Have you ever felt it?

 

Amongst the parties,

and dinners.

The lively family nights,

and the lonely Friday evenings.

 

Have you ever treasured,

this feeling we call joy?

 

When all is taken away,

will you regret not going to more festivals?

will you regret not spending more time with friends?

will you regret not cherishing the smallest things that 

brought a smile to your beautiful face?

 

You were sucked into a black hole full of nothing 

but shows, snacks, thoughts, and work.

 

You were shoved into your dream world.

 

Amongst the chaos of daily life,

we finally found an appreciation for the things we took for granted.

 

Now that touch is banned,

peace is scarce,

and love seems nowhere to be found,

 

What else will bring you joy?

 

The smell of a candle?

The sound of turning a page?

The taste of a mouthful of lemonade?

Perhaps the sight of something cute?

Or feeling the warm embrace of your loved ones?

 

Time has been given aplenty, 

so, you’ve had time to think. 

 

What is this feeling we call joy?

 

Why does it exist?

Doesn’t happiness suffice?

 

You feel happy after seeing a beautiful flower.

You feel happy after staring at the blank night sky,

wondering if someone up there sees you.

You feel happy after moving, after singing,

after escaping reality for even just a second.

 

And yet, 

 

there is that slow and warm wave of peace washing over you,

like the turquoise Hawaiian waves upon the glorious shores.

A sense that tells you everything will be OK.

From your chest, it grows like a thorn-less rose bush.

Blossoming, flowering, until your body feels complete. 

 

You feel awake, re-born.

You finally feel alive.

 

It arrives at the most unpredictable moments,

often after voyaging across rough roads.

It is always there,

but it’s up to us to call it forth.

 

So, what is this feeling we call joy?

Have you ever felt it?