One of the great things about writing a blog is it keeps me motivated to search out and investigate intriguing ideas. One of the great things about being retired is it affords me the time to do just that. For instance, recently I heard designer Ingrid Fetell Lee give a TED Talk titled “Where Joy Hides and How To Find It”. Her ideas resonated with me and so I delved deeper into her “The Aesthetics of Joy” website and Instagram account. Ingrid explores the relationship between our environment and our emotions and then applies these linkages to inspire her designs with joy. We can define joy as a passing pleasure or a momentary feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
Through research Ingrid has identified a series of joyful things… things that bring joy universally… like cherry blossoms, rainbows, fireworks and bubbles. Over time, she recognized patterns across these joyful items. In her TED Talk she reveals that the patterns include “round things, pops of bright color, symmetrical shapes, sense of abundance or multiplicity, feeling of lightness or elevation.” She makes a strong case for purposely incorporating these elements into our surroundings. I admire and respect that her ideas are backed by scientific research. Ingrid has written a book, called Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness. The book, which will become available in September 2018, can be preordered now.
Jan 8, 2019 Update: I loved the book Joyful. See my followup post: My Top 3 Nonfiction Reads from 2018 for more info.
In the meantime, I’ve been following Ingrid’s Instagram account where folks are encouraged to tag their photos with “#JoySpotting”. This got me thinking about my own photos. Have I captured photos of joyful moments and objects? Do these joyful moments and objects fit the patterns? Which photos could I tag as #JoySpotting? Today, I’d like to share the outcome of #JoySpotting in my own favorite photo archives.
I recall being drawn to the below art installation at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma California. This series of jaunty pinwheels was constantly in motion. It was bright, colorful and mesmerizing. Joyful? Check.
The below sculpture, titled “Swing Me Mama”, is by Dominic Benhura and on display in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It’s a delightful work of art guaranteed to make you smile. Joyful? Check.
While on the theme of spinning and movement, I have quite a few shots of carousels and merry-go-rounds but they’re challenging to photograph. I remember being drawn to the below beautifully carved and painted horses on the Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel in Paris. The music was playing. Children were enjoying the ride. Joyful? Check.
Cherry blossoms are a universally recognized joyful object. Cherry blossoms are fleeting… you have to catch them at just the right moment to see their full beauty. The cherry blossoms in the below photo, taken near Cologne Germany where I lived for several years, are at their peak. Joyful? Check.
There’s a connection between joy and things that don’t seem possible like floating and flying. Below is a shot of a hang glider taken in Tenerife. I’ve always loved this photo, partly because of the slow natural descent of the hang glider, but primarily because of the split-second timing that captured the hang glider directly above the church steeple. Joyful? Check
Roundness, and its connection to play, is one of the joyful patterns. The below marbles are suspended in a frame and hung in a window. I remember being drawn to this display because of the repeating shapes and how the marbles affected the light. Joyful? Check.
I have numerous photos with pops of color but the below photo, showing a lone red tulip in a field of rich green grass, really stands out. It’s the unexpected surprise of seeing this tulip out of context that drew me to this scene. Joyful? Check.
Gift-giving is usually a source of joy. I believe a beautifully wrapped gift enhances that joyful experience. The below photo shows a carefully wrapped gift intended to make the recipient feel extra special. Joyful? Check.
I came across this art installation in Berlin Germany some time ago. It was a wonderful surprise! The image of all those paper boats floating on the water of the naturalistic pond has stayed with me. Joyful? Check.
After going through this little exercise, I realize I’ve always been drawn to joyful objects as I travel and explore. I’ve also incorporated some joyful patterns, like pops of bright color, into my home decor. Here are a couple of examples from my current kitchen.
Similar bright colors were chosen for the chairs and table in my outdoor seating area.
I love bright chartreuse green especially when its grounded with black and white. Here are some examples from a condo where we used to live.
Given this new awareness of joyful objects and patterns, I’ll be looking for more ways to incorporate joy into my surroundings going forward.
More Info
You can learn more about Ingrid Fetell Lee, The Aesthetics of Joy, and her book Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness on her website.
Jan 8, 2019 Update: I loved the book Joyful. See my followup post: My Top 3 Nonfiction Reads from 2018 for more info.
Today’s Takeaways
I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s post and that, you too, will be motivated to do some joy spotting. Here are a few thoughts to get you started.
- Ordinary things have the ability to create joy universally.
- There are commonalities and patterns across joyful objects.
- Consider incorporating joyful objects and patterns into your own home and life.
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