Joy

It's unexpected, sudden, and overwhelming. It's joy.

Not to be confused with happiness, joy comes in fleeting moments of shiny perfection when the edges between us and others blur.

It's a gift, one that comes from someplace deep and divine on its own terms and schedule.

While you cannot manufacture it, you can cultivate the soil of your own soul so that you are open to more joy.

Life goes by quickly. If you are not paying attention, you will miss the quiet magic of many moments. We are generally too busy trying to squeeze more and more activities into less and less time. We fail to savor and enjoy potential sources of joy that may be all around us -- whether it's our work, an outing, a piece of music, the landscape, our soulmate, or our children.
~ pg 200 December 2008 Better Homes & Gardens