I’ve got a child that, every night, without question, makes their way into bed. Waking up having a tiny hand on my arm. That moment is better than any promotion, any raise. It’s my greatest accomplishment and I get to hold it, at least for a few more years.

SEAN HARRIS, NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA

Last weekend, while at my cottage, I was walking up to another lake. I was with my partner, who is new to Canada, and she has never seen freshwater lakes as we have in the north. While hiking up, we rested at a beaver pond and watched 3 otter kits playing. They were dropping a stone off a small ledge and all dive in (and wrestle) to get the stone. The joy on Indiana’s while watching was priceless. We named them Snap, Crackle and Pop.

CHRIS, SUDBURY, ONTARIO, CANADA

A moment of joy from this week was to see my twin sister featured in an article focused on her study of ecological sensory food literacy education and regenerative food systems change. I am proud of how our beliefs align and overlap (she is a chef by profession). Here is the article if you’d like to read it: ARTICLE. This makes my heart sing and I am envious of her studies!

CATHERINE COPELAND, CANADA

Every year on my birthday, I take a day to pause, reflect, and be grateful. I reconnect with nature, cherish the quiet moments, look back on how far I’ve come, and appreciate the little things we often overlook in the rush of everyday life. My birthday is a reminder to be present and deeply cherish the special moments surrounded by family. ❤️ To me, they are a reminder of what truly matters, and the greatest gift I could ever ask for.

LYNE CHARETTE, CANADA

A recent moment of joy for me has been seeing the continuing hope and determination of the children at Dreamland Community Project in Akumadan. Despite the many challenges we face, seeing children learning, smiling, playing and dreaming about their future reminds me why we continue this work.
Every small step forward—a child gaining confidence, a student succeeding at school, or someone extending a helping hand to the community—feels like a beautiful reminder that hope can grow even in difficult circumstances.

JAMES DUGGER, ASHANTI REGION, GHANA

Watching my teenagers make each other laugh is incredible joy for me, but what is most impressive is that they are finding joy in spending time with each other. It’s a parent’s ultimate joy!

CLAUDETTE HALLUK, MISSISSAUGA, CANADA

While there are some drawbacks to the shorter days on the horizon, one lovely feature is that I can watch these glorious sunrises while savoring my morning coffee. Joy is often found in the most simple ways if we stop to appreciate our beautiful world.

GLENN ODLAND, GRAND BEND, ONTARIO, CANADA

The experience of feeling the silence in nature.

AGNETTA, KENYA

At three, I arrived in Minsk in deep winter, far from India, lost in a language I couldn’t yet speak. Since then, I’ve sat in French, IB, American, British and Indian classrooms, always the new child, learning to listen, to belong. A decade of corporate life sharpened me, yet the classroom kept calling. Today, at thirty-three, I begin as an IB educator at a Swedish KED school, and in every student far from home, I recognise that child in the snow. Humbled and grateful, I’ve come full circle.

SHILPA CHAUDHARY, NEW DELHI, INDIA

Pure joy on an afternoon on the Negro River waters, in the Amazon, Brazil. Feeling blessed for being able to introduce this amazing region to a very nice traveling group.

DEMIAN TOPEL, BRAZIL

One of my most recent moments of joy was a snorkelling trip in Indonesia, where I got to swim approximately 1 metre above a turtle for about 20 metres. The water was turquoise, and it was just the turtle and me. There was nothing else to think of, just the pure joy of observation: the movements of that turtle, water bubbles and sunbeams across the sea.

ANJA BECK, ZUG, SWITZERLAND

A moment of joy for me is when I put on my race shoes and go for an easy run in a nature park just off my backyard, by the river. I block off input from the world (although not indifferent) and come back to myself. The typical oxygen mask metaphor still prevails; to help others I first of all take good care of myself.

