Joy is coming

An incomplete list of things to remember on Blue Monday

In about 7 weeks time, the magnolia trees will be in full bloom. The blossom trees will follow shortly after, and once they’re done shedding their pink confetti, everything will be green again. Joy is coming.

There will be a day, sooner than you expect, when you will feel the sun on your face again and exhale. You’ll hang washing on the line, drink tea in the garden, and feel the deep appreciation that a new season is slowly unfurling ahead of you, all of the best bits still yet to be appreciated. Joy is coming.

Before we even reach that point, there will be many tiny joys. Snowdrops and crocuses breaking earth and bringing colour to an otherwise grey landscape. Birdsong that grows louder with every passing day. The extra minutes of daylight creeping up until one day you realise it’s 5pm and the sun still hasn’t set. Joy is coming.

Right now, as you’re reading this, someone is working on a book that will move you someday. Someone else is writing a song that will soundtrack a pivotal moment in your life. There are favourite meals you haven’t eaten yet, soulmate friends you’re yet to meet, core memories you still haven’t made. Joy is coming.

There are good news stories unfolding today. Babies being born. People falling in love. Research breakthroughs being made. Communities coming together. New ideas and solutions forming. Joy is coming.

If life feels hard today, know that that won’t always be the case. You will laugh again. You will relax again. You will find purpose again. You will feel inspired again. You will experience something that causes your jaw to drop in awe and wonder again. Joy is coming.

Keep going. Joy is coming.