WE OUTSIDE: BLACK JOY AS LIBERATION

By: Dr. Victoria Shedrick, LPC

THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING “OUTSIDE”

“I’m outside!”

You’ve heard it many times, and you’ve probably said it yourself. It’s what we say when it feels like it’s time to step away from the weight of the world. It’s when we get dressed, decide this is the moment to show up, to be seen, gather and get social.

Whether it’s a trip, a night out at the club, or dinner and drinks with friends—being “outside” is more than movement and visibility—it’s about connection, freedom, and Black joy. It is a mental shift from performing, working, and grinding. What we are naming is a cultural response to burnout and over-performing.

Because outside, at its core, has become synonymous with joy. And joy is not optional in this season—it is necessary.

BLACK JOY AS LIBERATION

In these times, joy is an act of radical resistance. Joy is what we choose in spite of the job we hate, economic pressures, the rising cost of living and the weight of simply trying to stay afloat.

In that sense, joy is political. Because choosing joy and pleasure is a refusal—resisting a world that often withholds ease and makes rest and relaxation feel like something you have to earn.

Joy is not reserved for children or special occasions. It is a psychological and spiritual necessity. It is adults laughing too loudly, dancing the latest line dance, resting without apology, and embracing the parts of self that have been neglected.

It is also permission to celebrate life as it is, not only as we wish it to be. Joy is the antidote to a life that centers survival—restoring what burnout tries to steal.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO EXPERIENCE BLACK JOY THIS SUMMER

The summer months are approaching, and this is an ideal time to be outside. No matter your financial situation or circumstances, it’s important to remember that joy doesn’t come with a cost or significant means. There are ways to achieve it that are simple and already within reach.

Joy Through Gathering and Fellowship

One of the easiest ways to experience joy is through gathering with family and friends. Coming together after work, meeting up on a Friday at the end of a heavy week, or rotating through each other’s homes creates space for laughter, conversation, and connection. It doesn’t have to be elaborate—it just has to be intentional.

Nature as Joy

The warm weather presents a natural invitation to step outside and reconnect with the world around you. Go to your local park. Have a picnic. Go for a walk. You can even sit outside in your backyard, grill food, invite a couple friends over, and let the evening unfold.

Even the simplest acts matter: putting your feet in the grass, walking barefoot on the earth, or being near water to listen to its flow. These are grounding practices for the mind and body. They regulate us in ways we often underestimate.

Peace Over Productivity

We have placed so much emphasis on doing that we often forget how to be. Sometimes joy is not found in activity at all, but in stillness—unstructured time that is not assigned to responsibility, productivity, or performance. That kind of time is underrated. It can look like sleeping in, sitting on the porch, taking a nap in the middle of the day, or simply moving through the day without urgency or obligation.

Joy Through Play

We also have to return to play. The things we enjoyed as children are often the same things that still bring us joy as adults. Whether it’s dancing to old school music, playing board games, coloring, or laughing until your stomach hurts. Reclaiming play is a way of returning to the inner child.

And while this summer offers a beautiful opportunity to lean into that, these practices are not seasonal—they are available year-round. Joy is not something we wait for—it is something we practice.

OUTSIDE AS A RETURN TO SELF

“Outside” is not just a form of escape from the everyday realities of life—it is a return to self. I invite you to consider what it would look like to live a life where joy is not something you have to earn, but something you naturally embrace. Outside is always an option, and how you choose to engage with it is where your agency lives.

Our ancestors created moments of joy even in the midst of the hardships of slavery. They shaped beauty from scarcity—scraps into meals, hymns into praise, fire-lit gatherings into liberation. If joy could be made then, then it is certainly possible now. We owe it to them to live a life that is unapologetically joyous. So, let’s choose joy and let’s get outside.

About Dr. Victoria Shedrick, LPC:

Dr. Victoria Shedrick is a licensed mental health therapist, writer, and educator with 25 years of experience within the mental health field. She creates books, guided journals, and digital resources that inspire healing, emotional wellness, and spiritual growth—helping readers navigate life, faith, and self-discovery. To connect with her, you can follow her on these platforms.

Website: www.drvictoriashedrick.com IG/Facebook: @keycounselingcc TikTok: @ dr.v_godandtherapy YouTube: @ dr.v_speaks