2/3/2024
I recently read an interesting and thought-provoking opinion piece in the NY Times entitled: When the World Feels Dark, Seek Out Delight, written by Catherine Price. Catherine Price is the author of the newsletter: How to Feel Alive and the book: The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again.
She proposes a “delight” practice, which she learned about in a book of essays by Ross Gay entitled: The Book of Delights. The premise is to be aware of those things in life that provide you with delight (pleasure, happiness, joy, excitement, bliss, etc.). It could be absolutely ANYTHING that induces this wonderful feeling, with nothing too small or too absurd. She advocates recognition of such delight by lifting your arm in the air, raising your index finger, and saying with enthusiasm, “delight!” whether in the presence of others or alone. Warning: if you do this in the company of others and they are not familiar with this practice, they might just think that you have mental health issues that need to be addressed!
When I initially read about the delight practice, particularly the gesture, my thoughts were that this was a silly and kind of dopey behavior. But as Catherine Price points out, we live in a disturbed world marked by chaos, lunacy, random violence, horrendous global conflicts, the demise of democracy, etc., and finding and expressing delight in some of the little things that bring joy is far from a frivolous and senseless practice, but rather a means of providing some comfort and solace. Labeling things that cause delight and sharing it with others is a positive and contagious activity. Lately, my wife and I have both been using the delight “gesture,” and it brings a heartfelt smile to our faces. It might be tasting something delicious, listening to music that resonates, laughing, playing with one’s pet, watching a sunset, the aroma of honeysuckle while on a walk, any little thing that excites you in the best of ways. Affirming and acknowledging what brings us joy taps into our "internal pharmacy" with the release of happy, mood-regulating neurotransmitter/hormones that include dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins -- the DOSE chemicals.
In my humble opinion, the “delight” gesture is the exact opposite of “giving the finger,” an offensive gesture that signals contempt and defiance.
Bottom Line: It’s a healthy habit to recognize those things in life that bring us joy. Identifying, appreciating, and validating our personal delights physically and verbally provides a feeling of wellbeing and a welcome respite from the troubles of the world.
Wishing you the best of health,
Andrew Siegel MD
What a “delightful idea”. Definitely doing this!!!