Why Spontaneous Joy Is the Best Nervous System Reset

Today I sat outside in the pouring rain for fifteen minutes, laughing at the sheer wildness of it.

After 30 years teaching cooking to 50,000+ students, I've learned that joy doesn't have to be planned to be powerful. 

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Joy doesn't have to be planned or scheduled - sometimes the best nervous system reset comes from saying yes to spontaneous moments of aliveness.

Today, I did something I haven’t done since I was a child: I sat outside in the pouring rain.

No umbrella, no rushing for cover - just me, drenched, with water pounding down on my skin. For fifteen minutes I was a kid again, laughing at the sheer wildness of it.

When I finally came inside, I showered — first hot, then cool — and felt like a brand new person.

It reminded me that joy doesn’t have to be planned. It doesn’t need to be scheduled or captured. Sometimes it’s just about saying yes — to the rain, to the moment, to being alive.

We spend so much of our lives managing, planning, and structuring. And yet the moments we remember most — the ones that change us — often happen when we don’t plan a thing. That’s the medicine of spontaneity: it cracks us open to unexpected joy.

And here’s what happened after: my nervous system got a big jolt, then a big release. It was almost like my body sighed and said, "finally". That’s the thing about these unexpected moments of joy - they’re not just playful, they’re medicine. They give our bodies permission to let go, to reset, to rest. Sometimes that looks like laughter. Sometimes it looks like suddenly feeling ready for sleep. Both are beautiful.

These spontaneous moments can become their own kind of ritual. Here are a few ways to reset your nervous system in the moment:

• Sit in the rain (try it, if you haven't - it’s pretty amazing).

• Jump into the pool with your clothes on (or off).

• Eat dinner outside on the grass, picnic-style, even if you’ve already set the table.

• Make s’mores on the stovetop or grill, if you don't have a firepit.

• Turn up the music and dance in your kitchen while you cook.

• Leave your phone behind — I sometimes leave mine upstairs in another room. It’s amazing what you notice when you’re not scrolling.

And once your system gets that release, here are a few ways to support yourself afterwards:

• Drink some water.

• Lie down for five minutes and notice your breath.

• Stretch or shake out your body to move what’s been stirred.

• Let yourself nap, if that’s what your system is asking for.

So wherever August finds you — backyard, beach, or storm — let yourself play. Let yourself laugh. Let yourself be surprised.

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