Guide to Joy

You there!

I've seen you pass

by here before.

I know what you want!

I see how your

eyes wander

scaping every bit

of the terrain.

Each pass leaving your dark

irises more hollow.

The truth is my friend

the more you seek

Joy,

the harder it is to find.

I'd say you were blind,

but I see how your gaze locks onto mine

as I tempt you with

the information

to your heart's desire.

The truth is that

Joy is all around you.

I suggest you start

by putting on boots with zippers.

Of course, they're inconvenient

But when the zippers jangle

You're reminded they're

There.

And they connect you to your Joy,

as you feel the jangle

in between your ribs.

Next, look at the grass.

No, really look at it.

See the way each blade in unique,

bending this way

and that.

All the shades of green

you've ever imagined..

You forgot

didn't you?

How incredible the simple grass is.

That's Joy.

Next.

Let's walk behind my house.

Yes, I know you've gone past it

twelve times

so far.

But did you ever

stop to look?

Look at that trickle

of water

running between the rocks.

Listen to

the stream gurgling

as it bends to gravity.

That's Joy.

The life giving water

that knows its own mind.

I bet you didn't

give it a thought earlier.

Beyond not getting your

feet wet.

Now! Now!

Do you see over there?

Just down from the stream

A cat!

No no

don't run up to it.

Joy is so easily frightened.

It wants to be noticed but

gently.

Hold your hand out

just like that.

Do you feel how

soft the cat's

fur is?

How its deep purr

rattles your chest

down to your bones?

That's Joy too!

You've spent so long searching

that you could not find Joy

because it's all around you.

One last thing.

Close your eyes.

This way.

do you feel that?

You're afraid

aren't you?

Worried about where

your feet will land

about where I'm leading

you.

That's Joy too.

Take Joy in the fact

you CAN feel.

Too many people

forget.

Like you forgot the color

of grass

or the sound of water.

Because Joy is

Just being.

Being where you are

Being who you are

and Being able to feel

all the things you feel.

You can open your eyes now.