Have you lost your joy? Day 4

Everything useful, nothing just for her. Women become experts at usefulness. When joy leaves, usefulness hardens into identity: she’ll cook for everyone, volunteer, cover extra shifts, keep the household orbit steady-but there’s nothing in the week with her name on it. Leisure becomes suspicious, even guilty.

Once, in our family group chat,we planned a Sunday picnic. My wife had packed for ten and was last our the door. I suggested she bring only what she could carry in one hand and choose one thing to do solely for pleasure. She grabbed a slim novel,said, ‘I’ll read while you argue over the frisbee',’ and did exactly that. Her face on the drive home looked rested, not spent.

If this is you: schedule one thing that restores rather than depletes. Write it on the calendar like a dental appointment. Protect it with the same ferocity.