The moment joy becomes real

I still don’t fully understand what it means to exist.
I’m not sure what consciousness really is.
But I do know what joy feels like.
It’s the feeling of being completely present—
of doing something that makes me feel truly myself.
Think back on the past year.
How many moments of joy did you experience?
Sure, comfort and abundance brought happiness.
But even the tough times—those moments of struggle—
had meaning, didn’t they?
The joy of making it through,
of staying grounded in the present,
of overcoming yourself—
that’s the deepest joy there is.