The idea of joy as an act of resistance has been rising to the surface lately—and it’s been speaking deeply to my soul. As we move through summer, the solstice, and this midpoint of the calendar year, we are surrounded by a world heavy with hardship.
In the midst of global turmoil, many of us are quietly asking: How do I hold all of this? It’s not an easy question to answer. And often, when we feel moments of happiness or savor life’s small pleasures, we may feel guilt or shame, as though joy is somehow inappropriate or out of place.
But when we look to those who came before us—those who lived through unimaginable struggle—we find wisdom in how they moved forward. Joy was never separate from resistance; it was woven into it. Take this powerful quote from Dan Savage:
“During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced at night. The dance kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for. It didn’t look like we were going to win then—and we did. It doesn’t feel like we’re going to win now—but we could. Keep fighting, keep dancing.”
Whenever we are met with global struggle, despair may feel like the most natural response. And while curling inward can be a very human reaction, we must also ask: How can I tend to myself for the long haul? Because we need strength for the long haul. And joy—real, embodied joy—can be part of what sustains us.
Here are a few ways we’re reflecting on that right now:
Continue Showing Up—for Yourself and for Community
Community is the antidote to fear. I believe this with all my being. Gathering with others not only soothes our nervous systems—it gives us a place to land, to learn, to laugh, and to remember we’re not alone. In times of uncertainty, we must keep our connections strong.
Support your local businesses if you can. Spend time in places where you can recognize faces. Join a mom group or a dance class. Step away from endless scrolling and step into real connection. There’s magic in togetherness—and we all need that now.
Protest in Your Own Way
There’s no one “right” way to be engaged. Some of us are in the streets. Others are writing to representatives, showing up at school board meetings, or raising the next generation to understand justice, compassion, and collective care.
Whatever form your protest takes, it matters. Whatever way you live your values, it counts.
Find—and Keep Returning To—Joy
We are complex beings, capable of holding grief and joy side by side. Joy doesn’t erase the pain—but it helps us survive it.
Ask yourself: What brings me joy? And give yourself permission to embrace it regularly. For me, it’s dancing. Lately I’ve been seeking out ways to reconnect with movement because I know my spirit needs it.
Whatever your version of joy looks like—whether it’s being in nature, cooking, art, music, laughter—return to it. Again and again. It’s not indulgence; it’s nourishment.
With Love,
April & Lena