The Book of Joy

My grandfather died at the age of 95. If you would ask anyone to describe him, 3 keywords will be mentioned: Positivism, Happiness and Humor. These characteristics made him a true example for his relatives, friends, clients, neighbours and so on. He always had this cheerful spirit, day in day out.

During my travels last week, I read The Book of Joy, which describes the extensive interview between Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. Two great inspirational masters explaining how they live their lives with JOY. Despite all they had gone through. Or better said: due to all they have had gone through. Because they believe that ‘something good never happens without the bad’.

Dalai Lama explains how Buddhists believe that joy is a natural state, however the degree of experiencing joy in life is something you could develop. They call out three key pillars that define the degree of experiencing joy:

1. Our ability to make every situation we are in a bit more positive
   (putting things in perspective, using laughter or humor)
2. Our ability to be thankful for the things we have
   (many other people in the world could be in way worse situations).
3. Our choice to be friendly and generous to others
   (Smile to someone on the street and you’ll notice they will smile back at you)

I truly believe that if you apply all of the above, it will have a positive influence on you -as a person and how you experience life- and on your outerworld. Because think about the other way around: if you are always anxious, negative or distrustful, people will find it harder to deal with those emotions. It will cost them more energy than they gain. Which in the end could lead to losing people around you. Also, if you are always rude or angry to other people, they will react in the same way to you too.

It is common sense, right?

Reading the book, made me think of my grandpa. Although he was no inspirational leader, he almost could have been one of them. I think that my grandfather’s positive mindset got him as far as he got. He survived WOII and although this was a tragedic, horrible time in his life, this is again an example of how something bad led to so many good opportunities as well.
Hardly did he complain about things, not even when he knew his life would come to an end. He was calm. He was proud and thankful. Of all he had achieved, of all of his family members and above all he had enJOYed every piece of life. His remarkable last words to me were: “Don’t grieve too long, remember I had a great life. Please LIVE and make sure you enjoy the full ride”. And in honor of him, I’m without doubt doing so and try to do even more.

I have already started applying the above key pillars. And so far, the feeling of joy is pretty good :-). Cheers!

Me & my grandpa celebrating his 95th birthday

• The Dalai Lama Trust, Desmond Tutu & D. Abrams (2017). The Book of Joy.