I love this article so much, Sarah. Especially this paragraph which is absolutely true and relates to a book I wrote a long time ago:
"You key joy in on purpose, the same deliberate way you would punch in the code. Joy rarely arrives gift-wrapped while you wait around for the world to improve of its own accord. You choose it, you enter it, up up down down and a wonderful thought is that it’s a skill. Press it often enough and your eye gets trained to spot the hidden delights everywhere, and your hands get quicker at planting them for other people. Nobody is born knowing where the easter eggs are. You learn. You practise and you get better. Joy engineering, you could call it."
Thank you so very much for kind comment Susan, it means the world and I'd love to know which of your books as I see there are a few hehe, I will definitely check out whichever you recommend I'm best to start with 🥰
You're wonderful for asking. It's titled Make Room for Joy and if you'd like a new copy, let me know (can we DM here? I'm still relatively new) and I'll send you one from my supply. It's been out of print for a while.
It makes kindness feel less like a vague virtue and more like something you can actually build into the day — a smile, a word, a tiny hidden lever that makes the whole machine less grim.
Also, getting B and A the wrong way round is painfully human. Possibly the most authentic gamer confession available.
I love this article so much, Sarah. Especially this paragraph which is absolutely true and relates to a book I wrote a long time ago:
"You key joy in on purpose, the same deliberate way you would punch in the code. Joy rarely arrives gift-wrapped while you wait around for the world to improve of its own accord. You choose it, you enter it, up up down down and a wonderful thought is that it’s a skill. Press it often enough and your eye gets trained to spot the hidden delights everywhere, and your hands get quicker at planting them for other people. Nobody is born knowing where the easter eggs are. You learn. You practise and you get better. Joy engineering, you could call it."
Thank you so very much for kind comment Susan, it means the world and I'd love to know which of your books as I see there are a few hehe, I will definitely check out whichever you recommend I'm best to start with 🥰
You're wonderful for asking. It's titled Make Room for Joy and if you'd like a new copy, let me know (can we DM here? I'm still relatively new) and I'll send you one from my supply. It's been out of print for a while.
Oh that would be wonderful, we can indeed DM - I’ll send you one to say hi hehe 🥰
Joy engineer! I love this!
Oooh ok, thank you so much for sharing that, I feel like I need to further develop this concept as it seems to resonate 🥰
“Joy engineer” is such a lovely phrase.
It makes kindness feel less like a vague virtue and more like something you can actually build into the day — a smile, a word, a tiny hidden lever that makes the whole machine less grim.
Also, getting B and A the wrong way round is painfully human. Possibly the most authentic gamer confession available.
Thank you so much for your comment and lovely words 🥰
"Nobody is paid extra to do this. Somebody decided that a stranger's jolt of joy was worth the additional hours."
Sarah this is beaut - one of the warmest pieces of writing I've come across in ages!
Thank you so much David, so lovely to hear from you and it means the world to hear your thoughts on this 🥰