Are you finding joy in your day-to-day life?
Are you actively seeking it out?
When my mom was living with Alzheimer’s, I rolled my eyes at the mere mention of finding joy in the journey.
I didn’t think it was possible and honestly, it was just easier for me to be sad and miserable all the time.
But eventually, I realized that wasn’t going to cut it. Sad and miserable had turned into depressed and hopeless, and I needed to find another way—a better way.
I realized that finding joy didn’t mean I had to have an entirely joyful existence. It didn’t mean I had to smile like a lunatic 24/7.
It simply meant that I could find moments of joy in ordinary things—simple things—and those moments would add up to help balance out the hopelessness, grief, and depression I was feeling.
You may be thinking, “Okay, great, but what are moments of joy and where can I find them?”
Tell me, when was the last time you looked up at a perfectly blue sky and just took a deep breath?
When was the last time you watched your dog twitching in his sleep or listened to her unbelievably loud snoring?
When was the last time you paused after taking that first delicious sip of your favorite coffee in the morning?
When was the last time you stopped to buy a cup of lemonade with a hot pink straw from a little girl’s lemonade stand?
If you don’t remember, would it be possible to make some time to do one of these things today?
These are all moments of joy. They add up and compound to create a more joyful—or at least a less miserable—existence.
I get it. I’ve been there. But just promise me one little thing…will you at least try?
Try to find joy. Try to seek it out. Try to create it for yourself.
It worked for me. I hope it will work for you, too.
I smile more now because of all the tears I’ve cried.
*If this post resonated with you, you should consider joining the Alzheimer’s Daughters Club where we work hard to find joy every single day!
**If you liked this post, you would love my book “When Only Love Remains: Surviving My Mom’s Battle with Early Onset Alzheimer’s.” It’s available on all Amazon marketplaces.
