loading . . . Look For The Joy Look for the joy.
There is a saying by Mr Rogers that in times of trouble to look for the helpers. I think in times of chaos and overwhelm we need to look for the joy. Around Aotearoa, New Zealand, we created that joy yesterday. Around 200 strangers and online friends took on the task of being Secret Santas for each other and absolutely nailed it. The #SecretSantaAoNZ hashtag on Bluesky and Mastodon was bursting with care, love, and the purest of joy. It was nothing less than magical.
Some might know this from the days of Twitter. It has had a few lives now, and we successfully brought it to life again in a new home. This was my second time as one of the volunteer elves bringing this magic to life, and knowing that I had a hand in bringing so many people joy is such a good feeling.
As the day wound down and we all discussed how wonderful it had been seeing the timelines overflowing with joy, love, camaraderie, and the most amazing handcrafted presents, we talked about how we wished every day could be like this.
The trick to this is that for us to see more joy, we have to be that joy. We have to lean into it. We have to find the joy in our daily lives and share it, from the small things like a pretty flower, a happy pet, a soul warming hot drink, to the bigger moments shared with the people around us, the gratitude thoughts, we need to express them.
It is very easy in this current hellscape to lean into only focusing on the things that need to be changed, that need to be fought, but we need to lean into the things worth fighting for. We need to celebrate the wins, the joys, the happiness. We need to celebrate other people’s as well. Flood timelines with supportive replies, raise each other up.
Leaning into the negative is all too easy, but supplying the joy often takes more effort, and sometimes even a change in mindset.
Look for the joy, and if you can’t find it, then make it.
I have been trying to do this in 2025. I’ve said it before; I am not a social justice warrior, I am a bard. I am here to improve morale, provide magical inspiration, and create. And sometimes being a charismatic weirdo as a distraction. I am here to lift the tone and spark the joy in the hopes it takes and runs through the party like wildfire.
Joy is important. It is needed.
You only need to look at the SecretSantaAoNZ hashtag to see and feel what a difference joy makes and how contagious it can be.
Secret Santa isn’t something we can sustainably do every day, but there are plenty of ways we can bring joy to ourselves and to others each day. It will take effort, and it will take commitment. Some days it will be hard. Some days it will come easy. It is equally important on both of those days.
So, will you step up and fight for joy? Will you start with a small act or post today that will make you smile? That will make someone else smile?
These small acts matter, and the sooner you start, the sooner the joy can start to spread. Imagine all the things we can change and achieve if we are acting with joy in our hearts.
Look for the joy. Be the joy.
(And if you have access to Bluesky or Mastodon, check out the hashtag and enjoy the day we created yesterday. It’s a lot of work to bring this to life but it’s amazing to be a major part of it existing still. It made me so happy to see so many others happy. There is an absolute power in the Secret Santa when it comes from such a place caring. The power of giving, but more than that, the power comes in people being seen. A stranger has taken the time to get to know them, to SEE who they are, and figure out what will make them feel happy and loved.
And to my own Santa, thank you for seeing me, for caring, and for giving your time to make me feel loved. You are magic and I wish you the best of everything.)
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