I have really been focused on “finding the joy” this month… some things have been bogging me down recently that have seemed determined to squeeze any bit of joy I might have out of me… so when I saw this poem on IG and then Kym posted something so perfect from the same poet last week…well, I don’t believe in coincidences. It was just the universe letting me know that it understood and was putting some joy in my path to pick up and hold on to when I needed it!
The poet is Donna Ashworth and the poem is Joy from Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper Reflection. I hope it brings to you more than what you need today.
Joy
by Donna Ashworth
Joy does not arrive with a fanfare,
on a red carpet strewn with the flowers of a perfect life.
Joy sneaks in, as you pour a cup of coffee,
watching the sun hit your favorite tree, just right.
And you usher joy away,
because you are not ready for it.
Your house is not as it must be,
for such a distinguished guest.
But joy cares nothing for your messy home,
or your bank-balance,
or your waistline, you see.
Joy is supposed to slither through the cracks of your
imperfect life,
that’s how joy works.
You cannot invite yer, you can only be ready when she
appears.
And hug her with meaning,
because in this very moment,
joy chose you.
My hope is that you find joy today… because she absolutely is choosing you!
A huge thanks to Bonny for making a space for us to share poetry! (if you want to join us, you can!)
Oh, Kat, this is beautiful and I’m so glad you shared it. In this season that is supposed to be filled with joy, sometimes it just seems hard to find. I’m glad that joy doesn’t care about whether I’ve vacuumed, paid bills, or my ever-enlarging waistline, but I hope to be ready and hug her when she shows up.
so beautiful and I hope joy springs forth easily for you as the holidays approach. Merry Christmas!
This one is a beauty Kat!! Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas!!
A very good poem for the season. May you find joy in the little things today and always.
Joy — and friendship.
YES! If we are open to welcoming joy she will find us! Happy Solstice, Kat!
This poem so perfectly captures what I’ve been trying to focus on the past several years: finding the moments of beauty, peace, and joy even amid the heartache and mess. While the bad tends to hog the spotlight, the good is always there — we just need to make a point to look for it. I hope you can find all of it that you need.
What a lovely poem. Merry Christmas Kat.
I think Donna Ashworth’s words really resonate with a lot of people! (Including me.) I love following her on the IGs. She really taps into . . . all the feelings! XO