burning candles in the wind

I like metaphors. I speak in metaphors often, which yet again affirms that I am my father's daughter. He used a lot when I was growing up, but his personal favorite was as follows: I am a big jumbo plane that takes a long time to take off, but I will go a long distance. I am not a small propeller plane that takes a short time to take off but only goes a short distance. In essence, he meant that I was a late bloomer bound for greatness. No Mulan flowers for Mr. Ryu; that's too cliched.

So what of the difference between happiness and joy?

We are guaranteed the right to pursue happiness, but who can grant us the right to pursue joy? We don't send happiness to the world on Christmas; we send joy. When I think of happiness, I think of a content smile, but when I think of joy, I think of an uproarious laugh accompanied by dancing and singing and clapping hands. Dictionary.com is very useful; the first definition for the word "happiness," besides the most obvious definition (why they include these, I wish I knew) - "the quality or state of being happy" - is "good fortune; pleasure." Later on, it states "good luck, good fortune, prosperity." For "joy," it says, "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying." So, we all know good luck and good fortune is very temporary. Joy has the potential to be everlasting.

Happiness is a bite-size cookie. Joy is a giant seven-layered chocolate cake. Happiness is the crunching leaves on the ground. Joy is a never-ending pathway lined with trees orange and red and brown and yellow. Happiness is finding a quarter on the ground. Joy is finding $6 billion. Happiness is holding hands. Joy is a crushing embrace from the one person you have missed terribly. 

Happiness can slip away on a rainy day or with the bad results of an exam. But joy, true joy is when you can feel at peace and be satisfied with yourself and your life despite the hardships, when through your salty tears you can taste a subtle sweetness. You can be a candle burning bright in the wind; you will never go out.

And though I can't exactly say how much or even exactly why, the same way a mother cannot fully express why she loves her child, or why Kobayashi loves hot dogs so much, I have to say that I have never been more joyful in my life before.

And all I can say is, I hope you get curious as to ask why anyway.