year to do. It might look like today, creating a joy journal where you jot down little things that made you smile and filled you with warmth. Before I even knew that I was going to flesh out this episode, that's what I did. On Monday. I opened up my notes app and I was like, these are the things that made me smile today. And then I was like, wait, this. [00:13:03] Speaker B: Applies to this episode? Yes. Well, isn't that a useful tool that. [00:13:09] Speaker A: I can refer back to any time the joy is a little bit further away? Then it was like, oh, these things made me smile. [00:13:16] Speaker B: Right. It's just a little nudge or reminder of like, wait, there are things I know I just can't in this moment. [00:13:21] Speaker A: What is it? [00:13:23] Speaker B: Refer to your joy journal. We're going to make a joy journal. [00:13:25] Speaker A: Yes, there's going to be a joy. This practice can rewire our mindsets, helping us understand that joy is not always shouting from the rooftops. It's the gentle tug at our hearts, reminding us that life's beauty is still There amidst the chaos. [00:13:42] Speaker B: You know, it's the ebb and flow of life. Sometimes it's just a little more. More buried or more layers to get through. And sometimes it's just right there on surface. [00:13:51] Speaker A: So you know what? I just came out when he said that, like, the layers or whatever, like, I think about the ocean and high tide and low tide. Sometimes you can walk far out there and we hand. Sometimes we might go up to doom because the water is hot. [00:14:04] Speaker B: Yes, ma'. [00:14:04] Speaker A: Am. [00:14:04] Speaker B: I pictured the ocean as soon as I said it. And I was like, sometimes you find the shelves right there, and sometimes you got to go a little farther. It just depends on the timing. [00:14:12] Speaker A: Our lives are a collection of moments and milestones. But when we embrace those everyday moments that bring something like a deeper, more richer experience of our lives through joy. [00:14:26] Speaker B: And my friends, like you said this, they are there. It's in the noticing. And if you've panned out so far and you can't see those things, take a look at that. And also, I want to make a point about the connection between joy and gratitude. If you. If you're having trouble finding things that bring you joy, start listing things that you're grateful for. Just at least one. I woke up today. I had the most amazing cup of coffee or tea. [00:14:51] Speaker A: The bird chirp just right. Whatever. [00:14:54] Speaker B: Whatever it is. [00:14:55] Speaker A: So find those moments, celebrate them, and cherish them. And let those moments be your guiding lights as you navigate through life's journey. [00:15:05] Speaker B: Yeah. Joy as my beacon. [00:15:08] Speaker A: Joy is my beacon. Joy is the map. All right, I got a song at a song. [00:15:12] Speaker B: It's already time. [00:15:13] Speaker A: And look at it like it's already time. And we just like, we like zip Z. [00:15:18] Speaker B: You can tell my friends explorers, we're in it. We love certain topics. Like, we love all the topics, but certain ones like joy and self compassion, self love and gratitude, they just make us pop. [00:15:32] Speaker A: This song is from Philly Zone, Jill Scott. And the song is golden. [00:15:38] Speaker B: I forgot about Jill Scott. I love her. [00:15:42] Speaker A: All right, let's dance. [00:15:43] Speaker B: Let's dance. [00:15:47] Speaker A: Check out this week's song on the YO Podcast playlist on Spotify. [00:16:01] Speaker B: You go, Jill. [00:16:03] Speaker A: Living my life like it's golden. [00:16:06] Speaker B: Yes, it's envisioning. I'm living my life as gold. Because the fact that you're even here on this earth is a freaking miracle. Oh, my God. Acknowledge that. Be like, I'm a dang miracle. I'm living my life like it's golden. I'm focusing on that shimmery, shiny sparkle that you have inside that you Are that's living your life like it's golden. [00:16:28] Speaker A: Thank you. Jilly Jill. [00:16:29] Speaker B: Yes. Oh, I love it. So good. Joy. That is a real lifestyle. [00:16:33] Speaker A: Joy is that guiding light to that golden life, to those two very fundamental truths that you just said, like the fact that we are here. That's a miracle. [00:16:42] Speaker B: It is. You're here for a reason. You're here for purpose. I'm pretty sure it's not to kick some rocks around. Probably not like anything, it's a practice, right? And some days more than others, it takes a little more effort. And some days you can sit in the mire if you need to sit in it, sit in it for a day or two. Don't sit, stay there. But sit in it if you need to and then come back out. I have a great thing that I do on the trail when I want to embody my inner child. If you're physically able to do this and if you need to go hide and do it behind your house, that's fine too. Skipping. [00:17:15] Speaker A: I knew she was gonna say that. Cuz y' all know if you ain't. Child, I can't skip. I showed you the family photo when the photographer told us it. It's a disaster. But we had fun pretending to know how to skip. [00:17:27] Speaker B: That's hilarious. I'm like, who doesn't know how to skip? [00:17:32] Speaker A: You can fr. Frolic. [00:17:33] Speaker B: Maybe you can frolic. Maybe you can just like jump up and down and flail your arms like a