Joy Chose You 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 favourite tree

just right

and you usher joy away

because you are not ready for her

your house is not as it should be

for such a distinguished guest

but joy, you see

cares nothing for your messy home,

or your bank balance

or your waistline

joy is supposed to slither through

the cracks of your imperfect life

that’s how joy works

you cannot truly invite her

you can only be ready

when she appears

and hug her with meaning

because in this very moment

joy chose you.

Joy Chose You

Joy does not arrive with a fanfare, no red carpet or flowers strewn about. Certainly not for me, despite the fairy tale messages we hear from an early age. Instead Ashworth says, joy sneaks in, as simple as watching the sun / hit your favourite tree, or any tree I might add. But you usher joy away / because you are not ready for her, perhaps thinking we are not deserving, not quite ready despite our longing.

We can be tricked into believing we will be ready for joy to visit once we have perfected our messy, imperfect lives. But what if joy is supposed to slither through / the cracks of your imperfect life? What if it is strewn all around you – that inexplicable contentment that arrives unexpectedly, those tiny new shoots coming out a wintered earth, a tender touch or kind smile, those quiet joys often overlooked.

As the poet says, we cannot demand joy – you can only be ready / when she appears. We must keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to receive the small gifts of joy that surround us. They are there even on dark days; sometimes we just can’t recognize them. Rather than waiting for the ‘right’ moment, we can let ourselves be ready for when joy chooses us. Are you ready?