Joy is tricky, a complicated emotion tossed around like a hot potato from hand to hand. It's beautiful and full of promise, a bright birthday balloon swelling in your chest. But the thing about balloons is, they pop, Sometimes quite unexpectedly, and tattered pieces fall haphazardly to the ground. I suppose you could go your whole life, never trusting it, always questioning, waiting for the BANG. But where's the fun in that? Embrace the joy while it is swelling, growing forming a beautiful light air feeling, knowing that the let down is inevitable, but there will always be more balloons.

To hear more, visit conksbrain.substack.com