joy

1.1.26

My 2025 word of the year was Joy.

I have learned since I’ve been getting a word of the year, that I can’t take it in a literal way. That the universe is going to guide me with this word, in some way. Sometimes straightforward, sometimes painful, sometimes alone, but usually in the company of others.

I set out simply to find Joy in my every day. I do a gratitude list every day, but Joy is different. Gratitude carries a sense of obligation to me – I must find things to be grateful for, to make sense of my world. But Joy? Joy is those moments of heart sing that surround us. Places, people, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, things, belly laughs. They are there; we just need to pause and notice them. Unlike gratitude which requires some commitment from me, Joy is just there, somewhere. I just need to notice it.

Even on those dark days, I could find 1 thing of Joy. Usually the pooch I am blessed with. He is a Big Goob; and his devotion is my daily Joy.

And of course, my kids, are my greatest Joy. I see them grow as adults now, forging their way through life. Each carrying some scars from the shit years, that besieged my whanau for so long. But each working to live their best lives. Each committed to moving forward, evolving, learning, living. They are Good People. Hearts kind, compassionate, smart, generous, empathetic. Just Good People. Daily Joy, right there. And the utter Joy I feel when they are all together, now with my son’s partner, a cohesive unit. With that banter that comes from growing up together, the inside jokes, the ploys to annoy – they all know which buttons to push lol. This festive season I have spent every evening sitting, listening to the belly laughs and banter as they hang out together. Knowing they will have each other’s backs, long after I am gone.

Daily joy in the ‘pebbling’; that share of reels and memes to friends and whanau, to remind them I am thinking of them, I see them, I love them. One of the plusses of the dreaded Social Media. A way of connecting, with no time constriction. Strengthening those bonds.

My Button collection. Lol. Not sure when it started, but it is growing. I do use them in my knitting, but not nearly at the pace I am collecting them. But they are mainly op shop buys, and at some stage will return there, to be collected by someone else.

I found so much Joy, and in unexpected places, on my big trip to Ireland and the UK with my son and husband. Of course there was Joy in the travel. But there was also Joy in sharing those spiritual places, not necessarily churches, with both of them at different times. There was the shared Joy in some of the hilarious things that inevitably happen on holiday. There was the quite Joy of the evenings when I did my ‘homework’ – sorting the photos of the day and uploading them for friends and whanau; while my son wrote and my hubby read. Or the evenings we found something we all wanted to watch on TV. That we found anything to share together was a miracle, as we have very divergent tastes. The Joy of sharing the places I have found to love in Ireland and England, with hubby and son. The walks on a beach at sunset; the ease of The Tube. Watching hubby’s face, as he looked upon things he had only seen in books or on screen. Our collective awe of Stonehenge. Watching my 2 history buffs just revel in roman Emperors; medieval armour; ruins; soaring cathedrals and Viking lives. The utter Joy of watching my normally housebound son, just find his wings. The smug joy of a well organised itinerary and trip lol. Squashing as much the Singapore Experience into a few short hours for us. The Joy of Air Con. Spying a newborn baby gorilla. Finding a perfect stone to bring home. Leaving a stone for a friend, in the home of his forefathers. The hugs of my beautiful friends and introducing them to my whanau – 2 parts of my life meeting. Getting completely drenched in Oxford and just laughing about it… finding laundry facilities. My beautiful room, in that pub in the Cotswolds… coming home…

Of course I couldn’t not mention the Joy I find in friendship. From friends who have been in my life for decades – my ride or dies. To those that the quirk of an algorithm or 2 sent my way. Those random connections that are now my touch stones. In this world that feels to be spinning ever faster into chaos; these folk are There. Just There. All the hugs and Selfies I have collected this year. Pockets of utter Joy! My friend group have all had struggles this year. But we finished the year Still Standing. I am so proud of each and every one of them 💜💜. They fill my cup.

I have found Joy outside – forests, beaches, rivers and ruins. Things that just feed my soul. When I am limited by health and cannot go there, I know that when I am able, I will be back in Papatuanuku’s healing arms soon enough. I found joy in my garden. I have carved out a manageable slice, that will feed me and mine and gives me flowers to photograph. And this year’s collection of Fairy lights have made me smile every night.

Looking for Joy every day has helped so much. In this year when I have struggled with acceptance of my health limitations, and with the reassessing of some long term friendships. If I looked for Joy, when I felt none existed – then, even then, I found some and felt it lift me.

I was reminded this week though, that I have missed a trick. I should also be looking to do things that give me Joy. So I will carry my word through 2026, and start being more proactive in choosing things that I know will being me Joy….

I have a new word for 2026… but more about that later….

So wishing you all Joy for 2026. Thank you, as always, for dropping by to read whatever the Muse has sent me. I really appreciate every one of you..

Me te wai korari

Like the nectar of the flax flower

(joy in small things)