Hey there, Joy Hunter!
Did you know that you have a superpower? It’s true! You can find amazing, wonderful, giggly, surprising moments hiding in regular, ordinary days. All you need to do is know where to look.
Ready to become a master Joy Hunter? Let’s go!
What is a joyful moment?
A joyful moment is when something makes you feel:
- Giggly and smiley
- Curious and interested
- Peaceful and calm
- Excited and amazed
- Warm and fuzzy inside
The cool thing? These moments are EVERYWHERE. You just have to notice them!
The joy hunter’s tool kit
Joy hunting missions
Try these fun challenges to find more joyful moments!
Mission 1: The Tiny Safari
Go on a safari… in your backyard or local park! Get down really low and pretend you’re tiny. What do you see?
- Follow an ant like you’re a nature documentary maker
- Look under leaves for treasure
- Find the smallest flower you can
- Listen for bug sounds
Joy spotted: The tickle of grass on your hands, discovering a rolly-polly, seeing how ants work together
Mission 2: The Sound Collector
Close your eyes for one whole minute. How many different sounds can you hear?
- Birds singing their songs
- Wind moving through trees
- Your own breathing
- Cars passing by
- Someone’s footsteps
- Your tummy is rumbling!
Joy spotted: Realising the world is full of a sound symphony, hearing a bird you never noticed before
Mission 3: The Slow-Motion Snack
Pick your favorite snack. Now eat it like you’re a scientist studying it for the very first time.
- Look at it closely. What colors? What shape?
- Smell it. What does it remind you of?
- Touch it. Is it smooth? Bumpy? Sticky?
- Take a tiny bite. Close your eyes. What flavors do you taste?
- Chew slowly. How does it feel in your mouth?
Joy spotted: Realizing your favorite food is even MORE delicious than you thought!
Mission 4: The Sky Watcher
ClLie down on your back outside (or look out a window). Watch the sky for at least 5 minutes.
- What shapes do clouds make?
- Can you find a cloud that looks like an animal?
- Watch how clouds move and change
- What colors do you see? (Hint: the sky isn’t just blue!)
- Count how many birds you see flying by
Joy spotted: Finding a cloud that looks like a bunny, feeling peaceful watching things drift by, seeing a bird soar
Mission 5: The Puddle Jumper
Go on a safari… in your backyard or local park! Get Next time it rains, put on your boots and go outside!
- Jump in puddles (the bigger the splash, the better!)
- Watch raindrops race down windows
- Catch rain on your tongue
- Feel rain on your face
- Smell the rain smell (it’s called petrichor—cool word!)
Joy spotted: The SPLASH!, being outside when everyone else is inside, feeling wild and free
Mission 6: The Art Explosion
Close your eyes for one whole minute. How many difGet some paper and art stuff. BUT WAIT! Don’t think about what you’re going to make. Just start!
- Pick your favorite color and see what happens
- Mix colors you’ve never mixed before
- Use your fingers, not just brushes
- Make marks: dots, lines, swirls, zigzags
- Don’t worry about it looking like anything—just play!
Joy spotted: Discovering a new color you made, the squishy feeling of paint on your fingers, getting totally lost in creating
Mission 7: The Body Explorer
Go on a safari… in your backyard or local park! Get Your body can do AMAZING things! Try these:
- Spin around until you’re dizzy, then stop and feel the world spinning
- Do a really big stretch and yawn like a lion
- Give yourself a big hug
- Wiggle every part of your body, starting with your toes and going up to your head
- Take 5 deep breaths and notice how your belly goes up and down
Joy spotted: Feeling strong, the funny feeling of being dizzy, discovering you can make yourself feel calm just by breathing
Mission 8: The Kindness Spy
ClBe a secret agent of kindness today!
