Dear Readers,

With so much tragedy in the world, it’s sometimes hard to remember the beautiful things about life.  When we turn on our televisions or click on a website, we’re immediately bombarded with images of devastation and sadness.  Why do we insist on dwelling in the darkness of life when there is so much light?

Joy is just a three letter word, but there is so much meaning behind those three letters, and we can all benefit from seeking out our own little bit of joy.  We don’t have to search in the deepest recesses of our life because joy is all around us.  We can find joy in the simplest of things.  For me, I feel joy when I sit at the beach on a warm day and read a good book.  I feel joy when I watch my cats play, uninhibited and blissfully unaware of the world around them.  Joy is when the first flower sprouts on my orchid whose branches have been bare all winter.  I’m joyful as I write this; because I’m doing something that I love.

In his book Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness In Everyday Life, Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, wrote, “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness.  If you are attentive, you will see it”. Take a moment to look around you, to be attentive.  What do you see?    Hopefully, you see the possibilities of joy in your own life.

In this issue, award-winning author, poet, and musician Debra Marquart talks to Mason’s Road about learning to love the place she left behind, how the smell of alfalfa inspired her memoir, and the many joys of a creative life.

Daniela Zaccheo

Nonfiction Editor