Incomplete Joy

Journal Entry

Once again, time acts as the taskmaster, trying to steal away the moment.

For the first time in a while, I sit on my patio, listening to a nearby dove coo and gazing at Buddha, who remains steady and still between my plastic rocks labeled “tranquility” and “peace.” My blooming prickly pear cactus, growing new arms in all directions, enhances the scene. Dressed in a tank top and shorts, I savor this perfect moment while sipping my fresh Meyer lemon hot tea.

Time's Reality Check

This morning, I woke up with the unsettling realization that I will never finish reading all the books on my Kindle, let alone revisit my old favorites on the shelves, which have survived seven moves—two of which were cross-country trips in either direction. Still, I cling to them and keep buying more. I’ll never watch all the movies queued across my five or more streaming services or rewatch all the DVDs filling three drawers in a cabinet. Not to mention organizing my music library into manageable playlists, creating keepsake albums from a closet full of actual photos, or sorting through 28,000 digital photos and videos. When will I go through my 83 beautiful journals kept over three decades to edit out unnecessary rants made in the heat of the moment?

I’m in my seventies, and reality is sinking in. Once again, time acts as the taskmaster, trying to steal away the moment.

I look up at Buddha, take a deep breath, and focus on what truly matters: Only those things that bring me joy or are important enough to give me peace.

 It’s not just about completing tasks but about knowing which ones are worth my time.

Family, friends, travel, cooking, and self-expression bring me the most happiness, and everything else can wait.

Recognizing that you can still feel joyful and whole even when things are unfinished is how you start to understand the paradox of Incomplete Joy. It’s about realizing that there will always be things left incomplete. Joy can’t wait; it is available RIGHT NOW. Grasping this truth transforms Incomplete Joy into: In Complete Joy!