Choosing joy

Dear reader,

For as long as I can remember, I’ve leaned on what felt like the “smart” choice. The practical one. The one that looked good on paper and made sense to everyone else. Rarely, if ever since childhood, have I asked myself: what would bring me the most joy?

But this spring, something shifted. Maybe it was a wall I stumbled into, maybe it was simply time. I realised that all those clever, “good” decisions had quietly led me somewhere I didn’t want to be. And so I tried a new approach. I began to wonder, what happens if I choose joy instead?

It’s not a revolution, just a gentle redirection. Now, when a decision appears, I try to hold it up to the light and ask: Which way leans toward joy? And sometimes, that is enough.

So here is my little invitation to you: pick a day, any day, and let joy be your compass. Maybe even decide now what that could look like. For example, a slow breakfast, a walk with no destination, a call to a friend who makes you laugh. However small, let it be yours.

Because sometimes the smartest choice is simply the one that makes your heart lighter.