Borrowed Joy, Fierce Resistance

About Joy (and Resistance)

I’ve written about borrowing hope before. The kind of hope with dirt under its nails, hope that doesn’t deny grief but still reaches for possibility.

This week, I’ve been thinking about joy.

It feels strange to talk about joy when so much of the world is on fire. When fascism is tightening its grip, when inequity shapes every corner of our lives, when grief feels like the common language we all share.

But joy doesn’t erase those realities. And joy doesn’t bypass.

I know some folks talk about “reclaiming joy” like it is an escape hatch, a way to stay comfortable, to avoid the hard and messy work of facing inequity and resisting harm. That’s not what I mean here.

The kind of joy I’m talking about is not an excuse to look away. It’s a reminder. A glimpse of what we’re protecting. What we’re fighting for. Joy doesn’t absolve us of the work; it gives us the stamina to keep showing up.

When we let ourselves feel joy—whether in art, in a song, in a silly video game—we are remembering what makes life worth protecting. Joy feeds our dreams the way water feeds seeds: small, ordinary, essential.

In yoga philosophy, svadhyaya (self-study) invites us to look at the stories, practices, and influences that shape us. Part of that self-study is noticing what brings us back to life when despair threatens to hollow us out. Joy reminds us that we’re not fighting only against oppression, but for a world worth living in.

Not polished joy. Not perfect joy. Borrowed joy.

The kind that catches us off guard and says: yes, even here, even now, life can be tender, funny, beautiful.

Just like with hope, sometimes we can’t summon joy on our own. We’re too tired, too raw, too overwhelmed by what’s burning around us. That’s when we borrow it. We borrow it from the song that makes us laugh, from the book that reminds us humans are still weird and wonderful, from the friend who shares a meme at just the right time.

Borrowed joy doesn’t make everything better. It doesn’t solve inequity or dismantle fascism. But it helps us remember why we’re still in the fight. It keeps our hearts from calcifying. It gives us the space to imagine a future worth shaping and the strength to get there.

Where I am Finding Joy

Here are some of the places I’ve been borrowing joy lately—small, ordinary delights that remind me of the good in the world and what we’re fighting for.

🎮 Game: Tiny Book Shop
I’ve been playing this on Steam, and it’s such a wonderful cozy game. You run a tiny bookshop on a trailer in the seaside town of Bookstonville, where you meet and form friendships with the locals while helping them find the perfect book. They’ll give you a description, and you search through the (mostly real) titles in your shop to match them. It’s lovely. I appreciate not just the cozy feel, but the problem-solving element too, and it has reignited my love of books. And Bonus: Steam has a free preview.

📚 Books: Terry Pratchett’s Discworld (especially the Tiffany Aching series)
These books are full of witchy wisdom, humor, and the kind of courage that grows out of ordinary life. The characters are rich, funny, and deeply imperfect—living in an imperfect world. Tiffany’s particular magic is her ability to see the world as it actually is, and to do what’s right simply because it’s right. It feels especially grounding and helpful for this current moment (and you can probably find them at your local library).

🎶 Music: Carsie Blanton
Over the past year, I’ve fallen in love with her music; it is bold, playful, and deeply political. You might have seen her singing about being an Ugly Nasty Commie Bitch, or heard one of her many protest songs. My favorite right now is “Suddenly the Spring” from her album After the Revolution. It’s a reminder that even after heartache and struggle, from the ashes of what came before, spring will come.

🤗 Cuddle Parties
All you need is a comfy spot to curl up (in person or virtually) with a partner, kiddo, pet, or favorite stuffie. Add in a good movie, an audiobook, or a playlist, maybe some snacks, and then? Cuddles. So. Many. Cuddles. And if your household is like mine, the Cuddle Party often turns into a Gigglefest. There is nothing that brings me more joy—or reminds me more clearly why I want to fight for a better world—than my family.

This Week’s Practice 🌙

Sunday, August 24 at 9 PM ET
Watch live on YouTube →

This week’s livestream is a 30-minute restorative practice—perfect for days when time or energy feels limited. We’ll blend a few yin-inspired postures with fully prop-supported restorative asana, creating space to soften, ground, and return to center.

The intention for this class is simple: to settle. To find steadiness in the body and breath.

Accessible for all bodies: join from your mat, bed, or favorite cozy spot, and use whatever props you have on hand to feel supported.

🧺 Suggested props:

• 2 large pillows or a bolster

• 2 smaller pillows or yoga blocks

• 2 blankets or towels

• Optional: eye pillow, cozy socks, or tea

If you can’t wait for Sunday, check out last week’s Seated Flow and Restore class here.

✨ Hold onto joy, even borrowed joy, and let it carry you forward.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to remind you what’s worth protecting, and what’s possible.

In joy, in struggle, in solidarity,
Shannon 💜