How to Let Joy In Even When the World Feels Heavy

I’ve been thinking a lot about joy this week.
How sometimes it comes in loud giggles,
And other times, it's quieter.
More like a soft exhale. A hand over your heart.

It’s strange, isn’t it… how joy and grief can live in the same breath?

The tragic events in Bondi last weekend have left so many of us with heavy hearts. For the families, the children, the bystanders, the first responders. For the sense of safety that felt suddenly fractured.

And yet… joy has still found me.
In little moments, surprising ones.

• Giggling at cringe movies with my eldest son.

• Having one of those deep, wise, soulful chats with my younger teen.

• Silently "fighting” with my husband over which colour the Christmas tree lights should be today (they change from rainbow to white to flashing… the debate is very real).

• Saying thank you to those who support us all year, with small gifts that feel like love wrapped in paper.

• And my dog, who still places her paw on my arm if I say good morning too quickly ...like she’s reminding me to slow down and really mean it.
  
  These moments are joy.
  
  And they’re real... even when the world feels heavy.
  
  This time of year can stir up a lot.
  For some of us, it’s full of tradition and excitement.
  For others, it brings pressure, fatigue, or even grief.
  And for many... especially after this week...it brings all of that.
  
  So if you're feeling a bit all over the place...
  That’s not just okay. It’s human.
  
  Here’s what I’ve come to believe..
  We don’t have to pick one feeling.
  
  We can feel heartbreak and joy.
  We can grieve what hurts and still laugh out loud.
  We can feel heavy one minute and light the next.
  
  We can honour what’s hard without dimming what’s good.
  
  And when we allow ourselves to hold both…
  We teach our kids how to do the same.
  
  A little mindset shift if joy feels far away right now:
  Sometimes, in the exhaustion of parenting, joy feels like a luxury...
  Something you’ll get to once everything else is done.
  
  But joy isn’t something you earn.
  It’s something you remember.
  
  
  Start small.
  ✨ Look for what feels even a little bit good.
  ✨ Lower the pressure on being “in the spirit.”
  ✨ Let your child’s laughter be the reminder that joy is still here.
  
  You might be surprised by how quickly it returns.
  
  I’ll be taking a pause over the holidays and coming back to you mid‑January.
  
  Until then, may you notice the moments that quietly fill your cup...even if they’re small, even if they catch you by surprise.