I have a hard time watching the news and following trending news feeds. It seems like good news items are few and far between.
Heartbreaking events occur every day; that’s a fact. It’s sometimes hard to find things to be joyful about in our world. I often wonder how I will begin explaining our current events when my children get older. If and when they ask, how do I explain the atrocities in our world today? What do you say when your children ask why bad people do bad things?
It’s not a matter of protecting or sheltering my children from unpleasant events. It’s about empathy and understanding, teaching them kindness and forgiveness, and learning how to find and appreciate the joy in life.
So, when I encountered joy in a surprising place, I took it as a sign that it was time to choose just that. I found joy in the ice cream aisle. And I’m taking it home.
As if a sign from a higher power, I found joy when I needed it the most, and I’m taking it home. Yes, in the middle of a trip to Stop and Shop, I was reminded to look for the joy in life.
Joy is in the ice cream aisle. It’s the look on my baby’s face when he enjoys a treat for the first time. Joy is in my children’s sweet smiles and peaceful sleeping faces. It’s the giggles of my kids playing with their dog. Joy is the support of my family and friends. Joy is in my boys’ adventurous spirits. Joy is an extra 15 minutes of playtime before bedtime. Joy is strawberry waffles on a Monday, just because. Joy is those everyday moments of magic.
