What is joy? How do we find it and keep it? These are questions I’ve considered lately. And here are my conclusions. (I warn you they are not profound but simply what I’ve found.)

Sometimes joy is a bubbling song bursting from my heart, my mind, my lips. Sometimes I have to search for a sign of it and nurture it into existence.

A Chinese proverb says: Once joy scatters a hundred griefs. (I might insert a hundred sadnesses.)William Shakespeare says ‘Joy delights in joy.’ Perhaps these two statements provide the key. I need to find the joys, nurture them so grief is banished (or at least reduced to size) and let joy beget joy.

Here are some of the joys I found lately.

Joy is a phone call or visit from an old, dear friend.

It is a beautiful sunrise and a big window to enjoy it.

Joy is a child’s smile.

It is a good book.

A hot cup of coffee.   

A flower.

Henry Ward Beecher:
The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.

The Bible says:  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.

So find joy today and always.