Joy is not in things; it is in us. Richard Wagner

This morning, I awoke and felt tired. Weary. I had difficulty getting to sleep last night. My foot was pulsing and my body felt keyed up. In fact, I felt energized when I went to bed. I had Reflexology yesterday and in the process, unblocked some flow that needed freeing -- hence the energy that needed release. When I awoke, I didn't want to get out of bed. There's snow out there. As much snow in two days as we normally get in a month of winter. Go figure!

Not feeling too inspired, I sat down at my desk and began journalling on the subject of 'joy'. What is it? Where does it come from? What does it mean for me?

A poster on a forum to which I contribute had written, "I am not in a joyful place. I am in a hopeful place."

I wondered about that sentence. How do we tell where we're at? Who determines our position?

It isn't an outside force -- it has to come from within us. So, if I want to be joyful, why would I limit my experience by defining my emotion with a word less than how I want to feel?

My pondering got me writing and in my writing about 'joy' I began to feel 'joyful'. I felt energized. I felt alive.

It was a profound moment. The realization that even feeling tired is -- all in my head. Sure, my body lacks its complete seven hours of sleep. Focusing on my lack, however, only keeps me mired in feeling tired.

Focusing on my abundance, moves me out of tired into joyful.

How powerful is that?

I can lift my mood by focusing my thinking on how I want to feel.

Joy is an emotion. It is that feeling of knowing -- I am alive. I am free. I am me!

There is no one else I want to be. No where else I want to be than right here, right now within me.

I can't change the weather outside. I can change the weather within me.

Today, I choose joy!

To keep myself joyful, I focus my thinking on being joyful. I imagine my spine is a flower stalk growing up towards the sun. Atop it, where my head is, a beautiful, happy daisy greets the morning light. Fresh faced. Glowing with happiness, revelling in the light of day shining upon me, I grow taller. I sit straighter. I breathe deeply.

This is joy. Right now in this moment. Right here.

I tuck my feelings of joy inside my heart and set out to greet my day. It is a beautiful day to be alive. It is a beautiful day under the sun.

How I greet my day. What I carry into it is my choice. It always is.

No matter how cloudy the skies, behind every grey cloud, the sun still shines.

Behind every heavy heart, joy awaits.

Today, I choose joy.

The question is: What about you? What are you going to carry into your day? A tired and weary heart or a joyful spirit revelling in the gift of this day where you are Alive!? The choice is yours. what will you choose?