Day 24 Post 23 - Joyful

 I am reading a a book titled Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee. It is about how ordinary things can bring happiness. 

It starts with an introduction, where she is at the end of her first graduate year in design school. She had left a promising career in branding and as she stood in front of a panel of stern faced professors, she was questioning that decision. 

Finally one of the professors said "your work brings me joy." The other professors nodded and then there were smiles.

The professors couldn't explain why her work brought them joy, only that it did. This started her on a journey to understand joy and happiness.

In this book she breaks down joy into 10 aesthetics.  

1. Energy - vibrant color and light

2. Abundance - lushness, multiplicity, and variety

3. Freedom - nature, wildness, and open space

4. Harmony - balance, symmetry, and flow

5. Play - circles, spheres, and bubbly forms

6. Surprise - contrast and whimsy

7. Transcendence - elevation and lightness

8. Magic - invisible forces and illusions

9. Celebration - synchrony, sparkle, and bursting shapes

10. Renewal - blossoming, expansion, and curves

I have only finished the chapter on Energy. There wasn't a whole lot of new information there for me. I learned long ago that color affects people's moods. I am convinced that is why I craft as much as I do. Crafting involves colors. At least mine do. My quilting hobby keeps me constantly surrounded with color. 

As for the light component, I lived in Vancouver Washington, where it rains all of the time. I discovered that I need light to function. The gloomy skies really had a negative affect on me. Our electric bill was outrageous. The author did point out that not all light is created equal. That the incandescent bulbs that are now outlawed were warmer than the fluorescent bulbs.The LED bulbs have a different tone as well.

I am into the Abundance chapter now and I have to say I am looking forward to learning more. After all who couldn't use more JOY in their life.

What are you reading?