Pondering JOY

I collect stones and gems with words on them for inspiration and encouragement, and also because I am a “collector”!  My granddaughters like to sort through them and sometimes take them home; they also provide opportunities for interesting discussions. Recently, my 4 year old g.d. and I were discussing the one she picked, titled JOY.

How to describe Joy? Is it the same as happiness, fun, laughter?  That was sufficient for her, and easy to understand, but I wonder if it isn’t somewhat deeper.  Contentment, peace of mind, moments of tranquility, and  gratitude for what is in front of me right now, in this moment. 

We each will of course have our own variety of experiences and situations that bring us contentment and the sometimes elusive JOY; I encourage you to give some thought to what your most obvious ones are, and also dig a little deeper to find and reach for the less obvious ones.

Another way to look at it is that maybe a creative definition of Joy is “Journey Of You” – coming home to yourself in each moment, and putting your creativity in service of JOY.  May it light gently on you, not as another thing to Do, but as a self- nourishing way of BEING.  

Would love to hear what JOY means to you, and where you find it!