JACQUES COOL, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA

One of my moments of joy this week came during an in-person workshop with adults studying for their Early Childhood Education certificate. Their focus was creative education, and I was able to use an experiential activity to meet them where they were and explore some of the real situations they encounter with children. One was a mother herself and shared about her four-year-old using punching when he was upset. Through our work together, she began thinking about how she could move beyond simply telling him that punching was against the school rules and instead help him identify other strategies, then actually practise those strategies with him. That brought me great joy—watching learning move from an experience in our workshop into something she could use immediately to build her child’s capacity.

MARGARET BOERSMA, TORONTO, CANADA

The moment of joy was being with my husband, my children and my grandchildren with love! My son just got married on September 1st, and it was such a joy!!!

ISABELA GASPARIAN, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA

Every day, my dog Skylla pulls me into joy when wiggling her back on a sidewalk, or asking about yet another tummy rub. She seems to bring smiles to anyone watching as well.

DEBBIE DAVIDSON, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA

This particular ‘moment of joy’ was captured at my birthday celebration where two little sweethearts, two of my granddaughters, were absorbed in the joy of playing with balloons. (Can you guess how young I turned that day?)

CARMEL EGAN, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

My screensaver background is a “moment of joy” every time I open my laptop, despite her passing 16 years ago!

RICK DETWILER, VERMONT, UNITED STATES

One of the happiest moments in my life has been spending these days traveling with my son, my daughter-in-law, and, most especially, my eight-month-old grandson. There have been so many little moments of pure joy. When my son brings him to me in his arms to wake me up in the morning. When I see his beautiful smile at Disney, as if the whole world were nothing but wonder and happiness. When he looks into my eyes and smiles, and I feel my heart melt. And when I feed him and he gives me those little happy squeals, as if it were the greatest moment in the world. These days have reminded me that happiness doesn’t always come from big or extraordinary things. Sometimes, it is simply found in a baby’s smile, a loving look, a little laugh, and being surrounded by the people we love most.
I have been blessed with so many of these little moments of happiness lately, and I am truly cherishing every one of them.

MARCIA BRAGA, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

I’ve recently noticed how my perspective and mindset change as I grow. Each new day, month, and year brings its own impact, and I’m grateful for that. It brings me joy to explore myself, discover new parts of who I am, and compare the person I’m becoming with who I was in the past.

ULFANA ISMAYILLI, AZERBAIJAN, BAKU

Baby monkeys outside my office window on mom’s back.

JULIANA VIOLA, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

We found the teapot in a second-hand shop on a family trip to the UK. Now it sits in our cottage in the Allgäu, a place that is always in need of repair and costs more than it should. But it spans generations of family history, from births to marriages and deaths. Almost everything there is cast-off or second-hand. Yet because we have found and fixed these things together, they have become not a cost, but a treasure. Simply seeing that teapot crystallizes it into a moment of joy.

ROY WHITTET, SOUTH GERMANY

As an IB Math, Calculus, and SAT teacher, my days are filled with numbers and logic. But during a recent journey through Alberta—exploring Banff, Jasper, and Calgary—I found a different kind of balance. Standing beside serene turquoise waters encircled by majestic mountains, I felt truly in the lap of nature, listening to its subtle music. Bringing together my love for math, music, and nature, this quiet moment filled me with deep gratitude and renewed energy.

PUSHPENDRA SINGH, VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA

It was a Sunday, and nothing extraordinary had happened. My partner and I both work long hours, so it felt good to slow down together. We had summer rolls, our favourite meal to share because we assemble them at the table and take our time, and watched Project Hail Mary. We saved the second half for the next day because I needed an early night. It was the quiet happiness of being together, with nowhere else we needed to be.

AT HOME, WITH MY HOME, MUNICH

An early morning run beside the Saigon River

STUART MCLAY, HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

Becoming a grandmother has been the most wonderful experience of my life over the past year and a half. What I love most is holding my little boy, Athos, in my arms and seeing his beautiful smile.

SUELI NASCIMENTO, BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL

Long story short: walking with Barnie🐕

SYL SIMAI, BRAZIL

The happiness on my students had on their sweet faces as they walked into our new renovated Arts classroom.

