I’ve had just about enough of all the crap (yes I said it) trending on social media, about how to get into shape physically.  You’ll be happy when…it’s everywhere you look.  Which exercises to do for ‘perfect’ abs, how many squats to do for a ‘perfect butt’, which diet to get to your ‘dream weight’, which meditation app is best, which yoga is trending, what books to read etc.  I’m not saying that we shouldn’t take care of ourselves and explore everything that is so easily available to us now days.  I’m just saying that these gimmicks often create a false sense of hope, that once achieved, you’ll be happy. And that’s simply not true. I for one, don’t want my children to grow up thinking that there is a silver bullet to happiness; and that it involves looking and doing the same things as everybody on social media.  Be you and be joyful.  Joy is a choice.

That means it’s available to us all. Even those of us who’s butts are not perfect, try as we may.  Joy comes from many things and is momentary, or can be a way of life. Joy isn’t irritating, over the top, always-on optimism.  Instead it is simple – a feeling of happiness.

Joy can be found in simple pleasures: riding your bike, visiting a friend or family member, working on a challenging assignment and finishing it, reading a book, waking up after a nap, running your fastest 5km yet, finishing your first 5km walk/run, petting your dog or cat, receiving an unexpected compliment from a colleague, giving a compliment to a colleague, seeing the joy in your child’s face when they see the joy in yours.

Joy is a choice. And I choose joy.

Photos taken by Alison, Durban South Africa.