Money Can’t Buy You Happiness, But Can It Buy You Joy? The Answer May Surprise You
You can’t buy happiness. But joy? Can you spark joy with things as Marie Kondo says?
I think so.
Once in awhile you see glimpses of magic in those “I-can’t-believe-this-is-my-life” moments. Your book gets published. Your kid wins an award. There are births and wedding days, promotions and European getaways.
But day to day, when you’re working 9-5, taking care of your kids and longing for purpose and meaning in your ordinary life, you need sparkle, magic and joy. You need the hope of life and miracles. You need faith in believing that the tide will turn and not everything is dishes and homework assignments.
You need it to keep going when you’re trying to write your next book or develop your next art piece. You need it to fuel you when nothing feels certain except that you have a yearning to live a more meaningful life.
Well loved things can garner that feeling of magic. Glancing at a pot of tulips can remind you of the beauty of nature. Sipping from a sparkling glass can inspire whimsy.
We don’t need to spend a ton of money to fill our world with joy. It takes but creativity and tuning into find out what thrills you. Paying attention to the ways a dollar be stretched into flower fields.
Here are 6 of my favorite joyful things, plus one you can win for free here on the blog. Scroll all the way through to see how to enter. Contest closes Friday 2/28 5pm HST.
Ishita
February 25, 2020 at 9:14 pmReading from the book of faces to my 5 month old and watching her trying to reach out any page that has the color yellow splashed across its length!
Brandi
February 26, 2020 at 8:47 pmAw that’s so sweet! I love this! You reminded me about how joyful it is to read to my kids too. And it’s free! Thank you for your comment and good luck! Looks like you might end up winning.
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Ishita
February 26, 2020 at 9:04 pmThank you! Yes, I think this is a mom-baby activity everyone can relate to!!
Brandi
February 27, 2020 at 11:18 pmSo true! My older son is 6 and can read, but I still get to read him picture books. I’ll be sad when I can’t read to him anymore. Awesome that you’re reading to your daughter at 5 months!
Jacquelyn M Carberry
February 28, 2020 at 10:15 amFlowers in general make me happy! I even bought fake flowers in a cute little silver pot recently for my shelves! But yes, books in general and optimistic endings in movies and elsewhere also make me happy. 🙂 There’s so many other things in life that put a spring in my step, and a lot of them are the little things in life.
Brandi
February 28, 2020 at 7:14 pmI love flowers too! I find it’s an expensive way to bring joy into my life. Thanks for commenting Jackie!
Jessica McCann
February 28, 2020 at 7:29 pmI love to take a walk with our dog, or spend time in the back yard with our cat (she’s an indoor cat, but loves to explore the yard while one of us is with her). Really anything outside and with my pets. Animals and nature bring me joy.
Brandi
February 28, 2020 at 7:33 pmHey Jessica! Nice to see you on here. Pets definitely equal joy. I love that you have a dog and cat! I have been petless for years now and really want to add one to our family. Nature is also my favorite! I love all these comments. It’s actually bringing me joy to read what brings you joy! Thank you and you’re entered! Good luck!