"Life Should Be Full Of Joy"

I heard this line recently.

On the radio.

In a Walmart ad.

Nothing wrong with the line, life should be full of joy. I'm not exactly sure how Walmart makes my life full of joy. I could make a long-winded response of how western culture tells us that the accumulation of things makes us happy and full of joy, yet always fails at doing it. It really seems to do the opposite. But anyway.

(photo of Chinese walmart to tie into the blog)

But hearing this on the radio added to something I was reading in the book mentioned below and I thought I'd share it. (I guess I should give the book I'm reading more credit, bc it has obviously got me to thinking, and, sadly, I don't do that enough. At least about things of relevance.)

I was reading in the book about joy and the author was speaking of how we try and numb the pain inside us and where we look to for joy.

Then he asks this question, "Do I love my life?"

Boom! (that's what I heard when I read it, at least)

Do I love my life? I like to think that I do, but I know there are aspects of it that I don't. I haven't really loved my job(s) for the past four years. I never grew up wanting to be in construction. Someone once asked me what my dream job was, and after saying being a NBA player (not on the bench, but a player) I said it was to be in China. Some people may not think that is a dream job, but it is for me. I love that. I love being a husband and a dad, but do not love how poorly I fill those roles most of the time. I don't love the compromises I feel like I make everyday.

I guess my thought goes to this: When I close my eyes, does the life I picture match the one I lead? Has what I dreamed life would be when I signed up for it come true? Obviously, being 6'1, fat, slow, uncoordinated and a bad shot has and always will keep me from being in the NBA. And my occupation will change from time to time. But have I found joy? I don't know.

Is joy a choice I make? Can I just decide to be full of joy? Should I just shop at Walmart more? Maybe a Chinese Walmart. I don't think I can just make it happen, but I can posture myself to be more open to joy.

Of course I want to love my life, and I want it to be full of joy.

But do I? and is it?