The Currency of Joy
Reclaiming time, tenderness, and the right to do nothing without guilt.
It’s radical to stay soft when the world tells you to toughen up. It’s revolutionary to choose joy when your to-do list feels endless. And it’s sacred to take back your time, not just to get things done, but to open up new possibilities.
For many of us… if you’ve always been the one to keep things together, rest can feel like a reward you haven’t earned yet. While joy and dreaming feels just out of reach, like something reserved for people with lighter burdens and softer mornings. But I don’t believe that anymore … I can’t.
Joy is not a reward.
Time is not a waste.
And dreaming is not a distraction.
It’s our birthrights.
When I was growing up, I rarely felt like I had time to dream. I was busy helping with my sibling, finishing tasks assigned only to the oldest girl, performing happy, and just getting by. Everything felt urgent and heavy. Even now at the big age of 37, feeling joy without guilt, being gentle without saying sorry, or resting without having to earn it seemed selfist —but make it’s time for me to be more selfist.
Over the last few years, I have come to see that time is our most valuable resource.
It’s not about money, status, or how many followers you have.
It’s about time.
Time gives us space to breathe.
To imagine.
To play.
To do absolutely nothing and still be worthy.
When we truly take back our time, we get to decide what matters most. We choose how we show up in the world. We remember that just surviving isn’t the goal. Freedom, joy, growth, and creativity are.
So this is where I am right now. I’m dreaming bigger, resting more and allowing myself to lend into softness like a weighted blanket.
And I’m refusing to apologize for it.
5 Ways I’m Taking Back Joy and Time (and You Can Too)
Schedule joy like it’s essential (because it is).
Set aside time for things that make you happy, ike dancing, reading, talking with friends, walking, or napping. Don’t just try to fit them in. Make them part of your plan.Say no like you love yourself.
Every time you say yes to something you don’t want, you’re saying no to what you do want. Time is precious. Treat it like your most valuable asset.Rest without explaining.
You don’t have to prove your productivity to anyone. If you need rest, take it—not because you’ve earned it, but simply because you’re human.Let joy be messy and unfiltered.
You don’t need a vacation or a perfect setting to feel joy. Joy can be loud, quiet, silly, or messy. Laugh a lot. Be yourself. Take up space.Dream with other people.
Let your friends help you focus on joy, not just hard work. Ask each other: What does rest look like for you this week? What’s your joy goal? What are you dreaming about lately?
Here’s to learning how to rest: A Reading List
Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
The founder of The Nap Ministry gives us both permission and a look at the politics behind unapologetic rest.Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree brown
This book celebrates pleasure, joy, and gentleness as powerful ways to find freedom.The Lightmaker’s Manifesto by Karen Walrond
This book is a guide to living with purpose, joy, and fairness, especially when life feels overwhelming.
Before You Go...
If you’re reading this, take it as your reminder.
You are allowed to rest.
You are allowed to not rush.
You are allowed to day dream, just because
You don’t need permission to start. You just need time.
And it’s yours to take back.
Here’s to finding joy in the small things, in the brief moments — even when the world feels like it’s on fire.
With softness and power,
Jamira
First Born Daughter