Episode 28: "Joy is Everything": Making Our Joy List

This season we’re asking: What would it look like if joy was our strategy, not our reward? In this episode, Emma and I explore that question through Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts’ Black Joy Playbook, beginning with her invitation to make a joy list.

A joy list is simple: write down ten things that once made you laugh, smile, or feel free during your youth, and then choose two to bring back into your life now. Emma and I share our lists, reflect on what those activities meant to us, and talk about how different it feels to reclaim joy as an adult versus experiencing it naturally as a child.

I hope this episode encourages you to make your own joy list and notice what shifts when you let delight back into your everyday life.

Chapters

• 02:39 – Introducing the Joy List activity (Black Joy Playbook)
• 04:43 – Emma’s Joy List
• 08:51 – Generational differences in joy
• 12:13 – My own Joy List
• 26:43 – Reflecting on joyful activities
• 30:17 – The importance of laughter
• 37:10 – Creating your own joy list
• 43:15 – Final thoughts on joy

Resources & Mentions

• Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts, The Black Joy Playbook
• Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts, Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration
• James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time
• Eddie Glaude, Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own
• Rooted Workbook
• Voices of Fire, JOY (Unspeakable)

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @natural_inclination

Youtube: @naturalinclination

TikTok: Amber Sessoms

LinkedIn: Dr. Amber M. Sessoms, NCSP

Bluesky: @ambersessoms.bsky.social

Facebook: Natural Inclination

Website: www.aninclination.com

Like, Comment, Share, Engage
If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who would love these conversations. Engage with the Curiosity Cards and ask the youth in your life about their experiences because you might be surprised by what you learn. Share your thoughts and reflections in the comments or on social media using #LivingIn3DPower. And, don’t forget to subscribe and stay tuned for next week’s conversation!