Music Creates My Joy

I Choose Joy

“And as you breathe deeply, intentionally, in and out, consider these three words. Balance, joy, and peace. Just sit with those for a moment and when you’re ready, let one of the words connect with you at this precise moment.”

JOY jumps into my heart and brain at the same moment. Joy is peace, joy is balance. Joy is my word right now.

The next day, while listening to my daily playlist and taking a break from painting and cooking, the word JOY comes into my consciousness. I begin to reflect on the meditation the evening before.

“What does it mean to have joy in my life? Why am I joyful? How do I stay joyful in the company of tragedy and horror?” These questions, developing like popcorn, in no deliberate attempt to pose them, but here they were and I needed to stop and consider them, one at a time.

What does it mean to have joy in my life? It means that I choose to process the outside world, and all of its inputs, through the lens of joy. Before any judgements take over, before any history or pre programming takes over, I approach each circumstance and sensation through the feeling of joy.

Why am I joyful? I have a blessed and jeweled life. I have a family that loves and supports one another, with humility and grace. I have a partner in my spouse. A true friend and teacher. A person who gives me opportunities to practice what I preach, and remind me when I don’t. This allows for the joy of learning and growing into the best version of my evolving self. I have a spiritual practice which reminds me that my life is precious, and so am I. This realization brings me so much joy!

How do I stay joyful in a world filled with tragedy, war, greed, and savagery? Well my friends, this is the one that shifts me from a philosophical perspective to a “boots on the ground” view(military jargon is seeping into my vocabulary as it becomes normalized around me).

I actually asked myself the question as to whether or not I had the right to be joyful during the present circumstances around me, which are quite horrific and brutal.

I took several deep breaths and was like, of course you have the right to be joyous. You have a joyous life. You are human, indeed, with aches and pains and emotional struggles, but within those adjectives is a woman with a beautiful community who loves life and sucks the nectar out of every sweet part of the flower!

Why is music in the title of this piece? Great question! The answer is because it is music that has brought me to write this down. It is music that gives me the emotion of joy! In fact, it is music, both the creation of it and the listening and sharing of it, that brings the most joy into my heart and mind. It is music that calms me down when I am hyper, lifts me up when I am low. It is the sounds and the music of the forest, the orchestra in my backyard during the early morning hours that I am gifted with, each morning upon my rising. The sounds and songs of my husband’s heart. The songs my grandson sings to me loudly and proudly, and the songs he falls asleep to, as I sing to him.

I have joy in my life because, in huge part, I have music and sound in my life. The vibration of the world, including me, as a member of it, is a constant “hum” in my heart and soul. This hum creates a vibration of joy in my system.

As I begin to digest these thoughts that I share here, I am filled with gratitude and wonder at the life that I am experiencing. I send out prayers and wishes to all of the people, animals, and plants that are suffering, for resolutions to their struggles, that are humane and just. I send out thoughts and ask for healing for all of those whom are sick and suffering, may they get relief from any pain or thoughts of despair.

I know that when one of us suffers, we all suffer. I also know that when one of us spreads joy, we can all feel joy, even if just for this moment. I trust this idea will bring you that feeling!

Cherise b. Creative 2026