It sounds so elusive.

Joy is something you might experience on a vacation or during a life event. I never imagined I could find it in everyday life. In my mind, there were only a few lucky individuals who felt that level of happiness and delight on a daily basis. I assumed this was just the way it was and I had to live with it.

My belief began to shift when I received a gratitude journal as a gift. To be honest, I never really understood how the practice of gratitude would have an impact on my life. It seemed like a lovely thing to do, list what you’re grateful for each day, but that’s all it was - a nice idea. I decided to embrace the process by answering the prompts in the journal each morning and evening.

Initially, I found it difficult. Sure, I was grateful for my friends, family, home, etc…but I didn’t see the point of listing the same thing in a journal day in and day out. I subconsciously began to search for things I was grateful for throughout the day. I started to notice when the stars were twinkling brightly or when the trees swayed in the breeze of summer. I recognized when a stranger was kind to me or how I felt after sharing a smile with someone else.

My mood shifted as I began to notice the pleasure and beauty of the simple things in life, things that I had always taken for granted. I started planning things I could do each day to bring joy to my life. I realized that it didn’t need to be something unusual or amazing. It just needed to be intentional. I had the ability to create my own joy every day.

I made a list of all the things that brought me joy. My list included dancing, the beach and eating ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. Each morning when filling out my journal, I would decide what I would do today to bring joy to my life. I then made sure to actually do it, even when unforeseen circumstances interrupted my day as they always did. I held myself accountable and continued to fill out my gratitude journal. 

Now, finding joy has become a daily practice. I no longer need to wait for the weekend or a tropical paradise vacation. It was there all along, I just needed to open my eyes and my mind to the wonder and possibilities that are woven into life. My life is forever changed.

Until next time,

Debbie xo