December 2025 "Rediscovering Joy" by Daniela Guteirrez

December is such a special month for me. Besides Christmas being around the corner and visiting my family in Mexico and getting to, once more, see the smiling faces of my great-grandparents, December is also my birthday month. It is a fitting birthday month for contemplation, as a new year is upon us, and I am inevitably contemplating the lessons and experiences of my life. I deem it to be a month filled with magic as the warmth and light of the sun falters, and we look for this light instead within us. Homes are filled with the colorful lights of Christmas trees and the anticipation of presents for loved ones. There is a different kind of warmth that we as humans aim to feel and manifest in the world. I believe the manifestation of this light and warmth within to be joy. As we get older, life can become tumultuous as responsibilities pile up and curveballs and lessons are thrown at us. Looking for what lights us up and what makes each day meaningful becomes increasingly important to find purpose and meaning in life. As such, we must remember to keep our internal “homes” filled with light and warmth. Each individual is different. We must rediscover what brings us joy and learn how to incorporate it into our lives. Each December, I contemplate what made this year special for me and what specifically brought me joy. This year, I ventured into art, which, as a child, fascinated me, but I always felt I was a terrible artist. I searched within my inner home and found the room of my eight-year-old self, who loved to draw swans and nature. This also took me back to my teenage self, who loved doodling while listening to my teachers; it was one of the things that kept me awake. I recalled how this year, artists and art itself touched my life. I visited museums, met inspiring artists, and rediscovered my inner artist. I now keep a journal where I express myself in a way that is most authentic to me. Art has become a cornerstone of joy for me on my roughest days. For this paper jam, I asked my co-workers to contemplate joy themselves. I hope they serve as inspiration for you as you contemplate what brings you joy, what brought you joy as a kid, and how you define it for yourself.

Paula Rawlings

 1. What brought you joy as a kid?

What brought me joy as a kid was playing outside and getting back scratches. In the summer, I rode my bike as much as possible. In the Fall, I would stroll down moose trails, walking on yellow leaves as they also fell. The smell was so addictive. In Winter, my family sat around the living room like a litter of puppies and watched whatever my parents wanted to watch on TV and took turns scratching each other’s backs. Spring in Alaska is yucky, so there was little joy because all the trash and nasty stuff began to appear as the snow melted.

2. How do you define joy?

Joy means settling into a state beyond happiness. It’s the complete absence of stress and worry. Joy is pleasure at its purest level.

3. What brings you joy today?

Today I find joy in the quiet moments alone or with family and friends, reading a good book, eating lunch with friends, watching a movie with my family, and sharing a box of Junior Mints with my husband.

Estefanie Gordillo

 1. What brought you joy as a kid?

Family time has always defined my joy throughout my childhood. Yes, there were problems and trauma. When not? Even then, family always made it better. I have tons of cousins and nephews my age. Being able to play with them brought me all the joy I needed. Playing the WII with my older brothers, cousins, and nephews, barbecuing, and playing ding-dong ditch around our apartments almost every weekend. Playing “lotería” and having “ponche” with tamales or pozole on all the holidays was my joy.

2. How do you define joy?

To me, joy is being able to enjoy the good and bad days. I wouldn't know what joy would be if I didn't have the bad days. The bad days are just a part of the journey. I learned to enjoy the bad times by relating them to the happy days. You can’t live a joyous life without one or the other!

3. What brings you joy today?

My son brings me joy today. When I see his face, I feel complete no matter the day. Waking up to his laughs and smiles reminds me to keep trying, no matter if it feels too late or too impossible. Once I end my days, holding him tight to sleep makes me the happiest woman on this planet, and I am sure all mothers feel this way. It is the most beautiful feeling. I wouldn't replace for anything.

Conclusion

The winter months are, for many, a time of reflection. It can be conflicting and dark, making it difficult to find what lights us up. I would like to share this quote by Edward James Olmos with you: “It’s in the darkest moments when the cracks allow the inner light to come out.” I sought to rediscover my inner light in a period of my life when I felt depressed and uncertain of my future. I would paint until three in the morning and come back from work to my paint brushes and my easel. The reemergence of art into my life sparked creativity within me and led me to make new friendships. It re-routed my sense of purpose in this world. I hope you can also rediscover your inner light even in the darkest moments and re-emerge brighter than ever.