CARLOS MAFFIA NETO, ALPHAVILLE, BRAZIL

My two-year-old grandson squeals and giggles in his rough-and-tumble play. His whole body and mind are involved in enjoying the moment, and his laugh is so sincere and intense. I try to feel the moment as intensely too.

APRIL YETSKO, BRAZIL

JIL ROBINSON, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Yesterday, I spoke to the priest who christened my first two boys in Italy when we used to live there. We are currently living in France, and he was so happy and grateful that I contacted him to organise the christening of my third son next month. The last time I spoke to him was almost 8 years ago, and for some reason, speaking to him again (I thought he had retired) made me extremely happy.

PASCALE, TOULOUSE, FRANCE

Watching my daughter grow and become more and more curious and eager to learn every day!

CAMILA, CAMPINAS, BRAZIL

Having a dog guarantees daily moments of joy. A simple walk becomes a reason to celebrate; a patch of sunlight on the floor quickly turns into the perfect spot to lie down and enjoy the warmth. My dog, Pudim, reminds me every day that happiness is made of small things, and of the importance of going outside, playing, and chasing my own tennis balls with the same excitement as the very first time.

ANDRESSA VIEIRA, SÂO PAULO, BRAZIL

Joy is a feeling that is difficult to measure. An absence of pain and adversity can fill our being with joy. At 73 years of age, I realise that I have attained days of tranquillity, which fill me with a sense of gratitude and joy.

SILVIO BONILHA, SÂO PAULO, BRAZIL

Although I am currently unemployed (I was dismissed a month ago), I have been able to spend my days with quality, investing in activities that contribute to my well-being and help me recharge, such as exercising, studying topics that are aggregating to my areas of expertise (luxury retail and its operations), and meeting my dad or my niece with my sister for coffee or lunch during the week. This has been my fuel for a positive perspective for the future.

CYNTHIA GONÇALVES, SÂO PAULO, BRAZIL

Children aged 4 on a field trip, appreciating the smell of fresh basil.

Anonymous

A quiet afternoon in a crowded park recently offered a beautiful glimpse of pure joy. An elderly couple sat on a wooden bench, sharing a single pair of earphones between them. As the music played, they began to sway gently, completely lost in their own world. Their smiles were radiant, softening the lines of age on their faces. In that small, shared moment, the chaos of the surrounding city seemed to fade away entirely.

SHARIF AHMED, MOULVIBAZAR, BANGLADESH

Thinking about emotional intelligence and its role in our professional and personal lives. Listening to Dr Goleman recently revitalised my commitment to being a better person and a servant leader every day. It’s the joy in being kind. Always.

CAROLINA GIANNETTO, ST. SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

I had very good moments at my birthday party! With friends and so much happiness! Good friends and laughing moments! I’m really grateful!

LÍCIA NEY PIZZOCOLO GONZALEZ, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

A moment of joy I notíced recently is related to my work with my High School students. I organized some activities with the support of a huge group of them, as part of the first Future & Career Forum we had at school. Seeing their happiness and satisfaction during and after the event – as a result of their effort and dedication – was a genuine joy for me. I worked a lot to make this event happen, and seeing students’ response to this work made it really meaningful to me.

ADRIANA SILVEIRA, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

My daily dose of joy comes by way of Sunny. I had no idea when named as a puppy how apt his name would be.
Rain or shine, he brings sunlight to my heart, leaving muddy paw prints of joy wherever he goes.
Dogs, simply the best.

CHRISTINE DELUCA, SWITZERLAND

The joy of a 10-year-old boy in Bhutan receiving a new Gho (traditional dress), whose single father I help out a little, both psychologically and financially.

PATRICIA

As an educator, I am easily moved by my students’ achievements. This week I had several moments of joy reading the MYP 5 Personal Project reports. I am still amazed by the ability of IB students to create wonderful products and deep reflections. Few things give me as much joy as the fruits of meaningful learning.

