Choose Joy Daily
“Choose joy daily, and throw kindness around like confetti.” I first read this quote in an issue of Brio Magazine a few years ago. I had a subscription to these magazines that focus on growing your faith through short devotionals and analyzing scripture. As I collected a pile of Brio magazines, I decided to cut out the pages with colorful graphic designs of Bible verses and inspirational quotes to decorate my closet door. A few months later, I realized I had been neglecting the valuable words I had taped onto my door and made the goal of memorizing them. While I reread the quotes, one stood out to me. This quote by Grace Valentine was short, to the point and the easiest to memorize because I loved the meaning behind it.
Being joyful truly is a daily decision. Sometimes it is easier to grumble about how tired you are, complain about hard assignments or gossip about people you do not get along with. Being positive takes effort and may even be the most difficult thing you do in a day. However, choosing joy is the most rewarding thing you can do. You can create a good day out of a mediocre one or find the positive in hard situations. Choosing joy also benefits others. A friend may wish to ask you for advice or help them choose joy.
Throwing something around may seem careless and irresponsible, but why should you hold back your kindness from the world? Your kindness may become the joy another person needs in their day. It is also free to you, so do not put a price on your kindness by making others “earn” it from you.
Confetti is commonly associated with parties or celebrations, and I believe that joy and kindness are to be shared, too. You can share the joy you find in your hobbies and interests with others who may be beginners or wish to learn more about something you have experience with.
This quote I read years ago has become an important piece of my life. I have since re-read it many times on good and bad days, submitted it for my senior quote in my school’s yearbook, and recently brought it with me to the Missouri FFA State Officer selections. I wrote it down on a large notepad with colorful markers, reminding me how this simple quote has brought so much color into my life, and stuck it to the wall to bring others encouragement.
I hope that you choose joy today and decide to throw kindness into other people’s lives!