A few months ago as I was contemplating my One Word for 2020, I had three words that kept popping into my head- inspiration, joy and laughter. I kept bouncing back and forth between the three.
At the end of October our family suffered a tragedy when my four year old niece unexpectantly passed away. As our large extended family gathered together we focused on celebrating her life and really trying to bring laughter into our time together. I knew then that 2020 needed to involve more laughter.!It made me realize that my life was lacking the small moments of laughter. Sometimes I take things too seriously and I need to take the time to look and appreciate the small things that bring me joy and laughter.
I have spent 2019 focusing on gratitude and kindness. The joy that I feel when I give to others or make them feel special is undoubtedly a true pleasure and the process of showing gratitude creates a feeling of overwhelming happiness inside of me.
I then began to think about how I could incorporate this continued practice of gratitude and kindness as well as combine that with laughter- an ingredient I so much need in my world. I also hope to be a source of inspiration for others through these acts. The desire to want to combine all of these things made me ponder deeper into what word would emcompass them all. Then it hit me! My work with gratitude and kindness ultimately brings me joy. Laughter will only make my life more joyful and if I am doing things that spread joy and make me feel joy, then ultimately it will lead to inspiration in others. It all came together for me at that moment.
It was very simple- JOY! JOY! JOY!
JOY is my One Word for 2020.
As I reflect on the short life of my niece I think about all the JOY she brought into the lives of others in her short time here on Earth. I think about all the lives that she changed through her laughter and innocence. She spread more joy in her four short years than some do in a whole life time. She has inspired me to continue to spread joy into this world.
I read a quote the other day that epitomizes it all for me-
@Gratitude Habitat’s post on FB