Joy’s Large Family

Joy is the theme this week for the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge.
These are some of Joy’s many ambassadors: nature, people, animals, states of being, books, works of art, activities…
Joy has many cousins with different first names: happiness, delight, pleasure, amusement, exhilaration, bliss, contentment, excitement. But you can tell when they show up at your doorstep that they belong to the same tribe.

Here are some pictures which, for me, represent Joy and her many personas and manifestations.

1. The first spring green reviving the senses after a long, cold winter:

Spring meadow

2. Nature and her many children:

Malachite butterfly

Pink cactus flowers

3. Arts and crafts:

Colors and texture

Chihuly art

Playing with light

Decorated walking stick

4. Movement and Play:

Flying a kite

High on speed

5. Babies (of all species):

6. Travel and Culture:

Flower mandala in Bali

7. Meaningful Conversations:

Coffeehouse Chat

May we all use this time between the old and the new year to explore what brings us Joy and resolve to invite her and her relatives into our life more often. Joy is usually accompanied by her sister Contentment and her brother Peace. And we can all benefit from having them share our table.

Happy New Year!