What Brings You Joy?

 

Social media tends to focus on the negative. The algorithms identify stories, articles, opinions or websites that tend to support the world view based upon  our ‘clicks’. 

But I tend to randomly click on articles for a different view. Ultimately, however, I want to concentrate on what brings me joy. 

Books bring me joy. Finding a stellar short series on Netflix brings me joy. Discovering a new recipe brings me joy. Reading about the triumph of an individual over adversity brings me joy.

Seeing that someone becomes open to listening and accepting different views brings me joy. Seeing a young person disregard negativity and reaching for the stars brings me joy.

My parents raised me to believe anything is possible.Gumption. Curiosity. Interest. Wanderlust. Taking chances. Embracing differences. Exploring the world. Looking outside the typical viewpoint to embrace what the diversity of our world cultures has to offer- widens our perspectives and helps us to eschew our biases.

Travel engenders in us an understanding that we are but a small particle in the universe. It gives us range and perspective of scale. We learn that we live in a limited world view. And, we see that what we perceive as normal is anything but normal.

I am grateful that I’ve learned to find joy in all of my disparate experiences and appreciate that I’ve been exposed to different world views. I wish every American had the opportunity to look at the outside so they can appreciate the blessings we enjoy.