FELIPE PREGNOLATTO, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

Amid the hectic routine at work and the pressure to achieve results, I took a closer look at a learner who, at that moment, needed support, someone to listen, and empathy. Our weekly conversations took her learning and motivation to another level, and this moment of trust and exchange brought me great joy and satisfaction.

FLÁVIA GUERRISE, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

When you’re kind to people and pets, and they simply choose to be with you among others. A picture of my neighbor’s puppy who runs into my apartment whenever the door is open.

ADRIANA BERETTA LONGO, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

3 dogs at home… means never-ending love…

MARCIA SIMONE, ITANHAÉM, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

One of my greatest recent moments of joy was watching our students lead their own parent-teacher conferences, proudly sharing their learning, achievements, and challenges with their families. Seeing their confidence, their parents’ pride, and the dedication of our teachers reminded me why I love education. It is in these moments that we see our mission come to life: helping children grow into confident, thoughtful, and independent individuals.

AMARAL CUNHA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Fly fishing on the Clark Fork under a clear blue sky as the fall colors begin to appear on the shoreline.

MICHAEL MARTELL, MISSOULA, MONTANA

For me it is not the big things in life and on the contrary, it is the simple things that I am grateful for. The biggest joy in my life is my family: A family of 5, with 3 adult children and a husband for 32 years.
While there are many small, not super exciting things that make me happy, reading would be top of my list.
Particularly starting the day with coffee and newspaper every morning is something where I happily sacrifice my sleep to get up before my family.

EBRU GÜVER, SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND

Today is my birthday. The past year has been one of the most challenging to date. It was very much a survive day-by-day mindset. This morning, I decided to treat myself to a slice of cake for breakfast and listen to the sounds of nature to really reset and hopefully, usher in a more happy and peaceful year. It also gave me time to reflect on all the years I have lived and how much joy I experienced and to be grateful for those memories. Life is very much hills and valleys.

SANDRA, WASHINGTON, DC

For some, a rainy day is a chance to slip inside with a warm drink and comfy blanket. For a six-year old, it’s a call-to-action for collecting rain drops, cleaning the car, and turning umbrellas upside down. A reminder to play just a bit more.

DEREK, ZUG

This week, my parents celebrated 60 years of marriage. My sister April’s letter to them captured their journey beautifully through a baseball metaphor, fitting for two Toronto Blue Jays fans:

“As the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate 50 years in Major League Baseball, we celebrate Shirley and Armand Dequanne’s “Diamond Anniversary”, marking an incredible 60 years of love, commitment, partnership.
Like any great baseball story, your journey began with a first pitch and a field of dreams ahead of you. Over the years, you have run the bases together, celebrated home runs and learned that sometimes the wisest move is knowing when to take the walk rather than force the play. There were seasons where one of you was in the field while the other was on base, each carrying different responsibilities but always playing for the same team with a goal of winning in life, love and family. And as every baseball fan knows, while all the players contribute, the game simply does not happen without the pitcher and the catcher, working together, trusting one another, communicating through every inning (maybe sometimes one person calling the pitch) and guiding the team through challenges and victories.
That has been the two of you for six decades. It hasn’t always been easy, and surely tough innings, rain delays and extra-inning battles along the way. But through it all, you never gave up on each other (maybe stranded a runner on base for a couple of innings 😄). You adapted, persevered and found a way to win the game. Your Diamond Anniversary is a testament to a championship partnership built on love, sacrifice, patience, and unwavering support. We are so grateful for the example you’ve set and the legacy you have built.
60 years is a bases-loaded home run hit! Congratulations on this milestone, and what a privilege it is to be running the bases with you in the innings of this life.”

BARRY DEQUANNE, ZUG, SWITZERLAND

Tonight we had booked seats at our favorite little restaurant for their Thursday social dining. We had the most lovely evening with two other couples that we didn’t know beforehand, and all went to enjoy our little gallery close by over coffee, discussing art, champagne and culture.

