I recently heard a phrase that really resonated with me. I still don’t understand it completely. I’m still trying it on for size. I’m pretty sure someone other than the person I heard it from coined it. I know it wasn’t me. There are no original ideas.
But I am trying to lean hard into JOMO, the joy of missing out. My JOMO might be different from yours, mine today unique from that I recognize next week. Maybe JOMO isn’t real, if anything really is. But this cup of strong oily decaf is joy as was the sunrise this morning beaming in all flavors of crimson and magenta into our living room and deep into my JOMO. I was missing out on a good night’s sleep, what joy!
I have only really been able to view the world through the lens of anxiety, so my perception may be very different from yours. But, finding joy in missing out on things is attractive to me. It means that I can not only let my guard down, but can do so joyously….and dare I say, safely enough? Everything is everything else in different clothes. JOMO is exhaling for me. JOMO is also simply presence. I have said this a thousand times, be present, and everything will sort itself out. Presence is the antidote to most all of life’s woes, sort of like turmeric.
There is such stillness right now, such calm, just the sound of these clicking keys and the ticking of the lovely clock on the wall. I guess there is also the occasional sound of my fingers gliding through my hair as I half scratch my scalp. There is a world in every moment, and another equally delicious one in the all the moments between those moments. Everything we need is right here and now, waiting for us, no reservation required.
Now a hard right turn. An example, I guess. A few weeks ago, I noticed that there were cheap seats for sale to a playoff WNBA game. I could get a lower-level seat for the price of a movie ticket. Years ago, I loved watching the Spurs in person win all those titles. I never had seen a WNBA playoff game, nor Sue Bird as she prepared for her, wait for it, swan song. I had nothing going on. But, the “problem” was that I just wanted to stay home. I just wanted to have a drink and relax. I knew that this was a real opportunity before me, but I just didn’t want to seize it in that moment. If it had been a different day, or maybe even a few hours earlier or later I may have rushed right past JOMO on my way to Climate Pledge Arena. But I poured myself a fresh glass of JOMO and enjoyed the gift of missing out on that game.
Everything we need is in us right now. All the joy and peace and strength and wonder. Life can take each of us in a three million directions, a billion-billion life paths to trip down merrily, merrily. We might as well find joy on the journey. When asked what you do…rather than answering “I’m a programmer” or “I’m retired” why not try out “I find joy in missing out.” Jump head first into the void. Learn to love the bomb over and over and over again. Exhale.
