A tagline is a short memorable phrase designed to promote brand awareness. I consider the “Keep your joy” sign off to be part of my personal brand. Recently someone commented on ‘Keep your joy’; here’s the inspiration behind it. 

Whenever anything disheartening, hurtful, or a generally tough time has appeared in my life, I always worry I will not get my joy back. There have been times when it took a bit of effort.

The choice to keep something means it has value, no matter if it is an emotion or a tangible object. To ‘keep’ also implies there is control, such as keeping your wallet, or to keep one’s cool. But circumstances that deplete or encourage an emotion like joy are often beyond our control.

I cannot compare my easy, simple life to someone currently living in the Ukraine, or the Middle East. How does anyone find joy in life during or after those kinds of experiences? I’m sure some people never do. I’m equally sure others keep their joy regardless of wartime chaos or personal pains. I’m grateful never to have been tested to that degree.

The ability to feel joy is as universal as laughter. I could change my tag line to ‘Practice joy’ because sometimes, that’s all it takes. If I lose my wallet, I cannot simply choose to find it again, but a feeling like joy can be found in the simplest things if one is open to seeing it.

Keep your joy.

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger, unless it’s a holiday weekend. Or summertime. Facebook or email.