Returning to Joy
Why be unhappy about something if it can be remedied? And what is the use of being unhappy if it cannot be remedied?
―Dalai Lama XIV,The Book of Joy
There are a few books I return to again and again and again—not just to read, but to ground me and remind me who I am.
One is The Book of Joy, a quiet, authentic dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It offers profoundly spiritual and human wisdom and reminds me that joy isn’t found in perfection, but in presence. In compassion. In choosing love over fear. “Life happens to all of us,” is my mantra, and I try to remember that when I’m in a position to make a choice.
But it’s not the only book that has helped shape how I try to live. Charlotte’s Web—yep, the children’s book—has taught me more about friendship, sacrifice, and kindness than many books written for adults. You know that question you get at job interviews, “What is your favorite book?” I have always answered it honestly with Charlotte’s Web and my why, and have always been offered the job. Charlotte’s kindness, asking nothing in return. Wilbur’s purity—his childlike honesty and wonder. Templeton’s true nature shines through his tough, jaded exterior. E.B. White understood writing. But he also understood humanity.
On Writing by Stephen King is my other go-to. In his way, King offers a meditation on honesty. Not just in writing, but in how we show up in the world. How we tell our stories. How we honor our truth. And how we share our voice. There’s an authenticity and wisdom in King’s words—a plainspoken clarity that cuts through pretense. His stories may live in the shadows, but his truth always shines through. You don’t have to be a writer to feel it. There’s a rawness to how he shares his experiences, both personal and professional, that makes you feel like you know him. Like you’re sitting across from him at the kitchen table, chatting. That kind of authenticity is rare and part of what keeps me coming back. It’s the voice I admire and want.
Each of these books speaks to something deeper than a curated story. They speak to what it means to be real. To live with intention. With integrity. With heart. With success and failure. With joy and pain.
I often speak through the lens of a woman because that’s the path I walk. Simple. Pure Love. is built around creating space for women to reconnect, heal, and grow. But integrity means recognizing and honoring the goodness, strength, and beauty in all people, and my respect is human-centered. I believe in celebrating light wherever it shines—and these men shine brightly.
We live in a world that often pulls us away from ourselves. We’re bombarded with noise, urgency, and distraction. It’s easy to forget what matters. Easy to forget how to listen. Easy to forget our integrity.
So this is our reminder.
Slow down.
Listen.
Be kind.
Create.
Love.
Joy isn’t something we chase. It’s something we choose, in the way we care and the way we connect.
Reflect the story you’d be proud to tell.
