There Is Sunshine

Five years ago, I pressed publish on my very first blog post after decided to join the Slice of Life Challenge, on a whim. In that post, I made it my mission to find the joy in life and so, I named my blog, Where’s the Joy. Over the course of that year, 2017, I found plenty of joy and I realized that there is joy in every day and every situation, if you choose to see it. So, with the help of a friend and fellow slicer, I renamed my blog, Where There’s Joy.

There have been plenty of days in the last year that have been hard to find the hope and joy between quarantining, isolation, and all the ramifications Covid has had on our personal and professional lives. It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly a year. Last March, this community was a spot of sunshine in a dark and uncertain time. All of our worlds were turned upside down and so we wrote and found solace in the fact that we were not alone.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been listening to There is Sunshine, on my way to and from work. It’s written by Anthony Ray Hinton, an innocent man who was sentenced to death and who spent nearly 30 years on Alabama’s death row. My heart has been broken by this story, but at the same time enlightened. So much of Ray Hinton’s story is about how he survived all those years in a 5×7 cell, screaming out his innocence, only to be ignored because he was black and born poor. Despite all of that…ALL of THAT, he chose to find joy and remain hopeful. He learned to really see his fellow inmates, learn their stories, and find the good among the darkness that is death row.

This story has also reminded me of my privilege.

There have many days I have come home and discussed the book with my husband, who always reminds me, “this is just one man’s story. The sad thing is, there are likely plenty of others.” It’s difficult to imagine a world where these kinds of injustices occur, but this is our world. It’s a privilege to be so oblivious and unaffected.

At school this week, we are celebrating Read Across America week by reflecting on all of the reasons we read. I’ve been thinking about why I read and I truly believe that reading stories like Ray Hinton’s are a reality check and a literal window that allow us to see the world. I read for the invitations to live differently.

And so, I suppose, I’m already a bit disheveled on day one of this challenge. Not quite sure how these words and ideas connect- I just know I want to live better, to find the sunshine and to be the sunshine.

Visit Two Writing Teachers to read more Slice of Life stories.

Published by Jessica Carey

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I'm a mom of three daughters and a literacy coach in CT. I love to learn and share with others.

22 thoughts on “There Is Sunshine”

  2. And we’re off and writing — you have a gift as your eyes and heart always seek to not only find but create the joy. Reading opens our eyes to the world – gives us perspective and appreciation and often, purpose.

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  6. This is great. I, too, feel disheveled this morning. I, too, read to check my reality. I, too, feel privileged to have some of the complaints that I have. And I too, am inspired by people who can find sunshine even in a 5×7 cell. I, too, am disappointed that we can have the injustices (even have death row at all), but it does give us a sense of purpose. You did set the table for this month. I’m downloading the book right now. Thank you! Glad to be on another journey with you.

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  8. Disheveled, broken-hearted, privileged, sunshine… JOY. This is why we write. Thank you for starting us off with such an honest post. And, thanks to you, I’ve put my first book on this year’s list of recommendations from the March Challenge. Here we go – joy, amidst all the confusion, joy.

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  9. Thank you for sharing about that book, I will definitely seek it out. So much grim reality around us on a daily basis, but amazing when a guy in a situation like that can find the joy in life. Very, very humbling….
    to find the sunshine and be the sunshine….how exactly right!!

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  10. Your words are so important – perspective, looking for joy, and recognizing my privilege are important choices I try to make every day. Your post felt perfect to me – not everything in life connects perfectly or expectantly -neither should our writing. In that way I think your ending was just perfect for this post.

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  11. I have taken to reading things that give me a window to what others face and make me acutely aware of my privilege. And I’ve had to balance them with mindless romps. There, it is again. My privilege. In any case, I am so pleased to see your joy peaks through in spite of it. Looking forward to your view of the world this month.

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  12. Dear Jessica,
    I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to read your posts. The sentence, “I read for the invitations to live differently.” , literally screamed out at me. It is so true. Thank you for your insights into race privilege and for your wonderful teaching, and of course your writing so full of wisdom and humanity. Wendy

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  13. I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to read your posts. The sentence, “I read for the invitations to live differently.” , literally screamed out at me. It is so true. Thank you for your insights into race privilege and for your wonderful teaching, and of course your writing so full of wisdom and humanity. Wendy

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  14. I love reading your posts! I always seek them out, like an old friend, knowing the will be steady and full of wisdom. And that is true today. I will be adding this book to my to read list, as I too “read for the invitations to live differently.”

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  17. Pingback: Sunshine – FiveHundredaDay

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