Embracing Joy: Finding Lasting Contentment in Life

Decorative letters spelling 'JOY' in maroon color with white dots, placed on a windowsill with a small heart decoration.

Wind in the cave:
Movement in stillness.
Power in silence.
Deng Ming Dao

Joy ~ a deep, internal, and lasting sense of well-being, contentment, and purpose that transcends temporary happiness.

I haven’t chosen a word in a number of years mostly because I don’t want to define myself with a just word over the year. This one word however just kept jumping out at me over and over these last few weeks. While I am still not going to define myself with a word, I thought that I would tuck this one word under my wing (if I had a wing that is..ha!)

A book titled 'Joyful' by Ingrid Fetell Lee resting on a table, with a pair of glasses placed on top. The book features a bright cover with an image of a popsicle, surrounded by warm sunlight and a hint of greenery in the background.

Thinking about this word made me remember this book that I was gifted at my first Book Club Christmas zoom gathering. I have been a part of this book club since Covid and it gives me great Joy to meet with like minded friends once a month and discover new books that I might never have chosen for myself to read.
I will be diving into this book after I finish this month’s book club read.

Decorative wooden letters spelling 'JOY' adorned with mosaic patterns, set against a dark background with a hotel reception area visible.

And finally this past weekend, we headed up to Vermont to visit my daughter’s family and to deliver a mattress for my little June’s new big bed. Normally we stay with Ashley, but her husband has had to take over the guest bedroom for his new job, so this we stayed in at a nice hotel in Burlington.
This is what greeted me when we checked in.

~ 2026 Embracing Joy ~