Joy is a birthright.

I used to think that being happy was the end goal. Once you resolved all the issues in your life, once all the family drama was over, once you "made it," then it was okay to be happy.

There's some naive utility in that mindset—it keeps you moving. If you're uncomfortable or dissatisfied all the time, you'll keep pressing forward.

But dissatisfaction as fuel burns fast. It's not a sustainable method for moving through life. Prolonged dissatisfaction becomes jadedness and disillusionment.

You may have heard this one before: you'll always have problems. Hopefully, the quality of your problems will improve, but there will always be problems to solve in life.

If we always have things to resolve, always have things that frustrate us, when can we be happy? Even if our problems are banal, how can we be happy when the world around us is suffering?

So where does that leave us?

There is a balance between acknowledging the reality of our lives and the collective world while also enjoying life.

Joy is our birthright. It is a priority. It is fuel. It helps us move through the world. It gives us wings.

There is enough sadness in the world. Joy through strength is a rebellion against suffering. No one will enjoy your life for you. And it will pass quickly.

Sometimes it's hard to be joyful. I get it. I'm not here to spew out toxic positivity and etch a permanent smile on your face. But I do know that it's easy to get caught up in life. And it's worth practicing your ability to feel joy daily.

Joy is not a lightswitch that you can turn on. Joy is something you cultivate.

Whether it's a coffee you love drinking every morning, cuddling with your dog, or watching a sunset—attention and awareness of these small things bring joy to us. The big things are easy—getting the job, falling in love—yes, those are joyful too. But it's the small things that give us the daily opportunity to practice our joy each day.

I'll share a silly example of my own. Do you know the author of the Poorly Drawn Lines comics, Reza Farazmand? Well, I love his comics. I bought a mug with his mouse character on it. When I pour my coffee into that mug, I smile a bit. I laugh inside thinking about how funny his comics are. It's a small moment of joy. And the small moment counts.

I invite you to think about the small things that bring you joy. Take a moment in your day to notice it. Let your attention rest on that momentary joy. Practice that moment.

Bring small things into your life that bring you joy. If you love going out for a good coffee, don't deprive yourself. (I know I've deprived myself of homeownership because of how many coffees I've bought, but YOLO.)

The point is: if it brings you joy and it's not harming you, go for it. Joy is your birthright. Get at it.