Joy

I used to think that I needed to be happy to feel joy. It seemed impossible to be joyful when I thought I wasn’t happy. But I realized that’s not true.

A while ago, I was in the hospital, very sick. Even though I didn’t feel happy, there were so many moments when I felt joy. I came to understand that joy and happiness are not the same—joy lives deeper, beyond moods or circumstances.

It seems like everyone is searching for happiness—I was one of those people. But I’m not anymore. Because one day I’m happy, and another day I’m sad or exhausted, yet even on those days, I can always find something that gives me joy.

When I’m sad, my daughter has a gift for making me laugh—and in that moment, I feel joy. When I’m exhausted, I feel joy when I lie down in bed and my body can finally relax. That’s an amazing revelation.

Every day, even on the worst day, there’s always a small moment of joy. I collect those moments now, and every night before I go to sleep, I think about them. And that makes me feel happy.

So I guess we can be happy or unhappy—it’s just a choice and a matter of recognizing what’s in front of us at the moment. I used to live without knowing that it’s okay to laugh even in the most critical situations. We came into this world to live joyfully and to experience life.

There’s no one in this world without a wound or a scar. But that doesn’t mean life is only bad. It just means we’re human. Those hurtful events make us stronger and wiser, helping us make better decisions in the future.

The truth is, somehow we remember the good times and joyful moments—at least I do. When I look back on my past, I see good and joyful memories. There’s no reason to dwell on what wasn’t good.

I surround myself with happy pictures and positive people, and there’s so much joy in my life now. If I find myself slipping into negativity, I know it’s my job to change that. It’s not about what other people do or what’s happening in the world—it’s about me, my thoughts, and my choice to seek, find, and see joy and miracles everywhere I look.