LENE LANE, BREDEM DENMARK

Watching my granddaughter laugh with her father (my Son).

MADDY, ATHENS, GREECE

Dancing last Saturday. It was amazing.

LEONE, BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL

My daughter’s silence while watching the trees is one of the moments of joy the past few weeks have given me. We recently moved from a small island in the Mediterranean, a busy and crowded place, where humans, buildings, and cars have outnumbered the trees, to the point my daughter once asked, “Mama, what is that? – A tree”, I said. For the past weeks, we’ve lived in a place where trees, green parks, and nature form part of every breath. She sits in the car or on the bike and just watches the trees outside.

KATIA, FRANCE

This summer, in one of Prague’s beautiful parks, the sky suddenly opened. While adults hurried for shelter, a little girl jumped joyfully in the puddles. Her infectious joy spread, and one by one, we joined her, laughing, playing, and delighting in the rain. Reflecting on this and the joyful moments I’ve encountered teaching young children, I wonder: perhaps joy is not simply experienced, but embedded in who we are. Emerging and growing when we connect and remain open to wonder.

SAMIRA BELLO, PRAGUE

My moment of joy was yesterday, our grandson was born the day before my birthday! I video chatted with him as he just turned 3. To see the smile on his face and the sunny sky in the background really did the trick. What a darling little boy.

KEVIN MILLER, BERLIN, GERMANY

I have been in education for 40 years – I started very young, and I am not as young as I perceive myself to be – so for a few years now I have been encountering my former students in their capacity as parents, a grandfatherly encounter of sorts. When I look back upon my rookie years as a teacher, I cannot help but be very self-critical, and I cringe, in retrospect, at how my insecurities betrayed themselves in a desire for control, a need to assert myself, and many teaching vices which I would now reject outright. And yet, maybe with the fondness of contemplating their younger years and the benefit of perspective, when I meet some of my first students, their feedback is overwhelmingly positive and affectionate, compassionate in their assessment of my own tentative first steps.
These encounters are moments of quiet joy, a reminder of how our essence transcends even our foibles and failures, and that, albeit armed only with their best intentions, teachers can leave their mark, a reward that is more valuable than any of the worldly measures of success.

GABRIEL RSHAID, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Watching the eclipse on the beach, surrounded by so many strangers, was a beautiful moment of joy. It reminded me how much we need each other, and how naturally we come together to share moments of wonder. In such uncertain times, that feeling of connection made me really happy.

ELENA MARTELLI, VIAREGGIO, ITALY

Every year, I invite Nepali friends from Germany for a hike. This year, we chose Seealpsee. Perfect weather, a beautiful lake, and a first hike for some. But my real moment of joy came when I saw my husband and kids waiting near the lake. They had taken the easier route and beaten us there. No matter how beautiful the world is or how many mountains I climb, my happiness is with my little family—and their beautiful chaos.

SUSMITA MASKEY NIRAULA, ST. ERHARD, LUZERN

My moment of joy was taking my early morning walk in the peaceful Steinhausen Wald and being able to watch the sun rise and just be…

CERI SHEIKH, ZUG, SWITZERLAND

I’m incredibly blessed to have rekindled my Joy of playing the cello after 32 years of working abroad. For the past 6 years, I’ve lived the joy of music via my participation in a regional orchestra in Western North Carolina.

ERIC SANDS, NORTH CAROLINA

Recently, my 11th-grade son decided to learn how to cook. Spending time in a kitchen together has been an amazing way to reconnect with my teenager.

KRISTINA MECELICAITE, BULGARIA

I noticed an elderly lady who was often sitting alone on her balcony. One day, I met her on the street and simply told her, “I’d like to be your friend.” Since then, we have shared many afternoons together, enjoying each other’s company. Seeing her smile again, perhaps after a long time, has brought me a kind of joy that is difficult to put into words. Joy is the quiet freedom of knowing that you carry a genuine and good heart, and that you will always choose kindness towards others.

