“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” Joseph Campbell
I’ll admit that this time of year brings with it an underlying current of sadness for me. I was reminded recently how many people suffer in this season of joy because they’ve lost a loved one. I posted this uplifting message on the End in Mind Facebook page and while I believe Marcus was right, I recognize it certainly doesn’t resonate when you’re hurting or in the fog of depression. 
I talked recently with a friend whose husband died a couple of years ago and we discussed how she slowly, carefully and gently navigated her way through the immense and soul shaking pain of losing a loved one. She’s just starting to see some light in what’s been a very dark time for her. We discussed deferred grief, something I’ll admit I’m dealing with, and other matters. When I hung up, I found that conversation had lifted my spirits. Later that day, I was reading a book about creativity in late life and this quote from the great Joseph Campbell bounced off the page and right into my soul.
“Find a place inside where there’s joy and the joy will burn out the pain.”
I know somewhere inside all of us, there’s the capacity for joy. Campbell was onto something. Here’s to finding that small spark of joy. It’s more powerful than the pain.
My best wishes to you in this holiday season.
