Today was a snow day, and for me, that means several things: enjoying a leisurely day sipping coffee, tea, and hot cocoa (yes, all three!) by the fireplace, tending from time to time to two energetic Shelties, and catching snowflakes to photograph them.

I love snow days as much now as I did when I was a kid. Back then, it was an unexpected day off from the normal routine. It meant play and fun. And you know what? It still does!

So I spent time today writing, planning, and being a guest on a podcast—things that qualify as “work”—though I did all these in yoga pants while parked next to the fireplace. And I played with my dogs and caught snowflakes.

I would call it a joyful day.

In February, we’ll be talking about Joy. What exactly is Joy, anyway, and how do we have more of it in our lives? How do we feel Joy in our bodies?  Is Joy something that happens to us, or a choice we make? Are some people just naturally more Joyful than others? Can we experience Joy in times of difficulty? 

I’ll explore all this, and I’ll review the children’s book Joy, written by Corrinne Averiss and illustrated by Isabelle Follath. I’ll also review a grown-up book about Joy, though the jury is still out as to whether I‘ll review The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin or Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee. I’m still reading and enjoying both, so you’ll just have to stay tuned to see which one I end up reviewing.

On the podcast, you’ll get to hear some astonishing stories of Joy from women who have gone through unimaginable hardship and have vowed to lived joyfully—not in spite of, but because of the difficulties they have experienced.

And about those snowflakes… I was inspired when my kids were little by a book I read to them about Snowflake Bentley, a man born in Vermont a century before I was born. Fascinated by snow even as a young boy, Wilson A. Bentley grew up to become the first known photographer of snowflakes. His images—some 5,000 of them—are stunning! I’d encourage you to look at some of his photos online to see how beautiful and intricate they are.

I haven’t perfected my photographic technique yet, and living in Oklahoma, there are few opportunities to practice. But today, I took a piece of black fleece, glued it to some foam core board, and left that outside to chill. When the snow fell in the evening, I used the board to catch snowflakes. I have a zoom lens that clips onto my phone camera, so I used that to try to capture each flake before it melted.

I’m not sure what it is, exactly, that makes me feel so joyful when I try to capture a snowflake. It melts or sublimates very quickly, so I have only a few seconds with each crystal. The joy of the quest, then, is surely part of it. I find joy in the beauty of each crystal—so perfect, and so unique. I also find joy in the symmetry—looking at each flake is like looking into a kaleidoscope. And I find joy being in the snow, because it’s reminiscent of being a little girl, tromping through snow to go sledding with my big brothers. 

I hope, Dear Reader, that you’ll join me this month to explore Joy and identify some things that help you to find your Joy. And I encourage you to share them with other readers and with me! On Facebook, you’ll find a daily prompt to cultivate a joyful outlook. I invite you to follow the prompts and share your experiences on social media, using the hashtag #ChooseJoyProject2020.

Until next time,