Joy

This is the third week of Advent in the Christian calendar.  (I know, I know, these have taken on a more Christian tone lately. Despair not, for I will not force a conversion on you.)  Anyway, the third Sunday of Advent is referred to as "Gaudete" or "Joyful."  I think that we need to spend a little time thinking about joy.

I was asked recently "How do you find happiness?" and I thought that was at once a dreadfully sad concept and a wonderfully profound question.
the first thing to remember is that happiness is a choice.  We decide, every day, every moment, whether we will be happy, or angry or disenchanted.  I've seen countless books, films, articles and other pieces of advice that talk about how differently we treat things as adults from when we were children -- and in a way we do.  Because as a child, our ideas, responsibilities and choices were childish.  As we grow, we must put aside childish things and pick up those of adults.  That being said, happiness is not confined to our childhood.  Nor is it impossible to achieve in our daily life.

Every morning, we have a choice to make it a good day or not.  Once we realise that, we're more than halfway to happiness.  Yes, life can be difficult.  Yes, there are challenging people, times, situations.  But as I've written before -- that's no reason to believe that life is unpleasant, or to make it so for others.
"Oh, right, and with all the suffering in the world..." I hear your sarcasm, and I acknowledge it.  However, the fact that pain and suffering exist is no reason to deny joy.  In fact, joy becomes more precious when in the middle of suffering.

The people around us are a major source of delight. The way they show their love for us, and the delight that comes from being with friends is one of the many ways that we can find joy in the everyday.  If the people around you are a source of misery, then change them.  If you don't have the job you always dreamed of, change it.  I happen to like this song from "the great Canadian poets" Trooper, with the very profound advice of "If your world is all screwed up, rearrange it."

We can be examples of joy to others when we comfort the afflicted (an act of mercy); encourage the downhearted or by showing that we will not be destroyed by circumstances.  Or we can be the one everyone avoids because our coming causes misery.

In the end, we are the ones who determine whether we are an example or a warning.  We decide if we will be happy or not.  So in answer to the question:  We find happiness where we are, when we appreciate what we have.  When we spend most of our time wishing for things to change, we become miserable.  So -- which will you choose?  Joy or despair?