What Brings You Joy?

Dear Healed Black Girl,

What brings you joy?
Like... pure joy. The kind that lives in your body. The kind that feels like light.

I went out dancing the other night and was on cloud 9.
First of all — I was by myself. And that alone was a big deal.
I usually go dancing with friends because their presence makes me feel safe. But this night, I wanted to go and no one was available. So I challenged myself — and I went anyway.

As soon as I got inside, I felt alive — but not fully comfortable yet.
So, of course, I headed to the bar.

I thought about getting a double shot of something. I felt like I needed the alcohol to soothe me. To take the edge off.
But I stopped myself. Because I wanted to feel the night — jitters and all.
I wanted to be present. I wanted to observe how I managed those jitters — not numb them.

So I settled for a single shot drink.
I stood in the corner, sipping and gently swaying my body. There was someone next to me who also seemed to be alone, and for a second, I felt in community with them. That helped.

I looked around and saw groups of people really dancing — like full-out choreography, body rolls, hair flips, everything. I loved it. I was entertained, distracted, and delighted. They were putting on a show.

But then the woman next to me greeted her friends.
Turns out... she wasn’t alone.

I was.

And in that moment, I did what felt like the bravest thing:
I finished my drink and made my way to the dance floor.
No friend in sight. No safety net. Just me, my body, and the beat.

I joined a group of people dancing in their own worlds, unbothered by whether they were alone or not.
I watched how freely they moved — how in tune they were with themselves. Their energy was contagious.

And slowly, I tapped into it.
I started feeling myself — not in a performative way, but in an embodied, I’m here with me kind of way.

I must’ve been so in the zone that someone tapped me on the shoulder and said,
“Yesss — you better feel this song!”

I sheepishly smiled.
I guess he was watching me the same way I had been watching everyone else.
Simply in awe.

Later that night, I realized something:
I felt pure joy.
Unfiltered. Unmasked. Undistracted.

And here’s what I took away from that moment:
Joy only comes in when you let it.
When you challenge yourself.
When you don’t drink it away or distract it out of your system.
When you give yourself permission to feel it — in full consciousness, in full presence.

So, Healed Black Girl… would you join me in that?
Would you make space for joy?

And would you share your takeaways — a time you felt pure joy?
What did it take to get there?

Follow me on IG @healedblackgirlmovement.
DM me. Email me. I want to hear from you. Because your joy matters.

With you in every moment,
A fellow Healed Black Girl