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The first time I went snorkeling was in Hawaii in 2000. We were on a belated honeymoon on Maui, the most beautiful place on earth. We took a day trip on a catamaran to Lanai where there was supposed to be a cove with great snorkeling. I was a bit anxious because I’m not a strong swimmer and I couldn’t get past the part about sticking my face in the water and inhaling. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try. They gave us life jackets so thankfully flotation wasn’t a problem, and then they gave us a brief lesson on how to put on the goggles and use the snorkel. Then we were in the water floating and preparing to actually do it. I put on the mask, put the snorkel mouthpiece in my mouth, closed my eyes, and stuck my face down. But it was too scary so I came right back up. After a couple of false starts I made myself stay facedown in the water and take a breath. It worked! Then I opened my eyes and looked down below me. It was a glorious, breathtaking sight. The most colorful and beautiful fish in huge numbers swimming all around, oblivious to the people floating above them. It was a moment of pure joy. I felt almost transported. I could have stayed there forever, floating in the silence and watching the fish. For me, joy comes like that. It’s unexpected. It may be in a peaceful moment in nature, listening to beautiful music, or receiving a grandchild’s hug. It comes out of the blue and touches me with a feeling of lightness and a sense that I am connected to the divine. I can cultivate contentment or even happiness, but I can’t cultivate joy. It falls as it chooses, a brief gift of the Spirit. --Terese
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January 2022
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