I spy joy in the news

Articles focused on joy are a welcome sight among the sea of recent depressing headlines. The need open our eyes to the joy that is all around us seems to be greater than ever. A few members of the media must agree, as Google ferreted out three articles focused on joy this weekend.

The Nassau Guardian published “Make a Happiness List“, in which D. Paul Reilly suggests making a happiness list, saying “you will in effect be making a comprehensive list of how you can contribute in a most meaningful way to the ultimate happiness of others.”

Globe and Mail published a column by Leah McLaren, who says boldly, “This is what I have decided: Routines make people happy.”

And the Muskogee Phoenix reported that the Character Council of Muskogee selected JoAn Crabtree as the person in the community who best exemplifies joyfulness. The article quotes JoAn on her definition of joy: “It’s a sense of inner peace,” she said. “It’s not happiness; that’s a different thing. You can be happy but have no joy.”