JOYFUL: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness is the title of a wonderful book by designer Ingrid Fetell Lee.
Lee has dedicated her career to exploring what she calls “The aesthetics of joy.” She first became interested in the emotions that certain colors, shapes, and other physical attributes evoke while earning her master’s in industrial design at the Pratt Institute. Her insights on creating a living space that fosters joy and creativity got me to thinking about how most of our happiness is derived from the simple things in life; that crazy little thing called love, warmth from a hug, lending a helping hand, a call from a grandchild, a kindness to strangers. Even simpler the soft melody of a lark in spring, a song played on a solo saxophone, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, red roses for a blue lady or the ethereal clink of a prison cell slamming shut behind a traitorous sociopath with a bad comb-over finally getting the justice he so richly deserves.
Perhaps my list of joy needs a little editing?