by Kathie Stamps
This is my five-word manifesto: My joy is a nonnegotiable.
There’s far more fierceness than unicorns & rainbows with this statement.
Even while the world is worlding and pain is paining, I will find joy. Sometimes finding means hunting, and other times it means remembering to recognize.
Joy is on a spectrum. Teeny-tiny, fleeting, humming, all-consuming.
Also, it’s a muscle.
For those of us who spent every summer of childhood at VBS, remember this song?
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. (Where?)
Down in my heart. (Where?!)
Down in my heart!
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Down in my heart to stay.
Catchy tune. Hey, have they invented a typing keyboard that plays notes with words? Get on it, somebody.
Anyhoodles.
I always got tripped up on the tongue-twister verse about the peace that passeth understanding. Which always made us laugh when we messed up, and what’s more joyful than laughing with a group of goofballs?!?
Here’s a verse I never experienced, but it came to me one day out of the blue and I REALLY want someone to try it out and see if it garners giggles:
I’ve got a piece of pepperoni pizza down in my gut. (Whut?)
Down in my gut. (Where?!)
Down in my gut!
I’ve got a piece of pepperoni pizza down in my gut.
Down in my gut to stay. (But not for looooooooooooooong.)
Eh, the adults would frown and berate and probably not let the singers finish, but this—this, boys and girls—is exactly why and when MY JOY IS A NONNEGOTIABLE. I would smile anyway, and enjoy the joy. No guilt, no shame, no remorse. If it brought you joy, enjoy.
