Joy is not accidental. Joy must be chosen. In the face of chaos, loss, or disappointment, it remains within reach if we practice returning to it. Our bodies remember both joy and pain, so we train ourselves to notice what uplifts. We sit in silence. We listen to what is already here. We pay attention to the ordinary world—sunrises, children, wind in trees. These are not distractions. They are grounding. Joy offers a peace that surpasses all understanding. When life transitions come, we mark them with intention. Ritual teaches us to pause, to notice, to feel. Joy can be present even in sorrow. Community strengthens our capacity to hold joy. We remind each other what is possible. Even when joy feels far off, we hold space for it to reemerge.
May joy, with its peace beyond understanding,
ground us in what is real and
guide us toward what is possible.
(inspired by Barbara A. Holmes, Embodied Joy)
Sometimes, it seems, joy is not a feeling, ot an emotion, but an action, sometimes an act of courage. I hope I’m right about this.