It seems like every bit of good news and every moment of joy these days is accompanied by a litany of things going wrong in the world.
It’s good to experience joy.
Even in a pandemic. Even when we’re fighting for social justice. Even when people in Beirut are reeling after the explosion. Even when people in Yemen are starving. Even when the world is full of injustice and suffering.
You don’t need to pay penance for your joy or preface it with a list of everyone you can think of who has it harder than you do.
Joy is the reason we’re working to make the world a better place. Joy is what makes it possible to keep going.
Joy doesn’t have to be separate from doing good. So many community programs and responses to the pandemic have incorporated fun and delight into the process. So many difficult things (like care work!) are sprinkled with moments of joy. Activism can be goofy and creative and effective.
But it’s also okay to enjoy the moment.
A moment of peace. Of laughter. Of delicious food. Of beauty.
These two have provided me with a lot of laughter this week.
What’s brought you joy this past week? You can comment here or post your answer in our private Facebook group.
This week I found joy in watching the hummingbirds enjoy their refilled feeder, and in the smiles of my granddaughter and grandson as they squirrel-proofed my wild bird feeder. (At least they attempted. We'll see if it works!)
Writing brings me constant joy.