What is Real Joy? - By Thushaleny

Written By: Thushaleny

Category: Essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In a thought-provoking essay titled "What is Real Joy?", Thushaleny delves into the profound essence of happiness and satisfaction. Submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this essay evaluates the transient nature of joy and the human tendency to conflate wealth with happiness. Thushaleny invites readers to reflect on the true sources of joy, exploring the contrast between genuine satisfaction and the relentless pursuit of material desires.

About the Work

Thushaleny's essay explores the theme of joy through vivid imagery and relatable anecdotes. The narrative contrasts the simple joys of nature with human tendencies towards greed and desire, urging a return to basics and inner contentment. The story of the farmer and his goose serves as a powerful metaphor for the consequences of unchecked desire, while the tale of the family highlights the complexities of human expectations and joy.

What is real joy?

Original Submission by Thushaleny

What is real joy?

To bees, the nectar of flowers is their golden joy. To fish, the vast sea where they swim

and dancing with fins is a delight. And to the birds, the open sky is its kingdom where

its wings feel freedom, which gives peaceful happiness to its life. Among animals, a

shelter holds them safe, and the food that fills their tummy is quiet joy. Joy is not the

same for every living being. Resting on mother’s lap and getting her warmth gives a

real joy to a baby. A mother’s happiness lives in her child’s smile. So people’s joy

depends on their needs. These are the simple rules of our life. Yet in today’s world,

they seem to fade.

Because in this world where we’re living now, everybody seeks joy through money

and wealth, striving to earn through effort and hard work while others try to gain it

through crooked ways. But money eats the lives of people. In chasing money, most of

the people lose all joy in their lives. Here people’s joy is dominated by their desires.

Because money is a need, not our life, human hearts often place desires above

necessities, pushing us to seek wealth beyond what we need, which is called greed.

The root cause of greed is the inner self of humans. A human always prioritises his

heart over his mind.

There is a story that shows how the human heart and desire can lead to so-called

joy. Once a farmer had a goose which laid golden eggs every day. The farmer sold

the golden eggs and became rich. He led a joyful life with his family. But one day, he

felt his wealth was never enough for him. And he became greedy. The goose laid

only one egg a day, but if I open the goose, I will get all the eggs at once. So he took

a knife and cut open the goose. But he saw no eggs in it. Though he lived a fulfilled

life and had everything he needed, his heart kept telling him he had not found true

joy. Chasing desires above his needs let his heart define his happiness. And in the

end he lost everything. Our hearts never feel fulfilled and satisfied. They keep telling

us that if we gain one thing, we will be happy. But once we get it, they point us

towards something else. And I think that we spend our whole lives seeking a joy that

does not truly exist in this world. In our teenage years, success in studies feels like a

joy. In our twenties, we find happiness in getting jobs and earning money. In our

thirties, our joy is often tied to our children and their success. In old age, we seek joy in our healthy and longer life. If we fail at any of these stages, we become heart

broken and disappointed. Our happiness is changing constantly from birth to death.

In reality, we do not even know what gives joy to our life. Desires are like the waves

of the sea; they never cease to come.

A couple once had no children and suffered unbearable pain because of it. They

prayed constantly and felt disappointed by their fate. Then one day, they received

the joyful news that they were going to have a baby. They believed they had finally

found the happiness they had waited for. A son was born. They raised him with

great affection. They bought him everything for him but as he grew up, he fell into

bad company and became a troubled boy. In the end, he became addicted to

drugs. They had given him food, clothes and endless love, but they had forgotten to

guide him towards a good life. The thing that they once believed would bring them

joy later brought them pain. Now they are regretting and realising that their

happiness is now the cause of sorrow.

So the human heart shapes both our joy and our grief. In reality, there is no lasting

joy in worldly things. We are running from one pursuit to another, chasing

achievement after achievement because we do not know what truly brings us joy. We

have simply let hearts control us. The only way to find real joy, whether in failure or

success, is through satisfaction. We must accept everything in life as it is. When we

learn to accept our life this way, we feel relief, and that relief becomes our true joy.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, celebrates diverse voices in literature. Writers from around the globe showcase their creative talents, exploring various themes and storytelling techniques. This competition fosters a vibrant community of writers, encouraging them to engage with readers through their unique perspectives and literary expressions.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Thushaleny for sharing "What is Real Joy?" with us. Your participation in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 enriches our understanding of joy and contentment. We look forward to seeing more of your insightful reflections in the future.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.