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Are you joyful today? Are you savoring life’s sweetness, or have the challenges confronting you crowded out your joy?

Joy is an essential part of life.  It brings new hope and meaning, energizing our actions.  The more intense our challenges, the greater our need for joy. And yet, we often get so busy that we neglect the things in life that renew joy.

If you are not exactly dancing through the daisies, don’t despair! Joy can be renewed – and indeed must be nurtured – to provide a counterpoint to life’s harsher realities.

When we are preoccupied with looming deadlines, economic challenges and physical setbacks, it is easy to lose perspective.  That loss of perspective allows joy to slip through the cracks, leaving us feeling flat and enervated.

Recently I had one of those days where it was difficult to find joy in things around me. A few friends were in the hospital, I had learned of three others who had just been diagnosed with cancer, a work project had gotten bogged down in bureaucratic paperwork, an unexpected setback resulted in huge bills not budgeted for, and plans for a much-needed getaway needed to be canceled...... get the picture?

The avalanche of developments left me feeling reeling.  Where does one even start to address the chaos?

I needed to disengage to get clarity and perspective. Stepping into the lush green of my back garden, I was greeted by a chorus of bird song. That’s when it hit me: These birds don’t know where their food will come from each new day – they sing and chirp from a place of innate trust. They trust in the provision of a benevolent universe.

Jesus reminded his disciples that not even a sparrow falls from heaven without their Creator’s knowledge. Likewise, even the hairs on our heads are known and numbered by that loving Presence.

As I took time out from the hectic demands of life, I felt the cool breeze on my skin.  A beautiful butterfly fluttered around the geraniums, and I saw a baby gecko emerging from the vine to sip from a water drop on a blade of grass. In the corner, a humming bird was bathing in the very top of the fountain, tossing the water over its tiny body with one wing and then shaking it off before repeating on the other side.

Little things, and yet they had a huge impact on me.  I realized that joy is always available in the small things of life – we simply get too busy and distracted to notice.

Even when faced by huge issues in life, we can reconnect to joy by noticing and appreciating little things:  the friendliness of a checkout clerk, a handwritten note from a friend, the warmth of a child’s hand, the furry love of a pet, the restorative beauty of nature, the taste of fresh strawberries, the comfort of a bed at the end of the day…

The makings of joy are all around us, waiting to be discovered. They are everywhere in little things that truly matter. Together, they add up to restore our joy. Next time you feel overwhelmed, take time to connect to the little things, and you will find your joy renewed.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com  This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.