Y’all, I’m not always focused on my existential crisis. I’ve been on the struggle bus lately for sure, and my time to refocus and reset has been valuable and needed. But I’m quite full of joy, actually.
You know, “joy” and “happiness” are two different things. Happiness is temporary, a moment of contentment, enjoyment, goodness. I’m happy when I’m eating a piece of key lime pie. I even do a little dance in my chair. Mmmm mmm.
I have JOY knowing key limes exist, and I’ve been to the Florida Keys and tasted real ones firsthand. Memories of eating key lime tarts, trying chocolate-dipped key lime pie on a stick (oh, glory!), and drinking key lime coladas right there in Key West give me joy.
Joy is inside you. It lasts. It gets you through hard days and tough times. It’s contagious, too. You can exude it and others can feel it. People with joy are good-hearted and good-natured, generally. It’s hard not to be anything else with joy in your heart.
We have compassion for others and want them to experience real joy, too, and our hearts hurt a little when they don’t or can’t. We do things BIG and with lots of passion, driven by that pure joy, and we love it when we manage to spark joy in people.
Joyous people are not sad long. We might need some time, the world might kick up on our butts sometimes. Our joy gets us through it, though, turns us around, and pushes us forward despite our struggles.
I’m not sure that all folks with joy have purple hair. In fact, I’m certain that they don’t. Yet there’s something about a joyous person that offers a bit of style. There’s a flair, a fun quirk, a captivating smile, a sparkle in their eye, a charming wit.
When I saw this meme posted by a guy I know, I felt all that. I was reminded of joy. The guy I stole it from embodies it, and I hope I do, too. It’s definitely my goal.
Amanda Herring, Writer 