wallopers. [00:17:39] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. [00:17:40] Speaker B: That feels like embracing joy. [00:17:42] Speaker A: You knew it. [00:17:43] Speaker B: I got that you said that you can't. It's fascinating. [00:17:45] Speaker A: Not on cue. I could probably be spontaneous. Probably tell me to skip. Oh, no. My whole brain gonna glitch up. What do I like? How do my legs and my arms. [00:17:53] Speaker B: Which arm goes where? [00:17:55] Speaker A: How do we start this? All right, it is time for our question of the day. What's one small thing you can do this week that would bring you joy? [00:18:06] Speaker B: So while you all are chomping on that a little bit, one small thing you said do to bring you joy. I mean, I think I did it last night. Honestly, taking that walk, just going out in the misty rain. I mean, I'm going to explore my new neighborhood. And it was just so beautiful. I mean, I know I did it last night already, but still, I think something like that, like taking yourself out of an environment where something feels off or you don't feel like your best self and just doing something else, just doing something different. And for me, travel. Is that for sure even just A little quick day trip, taking a walk, just like noticing all the beautiful flowers that are out right now. There's so many. They're everywhere. [00:18:49] Speaker A: Yeah. All right. My one joyful moment this week is. I mean it's. It's late in the week now, but this will be early in the week by the time this comes out. [00:18:58] Speaker B: That's right. [00:18:59] Speaker A: One thing that I'll do this week is reclaim my daily tea. Had you remember when I was doing my tea and I was doing the chamomile plus peppermint and I'd be like. [00:19:13] Speaker B: Child t. Oh yeah. [00:19:16] Speaker A: You know? Yeah, it's the. Yeah. It was doing what it was supposed to. Doing what it was supposed to do. That chamomile was like, girl, good night. I switched to doing it at night, but I get so busy and caught up in checking off the to do list during the day. It's like 9pm and I'm not drinking no tea at 9pm cuz I don't want to wake up in 2.5 hours. Green tea you can do. It's going, it's going. We going to wake up and pee. And I don't want to do that cuz I want to sleep, get there and do rare occasions. [00:19:43] Speaker B: You should be doing it like maybe right after you eat. Eat something. [00:19:45] Speaker A: Dinner. Yeah, right after dinner. About 7:30. Have a little spotty. [00:19:50] Speaker B: I'm gonna say something that I will do next week, which is I'm gonna take out some crayons and color. Oh my God. I have a lovely coloring book. [00:20:00] Speaker A: I'm gonna show you the coloring book that I have. It's not quite. I don't know if you would use lovely to describe it, but I got it from when I was in the Upside down and I needed something. The title of the coloring book is like My little cusses or something like that. So it'll be like a gingerbread man with like a F bomb on the paper. [00:20:17] Speaker B: Oh my. Hilarious. [00:20:19] Speaker A: Beautiful. [00:20:19] Speaker B: Oh my gosh. [00:20:21] Speaker A: All right. Okay, Okay. I found a quote from Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian Henri Noen. Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. [00:20:39] Speaker B: A daily practice, several times a day even. [00:20:43] Speaker A: Yeah. Choose joy. [00:20:47] Speaker B: And choosing joy is not overlooking the hard things, the challenges. You're just balancing it out. [00:20:53] Speaker A: And that reminded me what you just said about joy is that beautiful emotion that can coexist with other emotions. [00:20:59] Speaker B: Yes. [00:21:00] Speaker A: Joy is an experience that we can tap into to. I'm angry, but I'm joyful that this thing didn't happen. [00:21:06] Speaker B: Yeah, it's a little bit of a reframe or a little bit of a. [00:21:09] Speaker A: Lens shift, not spiritual bypassing or toxic positivity. That's not healthy. [00:21:15] Speaker B: Live in this world because you are in this world. And also you can choose joy. [00:21:21] Speaker A: You can choose love. [00:21:22] Speaker B: You can choose gratitude. [00:21:24] Speaker A: Explorers, Joy is not a destination, but a journey in its way, one well worth pursuing. We invite you to keep this conversation alive. Share your thoughts, be honest about your feelings, and don't shy away from the complexities of joy. Until next time, keep exploring and let joy be your compass. [00:21:45] Speaker B: I was just thinking about the fact that you could get together with your friends and have a little joy luck club kind of a thing. Get together weekly. What fueled you? What gave you joy today or this week and you all can talk about it and celebrate each other's joys. I love that Joy in community is more fun. Thanks for joining us Explorers. We love you. We support you on your journey and may you be filled with joy. Take good care. Thank you to Queenies in Downtown Durham for the use of their community podcast studio and for welcoming us so warmly each week. We'd like to give a shout out to Coco Cinnamon, the birthplace of 1023 Media and the yo podcast. Please support your local women owned minority owned coffee shop in Downtown Durham Brought to you by Durham based 1023 Media, a heart centered woman owned multimedia company. Sam.

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