Joy is already here

This evening, I checked out of a hotel after attending a conference. The check-out counter was super-crowded and the hotel staff looked totally overwhelmed with the sudden rush. Despite their immaculate make up and perfectly draped saris, they looked harrowed and tense. With a frown on their forehead, they gazed so hard into their computer screens, the screens could crack. The stress in the air was palpable. Finally, I checked out and left. During the fifteen minutes’ drive to the airport, my doctor brain kept wondering about the impact of work-related stress in people’s lives.

With this trail of thoughts in my mind as I entered the washroom at T1 airport in Delhi, a pair of bright shiny eyes caught my attention. She greeted me with a warm toothy smile. Not only did she welcome me, but she also cleaned the stall before I entered and even offered to flush it for me as there were some mechanical issues with it. For the next ten minutes she chatted with me and every other lady who walked in, her smile constant and the eyes gleaming.

As a token of my appreciation, I offered her a small tip. “Arre didi, It’s alright! No need for this!” I insisted that she take it, for I did not know how else to thank her. Chances were that I would most likely never meet her again in my life.

As I walked out, I realized, that I had just met a human being who was doing one of the most menial jobs in the world. She probably had bigger personal challenges at home. And yet she did it with a smile on her face and expected nothing in return. The washroom was her sanctuary. She welcomed everyone whole heartedly and made sure it was spotless.  It was evident that she found pride and purpose in her work. She was happy and she radiated joy.

We spend much of our lives at work. Yet for many, joy remains elusive — lost in the noise of long hours, office politics, or difficult relationships. We often compartmentalize our existence into “work life,” “family life,” or “social life,” waiting for some perfect day when happiness will finally arrive.

But joy is not a distant destination; it is in every moment. Some people are fortunate enough to find work that they truly love. But most of us can learn to love what we do. When that shift happens, we break free. Every moment — whether at a desk, in a clinic, or even in a crowded washroom — becomes an opportunity to feel alive and at peace.

Then it doesn’t really matter where we work, what role we play, or who our boss is. Joy is not outside; it’s within us. And when it does, it cannot be taken away by circumstances, other people, or the ups and downs of life.

PS: In the journey of life, we sometimes meet people who leave an imprint on our consciousness. I write and share these moments so that they can ripple outward and become part of a larger human experience

©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker