Why I Love the Word “Joy”
I’ve always admired the word, her thick layers of meaning. Not entirely analogous to happiness; and like a goodbye after an life-altering journey with friends, there’s a dash of suffering in joy’s deep gratitude. Any touring artist knows the many-layered sensations that follow a performance that mattered, one that created a deeper connection in the space between strangers.
[ Side note: I’ve yet to find a Spanish word that carries the complexity of “joy”. Anybody? ]
Words matter, and “joy” is one of my favorites. But like any good seasoning, use with care. As a lyric, she’s easy to sing, but hard to place too far from the holidays. “Joy to the World” is so rooted in our shared, cultural psyche.
Joy lacks nothing and sits at the center of every swan song, “Chao, my darling. Thank you for loving me.” If love is bound to a suffering that feels familiar, then joy is a feeling guided by empathy and rooted in love.
I’m on a creative journey to learn how songs can be used as agents of empathy, not simply units of entertainment. Learn more about my “One Song at a Time” project and follow my story at https://www.patreon.com/emilykateboyd