PbyCj

One question I’ve been asking God lately is—why do certain things excite me? Like, really excite me. Why do I have these specific, sometimes random, sometimes “weird” interests? Why do I like to soak things in so deeply?

Because when something catches my attention, it’s on. I’m like, “Yay!” I get all in. Giddy, happy, focused. But a lot of times, it’s just me that’s excited. And truthfully, most of the people around me either don’t get it or straight up think I’m crazy. Or gross. Or just “Charity being Charity again.”

But this year, I’m really learning to accept that I’m not everybody’s cup of tea. And not only is that okay—it’s necessary. The things I uniquely like? I don’t have to un-like them just because nobody else is clapping.

God gave me this joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength. It’s in His Word. And if I’m not tapping into that joy, if I’m constantly shoving it aside just because other people don’t understand it, no wonder burnout sneaks in. No wonder depression, anxiety, and exhaustion find cracks to crawl through. Because I’m not even using the very thing God gave me to be strong: joy.

The Bible literally says that God created all things for us to enjoy. All things. So when I say I like insects, or I like beetles, or I like bees—I mean that. I like them. And not in a cutesy, passing way. I be catching them. I interact. I engage. I sit with them. I study them. I admire them. I like the golden green June beetles. I like when bees land on me and just chill there. I like it. Period.

And it’s wild, because as a kid, I didn’t even care about any of that. But something in me shifted. Somewhere in my adult life, this deep enjoyment for nature, for bugs, for tiny moving things… it bloomed. And it brings me so much peace. So much joy.

When I remember to touch grass—literally, when I make space to be in nature—I feel myself come back online. I’m so used to being in “work mode” that I sometimes forget I’m even allowed to enjoy life. That I’m meant to. That I’m wired to.

And right now? I’m excited. Like, really excited. Because I finally said yes to something I’ve been wanting to do for a while—but I wasn’t sure if I was ready for the commitment. But last night, after midnight, I did it. I ordered my stuff. I’m about to start something new. And it’s my first time, and it’s cute, and I can’t wait to share it.

I didn’t share my plan today—just talked around it a bit—and I heard it again: “Charity’s weird.” “She likes weird stuff.” And I laughed. I always laugh. But deep down, I know what’s happening: I’m learning not to let other people’s discomfort shrink my joy. I’m learning to let myself be fully me.

I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. My interests? Designed. My joy? Intentional. My weirdness? Holy.

And I realized I needed to put this joy somewhere. Because people usually aren’t ready for the way I love things. They don’t know what to do with that kind of enthusiasm. But that’s okay. That’s why I’m building this platform—PbyCj. Because it’s personal. I don’t have another space for this kind of stuff, so I made one.

Also—yes, I already have a logo. Yes, I already have a name for the colony. Yes, I made a checklist. I’m in deep, y’all. And I’m happy.

This joy? It’s going to produce things. Hear me: when I’m tapped into joy, I create. I don’t just caffeinate my way through a to-do list. I thrive. I flourish. I went to sleep smiling at 2 a.m. talking about, “Yeah, boy! I ordered my thingamajigs!” Ten of them. Super cute. I’m geeked.

So I’m not going to look down on this. I’m going to look up. I’m going to appreciate the way God created this world—and the way He created me. And I’m going to enjoy it.

Because He made it all for me to enjoy.