THE words ‘wellbeing’, ‘mindfulness’ and ‘fulfilment’ are ones that we hear more and more often these days.

It can only be a good thing that we are talking more about how to look after our mental health. However, the word ‘joy’ is one we use far less often.

Whilst we are comfortable with the concept of contentment, aspiring towards moments of joy seems like a step too far.

Surely most of us should all just try and achieve a base level of contentment and leave the concept of joy to either very young children or the slightly unhinged? Well actually, no I don’t think we should.

I have written once before about an article I had read about how little time we spend in life doing the things we actually want to do. Someone had worked out (presumably by asking people how they spent their time and how much they enjoyed it) that the majority of us spend less than five per cent of our time doing what would actually be our number one activity of choice.

When I read that I found it to be both sobering and certainly a true reflection of how I had been living myself. Think about it for a minute – how often can you stop yourself in your tracks and say to yourself – if I could be doing anything at all right now, anywhere and with anyone, this is exactly what I would choose to do.

If you are anything like most people then it won’t be very often at all.

Ever since I read that article (which was several years ago) I have asked myself that question hundreds of times in a whole variety of situations. Interestingly, each time I have been able to answer with an authentic YES – those moments have become my favourite and lasting memories for the years ahead.

Of course we can’t all live in a permanent state of ecstasy and exhilaration.

Life involves hardship, knocks and unexpected challenges. But given that reality, surely that is all the more reason to look for some moments of complete joy and happiness to balance all those harder moments out a bit.

Last Thursday I had the privilege of being involved in the Teignmouth Carnival procession along with a group from the Teignmouth Baptist Church. We had decided that instead of walking we would dance all the way round.

We used the steps of the simple dance routine to the song ‘Jerusalema’. For those of you who don’t already know it, it is an African song about unity which has inspired all kinds of groups, including nuns, doctors, firefighters and police officers to dance together all over the world.

It has been viral on tik tok, YouTube and many other social media platforms.

Our float included the flags of countries around the world as a symbol of inclusion, equality and peace. It was a beautiful sunny evening on procession day – and it was about ten minutes in when it struck me. This was one of those rare moments of pure joy.

The sun was shining as we danced together, I had my husband and two of my children with me as well as another daughter and her partner in the crowd. I was surrounded by people I genuinely respect and value and with whom I share the same values. The streets were full of smiling people of all ages who were blowing whistles, waving their arms and soaking up the atmosphere of the procession.

For that moment I knew that there was nothing else I would rather be doing that this. It was a feeling of genuine joy, and one which I hope to still remember when I am too old to dance anymore.

There won’t be a single one of you reading this who doesn’t have some kind of challenges in life. We all do. But I suspect that if I were to ask each of you to talk about the last time you experienced a sense of pure joy, there might be some who would struggle to think of one.

What makes one of us feel joyful will not be the same for the next person. But what I can tell you, is that if you are able to somehow find a moment of joy for yourself, the effects will be both positive and long-lasting.

Memories of these moments will give you strength and comfort in difficult times. Just knowing that they are possible will also give you hope for times ahead.

By striving to spend at least some of this short life doing what you genuinely want to do and which makes you the happiest, you will be investing in a positive memory bank which will be invaluable in years to come.