- Give someone a surprise compliment
- Draw a picture for someone
- Help without being asked
- Share something you like
- Give a family member a hug for no reason
Joy spotted: Seeing someone smile because of YOU, the warm fuzzy feeling in your chest, making someone’s day better
Mission 9: The Question Asker
Ask “Why?” about EVERYTHING today (but in a nice, curious way, not an annoying way!)
- Why is the sky blue?
- Why do birds sing?
- Why do I feel happy when I play?
- Why does my dog wag its tail?
You don’t even need to know the answers! Wondering is fun all by itself.
Joy spotted: Realising how interesting everything is, having a great conversation with a grown-up, learning something new
Mission 10: The Fort Builder
Close your eyes for one whole minute. How many dBuild a cozy space somewhere in your house.
- Use blankets, pillows, chairs, and cushions
- Make it just the right size for you
- Bring a flashlight and some books
- Invite a stuffed animal friend
- Just sit in your fort and enjoy being in your own special space
Joy spotted: The pride of building something, feeling safe and cozy, having your own special hideout
Some more joy-making ideas:
- Silly Dance Party – Put on music and dance like nobody’s watching (even if they are!)
- Joke Time – Tell the silliest jokes you know. Knock-knock jokes count!
- Make Someone Laugh – Do a funny face, tell a story, be goofy
- Sing Loudly – In the shower, in your room, anywhere! Sing your favorite songs
- Create a Surprise – Leave a drawing under someone’s pillow, hide a nice note
- Invent a Game – Make up brand new rules. Be creative!
- Dress Up – Wear something that makes you feel amazing (even if it’s just fancy socks)
The secret? When you make joy for yourself or others, you feel it twice as much!
The joy collection
Here’s a super cool secret: When you notice joyful moments, you can collect them!
At the end of each day, think of 3 joyful moments. You can:
- Tell someone about them
- Draw pictures of them
- Write them in a journal
- Just remember them in your mind
The more you look for joy, the more joy you’ll find. It’s like magic!
The best part about being a Joy Hunter? The more you practice, the better you get. Soon you’ll be finding joyful moments EVERYWHERE, and life will feel even more magical and fun!
Did you know that looking for joyful moments actually MAKES you feel happier? It’s true! Scientists have studied it. Your brain gets good at finding good things. Cool, right?
Tell someone about your joyful moment: “Guess what made me happy today!”
Ways to Share Your Joy:
- Bring a friend on your joy hunting missions
- Teach someone your favorite game
- Show someone something cool you discovered
- Laugh together (laughing with friends is THE BEST)
- Do kind things (kindness creates joy for everyone)
When joy feels far away
Some days, joy is harder to find. Maybe you’re feeling sad, grumpy, tired, or worried. That’s totally okay! ALL feelings are okay.
Joy Hunter Secret: Even on hard days, tiny joys are still there. They might be quieter, but they’re waiting.
Try these on tough days:
- Find ONE small thing that doesn’t feel bad (maybe your cozy pajamas, or your favorite stuffed animal)
- Do something really gentle (rock in a chair, swing on a swing, pet your cat)
- Ask for a hug from someone you love
- Look for the teeniest, tiniest joy (the sun on your face, a warm drink, your blanket)
- Remember: Tomorrow is a fresh new day for joy hunting
Big Truth: You don’t have to feel joyful all the time. Joy comes and goes like waves at the beach. That’s just how feelings work!
Make a promise
As an official Joy Hunter, you promise to:
- Notice the little things that make you smile
- Use all your senses to explore the world
- Take time to really enjoy things instead of rushing
- Share joy with others (it grows when you share it!)
- Remember that joy is everywhere – you just have to look
- Be curious and ask questions
- Play, create, and imagine
- Appreciate ordinary miracles
Here’s a joy challenge
For the next week, try to find at least 3 joyful moments every single day. They can be tiny (finding a smooth rock) or big (making a new friend). There’s no such thing as a joy that’s too small!
What joyful moments will you discover today?
Happy hunting, Joy Hunter!
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