Over the past few weeks several people I know have found themselves in difficult situations and in all the talking about joy that we are doing, it made me think about our definition of joy more – “Joy is not based on circumstances.” Hmm. That seems almost like an opposing view.
I took some time to put myself mentally in the shoes of people in situations where there is devastation all around them. Their world is crashing down – suffering loss of family, homes, jobs, relationships, etc. How, how can you ask them to still find joy everyday when their hearts are bruised and broken? You can. One thing I learned over my 70 years of life on this earth is that no matter what I am facing, I can still take a breath. Many times my breath was all I had. In the midst of horrific difficulty, just look up and take a breath. You don’t have to pray or think or figure anything out. Just look up and take a breath. That is your source of your joy for that day. Simple as it may seem, that brief moment gives you a respite from whatever you’re going through. And, when you think about it, just being able to take that breath is something remarkable in itself. There it is: joy.
I found that helpful tidbit by being intrigued by an album name. Recording artist Lauren Daigle named her last album “Look Up Child.” Wow. Just look up, take one breath. I did go on to use this album when things were hard for me. I put it on and let the tears flow and let myself feel the pain. This type of letting go – I call it letting go without rules – truly was a source of joy in a dark situation. And if you are not facing something difficult this holiday season, then you can be a source of joy for someone who is. For people you know personally or who are close to you, you can be their source of joy for one day just by listening. You don’t have to offer solutions or figure out their issues. Just listen. For people in general, open a door, smile, or give a compliment, and, of course, donate. For yourself, let your time you spend exercising be your respite from the world for 30 minutes and your source of joy for that day.
In these last few weeks before Christmas and New Years, whichever side of finding joy you find yourself on, keep it on your radar. Finding even the most minute joy in each day is where hope lives.
And so, as another day goes by, look around. Do you see your tiny sprig of joy for today?
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