Kirk Nugent

Last night I asked my son, “Little man, what do you think your purpose on this Earth is?”

(I love having these philosophical discussions between his commercial breaks of Avatar: The Last Airbender) He gave it some thought and replied, “To have fun!”

“Umm, really?” “Well son,” I continued, “What do you think is the purpose for everyone else being incarnated on this planet?” Without hesitation he replied, “To help me have fun!”

That’s why I love kids (not in a Michael Jackson/Mark Foley kind of way) they tend to see life without the illusion that adults have created. What Law is written that dictates that this life has to be filled with toil and strife? What is ironic is that, being Jamaican, had I given my parents such an answer I probably would have had the living daylights beaten out of me for not having any ambition, and as you know, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. (Nothing like a little ignorance mixed with a lot of religious zest to make a child’s life interesting)

But I digress, let’s get back to the idea of Life being fun and everyone is here to enhance that experience. It was about six months ago I was taking emotional inventory and realized that ‘Joy’ was severely missing from my life. I wasn’t unhappy, but I was just going through the motions. I had the most fun being on stage, being in front of an audience and feeling that human connection, but the minute the speech was over, I began coming down from that ‘high’ I needed more joy.

I grabbed my journal and began making a list of all the things that brought me joy

Spending time with my son

Being by the ocean (one of the reasons why I moved to Florida)

Being in love

Having sex (Don’t look so surprised, I AM Scorpio)

I was able to list 45 different things that brought me joy and I decided to engage in at least one of them, every day for the rest of my life. Psalms 30:5 reads: Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy cometh in the morning. I’ve decided that since everything is a choice, why not chose to make everyday ‘morning’?

I don’t believe that we have to suffer like the Saints in order to gain salvation. I’ve decided long ago not to engage in any work that doesn’t fulfill me. Never allow yourself to be fooled into believing that all you’re doing is all that you can do. Spend some quiet time and find out what makes your soul sing. Once you have the answer, pursue that passion with purpose.

When was the last time you had any joy?

Do you even remember what brings you joy?

When was the last time (if ever) you were able to drop your guard and just allow

love to sweep you away?

Life is about being happy in the moment, tomorrow is promised to no one,

Enjoy your life have fun, laugh often and laugh out loud.

Whenever I am stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, I figure, ‘I’m stuck here, can’t do anything about it, might as well enjoy the traffic.”

So I turn my music up full blast and I begin singing and dancing in my car as though I was alone in my shower. After a few minutes I notice that the other drivers begin to relax or the look around and start smiling. Just like my son said: I am having fun, and I’m helping others to have fun by realizing that It is just not that damn serious! It’s only traffic, a minor inconvience.

Remind yourself that you are divine and begin to act like it.

Live in a state of gratitude, it does wonders for your health and your outlook.

If I’m having a ‘character building’ day, I get on the internet and I look at the pictures of all the atrocities that are taking place and I become grateful that I am not in the midst of conflict. I am grateful for my health, sound mind, my family, my ability to connect with others.

Make a conscious, deliberate effort to have some fun. It’s morning ladies and gentlemen, joy is always here, it’s only a matter of perception, embrace your joy, enjoy your life!

You deserve to be happy, so don’t let no one steal your joy!

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