Count it all joy. All of it. That's quite the challenge, don't you think? I find myself asking for compromise: "Can't I just pick a few really good things to be joyful about?" Of course, I know the answer. There is joy to be found all along the journey, not just at the scenic overlooks. Your job is to seek it. Seek joy.
I used to think joy meant turning into Pollyanna, determined to turn everything in life into a positive. No, joy is deeper than that. Joy is the bigger picture. You can't soak it up as you run by onto the next thing in your day. Stop. Stand still. Take a deep breath.
- Joy is not dwelling on the things that went wrong but celebrating what went right.
- Joy is accepting the imperfect with grace.
- Joy is greater than anger and frustration.
- Joy is spontaneous. And contagious.
- Joy is all around you.
Standing still in the midst of a world traveling a mile a minute, I think to myself, "There, you found it." This is joy - larger than life and much larger than the little things that keep me spinning in circles day in and day out. A wise friend reminds me often, "The joy is in the journey" and friends, the journey is so much more than just the distance between here and there! In the midst of those crazy, circle-spinning days, there's joy in teaching, there's joy in helping others, there's joy in making music, there's joy in homemade blueberry muffins (even if they are from a box), and there's joy in sharing this journey with a sweet, funny, selfless man.
Find a moment today to just stop, quiet your heart and mind, and count it all joy.
