Joy

Joy! It is exactly what i have been feeling today. At first, I mistook it for happiness. So what is the difference? To me, happiness is circumstance-bounded and oriented; it is the result of the interaction between the internal and the external. On the other hand, joy is circumstance-indepedent; it is solely internal. Nothing can take away joy, not sorrow, not sadness, not pain, and not even losses. It is that lingering taste of a sweet old memory. It is that anticipation of a long-awaited holiday. It is that soft imprint of the first kiss. It is that still voice that guides you home. It is that morning light reminding you that you are alive.

Happiness comes and goes, but joy is everlasting. You may choose happiness, but joy cant be chosen. It has to be acquired by the means of gratitude. It is merely gratitude that brings joy out in its simplest and purest form even in the darkest and most hopeless situation.

And the most beautiful thing about joy is it follows you. It shows; it spreads. It is infectious.