Today I Choose Joy

As the year draws to a close, I’m thinking about experiences and people – mostly people – that have brought joy to my life this year. It makes me more… joyful.

One of my most joyful experiences this year has been reconnecting with a longtime family friend, who I will refer to as Joy.  Joy and her husband began their friendship with my parents before I was born.  Joy’s husband and my dad worked together and were golfing buddies over many years.  I remember our family and theirs getting together for Saturday night hangouts and New Year’s Eve celebrations.  The kids would play board games and the adults would play cards.

Joy has always been great fun to be around. She has a quick smile, a quicker wit, and makes every get-together a party. After an evening spent with these friends, my mom, a rather serious and thoughtful person, would often smile and say, “Oh, that Joy is such a card!”

Many years have passed, and my parents are gone now, as is Joy’s husband. She and I have shared Christmas cards over the years and an occasional phone call, but then she moved, and although I had her address, her phone number changed, and we sort of fell out of touch. But by chance this summer, I bumped into her son in law and was able to reconnect with her, joyfully.

In another little corner of my life this year, I was in pursuit of a pair of tickets to see The Nutcracker. I’ve been wanting to see this holiday show on stage for years but have just never been able to make that happen. I’m a fan of the music, and I do occasionally try to insert a little culture in my life, so when I saw an opportunity to enjoy a collaborative production of the local symphony and ballet company, I took it. As it turned out, my other half (MOH) was scheduled to work on Nutcracker day – much to his relief. But not only was Joy willing to go with me, she was excited about it.

Joy and I had the perfect ‘date.’ The traveling weather was good (something that can overshadow an outing as you get older), we had wonderful seats, and the performances were beautiful. But it wasn’t the show, rather her company, that made the day so wonderful.  Her energy and delight in enjoying this event together made me happier than the event itself.

We considered going to a restaurant for a bite to eat after the show. Instead, we went back to my house and ate grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup in front of the Christmas tree.  Spending this time together with Joy was like receiving a big Christmas hug.

Do you have someone in your life that makes your heart happy, that puts a smile on your face whenever you think of them, or can make you feel hugged just by hearing their voice on the phone? I am lucky enough to have four of them that I call siblings, as well as some other very special people in my life that fill me up with joy. Wishing all of you that kind of joy, this season and in the year to come. Merry Christmas!