The book is titled Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee. And I really did feel more joyful while reading it. It might just be the magical combination of reading it as spring was arriving but the author clearly put a lot of work into researching and figuring out what actually makes us joyful.
The author noticed that while so much of happiness advice and research seems to be centered on internal happiness, a lot of what people say bring them joy are external things: rainbows, a special family spot, confetti. External forces are constantly affected our internal moods so it makes sense that surrounding ourselves with things that bring joy can lift our moods. Not constantly, but little hits of joy throughout the day can really change how the whole day goes.
Ingrid gives 10 aesthetics of joy, each with their own chapter, examples, and research. They are things like energy (bright colors), play (lots of circles, look around, you might start noticing them), and celebration (sparkle!). Different ones will appeal to different people but I found something immediately relatable in all 10 (I love some good sparkle).
What I liked so much about the book is that she gives so many ways we can bring these little bits of joy into our lives, quite a few of which I was already doing and realized they do bring me joy! Like having brightly colored rain boots, painting the sides of our kitchen drawers, and leaving balloons hanging a month after the birthday party (they are still up, as I write this, and I have no intents on taking them down until most are deflated).
She did a lot of traveling for her research in writing this book: Japan, Hawaii, New York City, all across the US. Giant tree houses, strangely laid out apartments, a bubble house, blooming cherry trees. Companies that design fun aprons, include confetti in packages, and multiple places related to furniture and home ware design. She talks with people from non-profits who repaint ugly public schools in fun colors, companies that helped resign prison bathrooms, and a couple who gave up their house to live in a camper, at least for awhile.
So many of these people and companies approach joy in different ways but they all bring some element of joy. It was amazing to read all the different stories in each chapter, how different people were coming to the same emotion but from very different ways. Which makes sense since we all start with some of that joy inside of us but adult responsibilities can make it harder to come by naturally.
There is a whole lot we can do to infuse our days with joy. While I was reading the book I felt like my brain was constantly coming up with small projects to do around the house to bring more moments of joy. I want to hang string lights in the backyard, do some more painting around the house (are we ever out of painting projects??), change some of what's hanging on the walls, and just incorporate more spontaneity into our lives, at least in small doses (the planner in me is a little scared of that last one but an afternoon bike ride would bring joy to my 6 year old without causes me pain).
I've read books about happiness and plenty about organizing but this one had a different approach that seemed to combine so many things I am interested in: routine, home decor, habits, parenting, and life contentment, under one general term. Focusing on all the little ways I could bring more joy into our lives simplifies it while also giving me so many directions to go.
This book was a delightful, fun, somewhat quick read that made me look at our home, routines, and what we do a little differently. I'm very glad I read it and hope I can fill our lives with a little more joy.
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