Finding Joy

I've been thinking a lot this week about finding joy (not a woman called Joy who has gone off for a meander around the park) I mean things that make us happy.

I am a big fan of the work of Donna Ashworth, I use her poetry a lot in my role as a celebrant, she is a truly beautiful writer and yesterday I saw this post.

The marvellous Donna Ashworth

Ironically it was followed by a story about Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan getting loads of stick because they've put their Christmas lights up already. There were the usual comments.....

"Looks beautiful but NOT in November"

"Why do people get earlier and earlier, it's ridiculous"

Blah blah blah.

And all I coud think was Donna Ashworth really has a point. The world is a scary place at the minute, things feel a bit weird, some people I know have stopped watching the news because it depresses them. There's also people going through things they don't want to talk about with others, or feel they can't. Some people are having a miserable time at work, their relationship may have broken down, they might have lost someone, they might be struggling with their mental healthfor all kinds of reasons. The list is endless.

So what harm does it do really if they think "bugger it" and they put their Christmas tree up a bit earlier than is perceived "normal"?

They haven't come to your house and made you put your tree up, they're not whisking up a batch of eggnog in your kitchen or insisting you make a list and check it twice (Santa bants).

I'm all for finding whatever joy you can in your life (as long as it's legal) If it makes you smile and makes you a bit happier then you go for it.

If that's putting up your Christmas tree and watching a film whilst the lights twinkle in the background, and you sup on a hot chocolate with a splash of Baileys and squirty cream, then do it!

There are enough things designed to suck the life out of us, so we need to find the joy wherever we can.

I for one love Christmas, it was always such a big deal in my family growing up and I love the sense of cosiness it brings me. I love the tradition of dressing my tree in ornaments that have been in the family for years, mixed in ones from my travels. There's no rhyme or reason to how I decorate my tree, I'm not one of those people who has a theme, my theme is things that go with me and my family.

I love Christmas music, there's no Whamageddon for me, I'll happily listen to "Last Christmas" on a loop. Michael Buble was fully defrosted at the beginning of November in my house and I've already watched all the "Nativity" and "Princess Switch" films. I even bought some mince pies for my Book Club tonight.

Christmas cakes

My tree is going up a week on Sunday, I'll watch "Arthur Christmas" whilst I decorate it, because I always do. Once it's up, I shall sit and marvel at it and take multiple pictures of it.

It'll make me smile.

My tree last year

I get that there are many reasons that people don't like Christmas and it can be really tough, and I honestly understand that. I just urge you to find whatever it is that brings you joy and do it.

Want to sit and read in a coffee shop for half an hour? You go for it!

If hiking up a mountain makes you smile, hike away my friend!

Playing computer games your thing, you game away.

It doesn't matter what it is as long as it makes you happy!

So, what is it that brings you joy?