A Full Infusion of Joy
There are moments when you step into a room and can almost feel your nervous system soften. That’s how it felt walking into the Lake County Joy Summit last weekend. There was a hum of anticipation, but also a gentler energy, like people were ready to set their bags down, loosen their grip, and simply receive.
Nearly 200 people chose to do something meaningful that day: they gave themselves permission to unplug from the pace of everyday life and devote seven full hours to joy, reflection, and well-being. And it showed. You could see it in the way people leaned in, exhaled, laughed freely, and allowed themselves to be present.
Each speaker brought a different doorway into joy, not the surface-level kind, but the kind that comes from awareness, alignment, and choice.
The first of three speakers, Jason Kotecki, invited us to look at the invisible rules we’ve absorbed about what it means to be an adult and suffering from Adultitis, that tell us to be serious, responsible, and productive at all costs. With humor and honesty, we were reminded that playfulness, creativity, and curiosity aren’t things we outgrow… they’re things we often forget. Letting go of those rules felt like permission to breathe a little deeper and remember who we were before “shoulds” took over.
The second speaker, Dr. Dominique Pritchett, challenged us to examine the relationships in our lives, not just who’s around us, but how they show up. Are the people we surround ourselves with supportive and encouraging? Or do they unintentionally drain our energy and pull us away from who we’re becoming? It was a powerful reminder that community matters, and that choosing the right people is an act of self-care.
We were also guided through a beautifully grounding framework from the last speaker, Amber Swenor, that brought everything back to the basics: our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions. We were invited to slow down long enough to notice the stories we tell ourselves, how those stories shape our emotions, and how our emotions influence what we do next. It wasn’t about fixing or forcing, it was about awareness and choice. Small shifts. Conscious steps. Living in alignment with the person we want to be.
Between sessions, there was space to wander through a vibrant wellness expo filled with vendors offering tools, resources, and inspiration for healthier living. There was nourishing food, unhurried conversations, and moments of quiet reflection; the kind we don’t often give ourselves permission to have.
What stayed with me most was watching what happened in the room. I saw people taking notes furiously, nodding in recognition, clapping with genuine enthusiasm, and yes, wiping away a tear or two when something landed close to home. It was a reminder that when we create space for joy, truth rises too.
One message echoed throughout the day for me: if we want a better life, it begins with better thoughts. Not perfect ones, but kinder, more intentional ones. Thoughts rooted in possibility instead of fear.
There was also a simple practice shared that I wholeheartedly believe in and live by: schedule what matters. Joy doesn’t survive on good intentions alone. If it isn’t protected with time and space, it’s often the first thing to go when life gets busy. Our calendars tell the truth. They reveal what we’re truly prioritizing.
Whether it’s movement, quiet time, creativity, connection, or an experience like the Joy Summit, if it matters, it deserves a place on the calendar.
As the day came to a close, there was a shared understanding in the room: joy isn’t something we stumble upon once and hope to find again someday. It’s something we practice. Something we carry forward. Something we choose.
Because when we live from joy, kindness, love, and inspired action, that energy has a way of returning to us. And when we move from fear, anger, or scarcity, that too finds its way back. So the question becomes, what will we choose?
The Lake County Joy Summit was a beautiful reminder that joy is not a luxury. It’s a responsibility. A practice. A way of being that ripples outward. The day was a full infusion of joy. I’ll leave you with the question: If your calendar reflected your joy instead of just your obligations… what would change first?
xo, Sheryl
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