J - Joy

Words for 2026: An A–Z | Week 10 of 26

A small sweetness, before I start measuring anything.

Joy doesn’t always shout. Often, it whispers.

In long relationships, joy lives in small moments—a shared laugh, a quiet understanding, a sense of ease.

I’m noticing joy with Mem when I stop trying to make the work meaningful and simply let it be. When a paragraph finds its rhythm. When I enjoy her company rather than measure our progress.

This week, I’m leaving room for joy to arrive on its own terms.

As a companion, not a goal.