Beauty of Joy

Joy.

Great happiness, the success in finding, doing, or getting something, the cause of delight, expression of emotion, the state of well-being. The thing we all struggle finding.

Joy comes from within; it is the source of happiness that is expressed through smiling, laughter, and our kindness. There are many things that could and often do bring us joy, but there are very few people in life that exude joy effortlessly. For some people, joy is natural, easy, and it just radiates from them. You know the people I am talking about; the quiet, shy, reserved yet they are peaceful and joyful. They are simply a joy to be around. For the rest of us, it takes a bit of effort to change our minds and hearts to simply be happy. And, that's okay. For some of us, it doesn't come so easily due to our life circumstances, physical pain, emotional heartbreak, past experiences, or constant stress from work or relationships with friends and family. Some of us simply have to work at being joyful. That's never a bad thing....it's called adulthood. Without pain, we would never know or understand joy.

Meet Renee + Andy. These two are the most precious, kind-hearted, sweet, gentle, and most JOYFUL children that I have ever met. They exude JOY on a daily basis. They love unconditionally, they help effortlessly, their kindness and gentle spirits just want to make your heart melt. Their innocence is full of joy and it makes them beautiful from the inside out.

Renee has this natural ability to bring calmness to my calamity. She knows when I am having a bad day; she will just reach out across the table and hold my hand until I smile. She is goofy as ever, never caring what her peers think, and she brings laughter to the room in an instant. Her hugs melt your heart. Her sweetness makes your teeth ache.

"Teach-uh.... you my best friend."

Andy has this creative imagination that takes him to another world, and he is never afraid to explore. He reminds me of Buddy the Elf; always smiling and just full of joy. While the rest of us look at him in wonder, he doesn't care and just keeps smiling. He is the type of kid who smiles while crying because he doesn't like to be sad, even when he gets hurt--he will push through the pain and just keeps smiling. Why? Because he has JOY deep within him. Everyday I am greeted by this HUGE smile from Andy and it brightens my day. I just want to keep this kid forever.

The innocence of childhood allows for this greatness of joy. There is no war, there is no pain, there is no heartbreak; instead, their world is filled with superheroes, princesses, imagination, creativity, laughter, and joy.

Can you imagine a world through the eyes of these children? Can you imagine if we laughed through our pain, kept smiling through life difficulties, enjoyed one another's company, played more, fought less, acted silly without a care in the world, and loved each other as unconditionally as children?

That world is why I keep teaching. That world is what fuels me to continue to bring lightness and love to my students. That world is what brings me joy. 

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like shadow that never leaves.

-Buddha