“What does joy mean to you?” That’s one of the questions the earth angel @jelabela asked us to ruminate on as we sat cross-legged and shoeless surrounded by piles of confetti. I think about joy so often, but never more than I have in the last four years. It seems like living has become so complex. A little sadness seeps into the overwhelm of every day and choosing joy feels like going against the grain. So I scribbled in my personalized notebook: “In a world that wants Black women to perform, joy is resistance. In a world where progress is rewarded above the ability to process (feelings, emotions, changes, wins, losses); In a world where we are not allowed to practice in public, joy is an act of resistance. Joy is a birthright they have tried to make us believe we have to earn.” Something about the presence of colorful confetti made us drop our social inhibition to fully lean into play and allow joy in. We shared and over-shared, we played, we danced, we laughed, and made confetti angels, and then over a DELICIOUS meal by @llamainnnyc we planted the seeds of beautiful new friendships and connections. That’s the power of @the_confetti_project. Thank you, Jelena for creating a space of reprieve, for allowing us the space to indulge in play. You are a gift.