REBEKA R.H., ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND

Joyous to have two of my sweet grandchildren enjoying a meal and conversation at my breakfast bar.

JANET HEINZE, GUADALAJARA, MEXICO

I am spending this joyful entrance into my eighth decade with my daughter, Debbie, her husband Tim, and my three-year-old granddaughter, Eloise.

TELMA LEVISON, FLORIDA

Lying in a hammock with my 10-year-old who still thankfully likes to cuddle, listening to howler monkeys and song birds first thing in the morning.

JULIE STERN, NICARAGUA

On my birthday, messages from current and former students, friends, and colleagues around the world brought a wonderful moment of joy. Their messages and our renewed conversations made me reflect on the many remarkable people I have met and the relationships I have built throughout my teaching journey. Some began many years ago, yet have endured across distance and time. It was a reminder that education extends far beyond the classroom: it is about connection, shared experiences, and remaining part of one another’s lives. I am deeply grateful for a profession I truly love.

FUMI MIYATA, NEW DELHI, INDIA

Being present enough to notice the glimmers of joy that are already around us. Giving ourselves permission to intentionally create space for more of them. Sunday morning sauna at Killiney Beach and dip in the chilly Irish Sea. Creating the space to see the sun break through the clouds and reconnect with my amazing wife. Reframe; Reset; Refresh.

BARNABY SANDOW, DUBLIN, IRELAND

Out on a cycle ride this morning. Stopped for a breather (that happens more often than I care to mention at my age), and had the loveliest chat with a dog walker. Nothing deep – the weather, cute dog – but a warm interaction that made me smile for the rest of my ride. The world is more often a good place than not.

GAVIN, UK

My moment was yesterday during my birthday party when I got to dance with my wife to a song we danced to when we first met 27 years ago, Chichi Peralta Procura. It brought back the warm feeling I experienced when I first danced with my wife.

JOE HAMKARI, DHAKA, BANGLADESH

Spending my birthday with my family after 18 years of being away from home.

ANONYMOUS

My husband and I recently spent the weekend in Madrid for my birthday and to catch up with a good friend who had recently moved there. The whole weekend was joyful, but one part in particular stands out: there’s a photo of my friend and me laughing so hard and holding each other’s hands. I can’t remember what it was we were laughing so hard about now, but I remember the laughter and how, with longstanding friends, you can have deep belly laughs. We laughed all day long, I think!

PATRICK RENOUF, SWITZERLAND

My moment of joy is every moment I have the 3 women in my life (my 2 daughters and my wife) together in the same room, seeing them smile and laugh.

EDWARD DE LA PAZ, ORLANDO, FLORIDA

After not seeing each other for 17 years, the four of us, along with other good friends from Ecuador, met up in Bilbao, Spain, for a wedding. It was a joyous occasion connecting with dear friends from the past. It was one of those moments when you realize that true friendship stands the test of time. A reminder that we have to meet up again, SOON!

BLAIR PETERSON, HARARE, ZIMBABWE

My moment of joy came during my wedding this summer. I was struck by how much love surrounds not only my husband and me but also our extended families. Standing under the hot Arizona sun, surrounded by the people who matter most to us, as we took this next step together was truly profound. This has been a year marked by loss for me, which made the opportunity to share such an intimate moment and celebrate love feel especially meaningful.

ELLEN KING, ARIZONA, USA

Very recently, I spent a most pleasant evening at the lakeside in Zurich. Many people enjoyed this wonderful atmosphere, and a group of musicians played music. Following my impulse, I sat down on the wall at the shore, watching the soft movement of the water, the ducks, and the swans. Soon, two unknown people took seats to my right and left, and we shared this beautiful sunset together. What a moment of joy to see them and all the other people enjoying this quiet evening and its pure beauty.

SIMONE JUNOD, ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND

The kisses I receive every morning from my little dog, Phoebe.

CARMEN SPANGARO, MIAMI, FLORIDA