Where is the joy?

In complex systems like education and health, change can feel impossible. No matter our role in the system, we sometimes feel helpless when working for equitable change. Eve Tuck (2015) advocates for "believing that our own knowing is enough to make change". "Mattering" is one of the theories of change that she explores, stating that people who feel that they "matter" are more likely to engage and contribute (Tuck, 2015). Perhaps by embracing a knowing that we matter right now, we could consider that power is not outside and disconnected from us, but, rather, "diffuse, connective, abundant and relational" (Tuck, 2015). How might we find, cultivate, and own this agency? Research on people's experiences of joy show that, as it is "a happiness that goes beyond regular happiness" (Senechal, 2014), and is a deep contentment that exists despite struggle because we feel it when we are in alignment with our values, it can be a tool for resistance, healing, and liberation. Recognizing the "intertwining of our lives" (Gumbs, 2021), I want to feel, find, and tell our stories of joy so that others see space to share theirs, providing more energy, connection, and collective empowerment for all of us.