Gratitude vs. Joy: The Real Heavyweight Match
In one corner, wearing the gold gloves of good manners, we have Gratitude — disciplined, polite, always trying to say the right thing.
In the other corner, barefoot and laughing, is Joy — unpredictable, wild, and utterly uninterested in your to-do list.
For years, Gratitude dominated the ring. I forced myself to write lists, to name blessings, to prove I was “doing it right.”
But Joy doesn’t play by rules.
Joy doesn’t wait to be scheduled or written down on fancy paper.
Joy sucker punches you with sunlight on the floor, a grandchild’s giggle, the smell of coffee, or that wild sense that you’re still here.
Gratitude bows politely after the fight.
Joy jumps the ropes and dances in the crowd.
And here’s the twist: once Joy wins, Gratitude finally shows up for real — not the kind you fake, but the kind that fills your chest without trying.
So yeah, my money’s on Joy every time.
