What brings you joy in life? Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” Taking Eleanor Roosevelt’s inspirational words to heart, that which brings us joy should also make us thankful for the present. So, what brings you joy in life? Read on for my thoughts on this vital topic.

Many things bring me joy: family, friends, pets, hobbies, etc. However, one comes to mind immediately because of its transformative powers and ability to instantly improve my mood: music. When I’m down in the dumps, I can pop in my earbuds, take a walk, listen to some of my favorite songs, and miraculously I feel great; it creates a positive energy in me that previously was not there.

In a live setting, music takes on an entirely different power. Take a look at the photo at the top of this article. In that photo, I’m in a sea of confetti in the front row at a concert on KISS’ final tour. I couldn’t be any happier than I was at that moment. When you are among thousands of people who love the same music, and you are joyfully singing it together, magic happens.

My love for music convinced me to go on the KISS Kruise three times. While on the ship, numerous people came up to me from different countries, telling me they loved my blog and my interviews with members of KISS. One of these KISS fans even asked to take a photo with me while I was having dinner with a friend on the Kruise. When I went to see Barry Manilow once at QVC, fans I had never met told me how much they loved my interview with Barry. These moments were extraordinary not because people recognized me, but because it made me realize how my writing brought them joy.

Ask yourself: what brings me joy? Once you’ve determined what brings you joy, embrace it. Spend as much of your life doing those things that bring you joy. More importantly, spend as little time as possible engaged in activities that bring you no joy. If the world were a more joyful place, there would be less crime, less sadness, and less hate. We should all do our part to lean into our joy, and if we can share that joy with those around us, even better.

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