Enlarging the Joy

My first experience at BYU was a late summer honors course on novel writing. Our professor started each period with a brief exercise to get us in the creative mindset.

On the third day, the prompt was to reflect on our happiest moments. As I started to write, I realized all of my happy moments were connected to my family. I pictured nights at the little league diamond watching my brother, drives in the car with my mom, and outings with my dad to our favorite ice cream shack in the cornfields.

Earlier that morning my mom had gone home to Illinois. Sitting at my desk in the Maeser Building, I felt sadness over being away from my family bubble up in my throat and rush out my eyes in tears.

I stood up to leave, and my professor asked me what was wrong.

“My happy moments make me really sad right now,” I said, leaving the classroom.

When I returned ten minutes later, the professor had written what I said on the board. I was embarrassed and worried she was mad, but she motioned me back to my desk.

“This,” she said, striking the chalkboard, “is what real writing is.”

The Spirit spread warmness through my body, sending goose pimples down my arms. She went on to explain how writing is often strongest when grounded by emotions, especially the ones that are hard for us put into words.

Her lesson and the Spirit’s confirmation taught me that writing helps us work through difficult feelings. I’ve found the experiences that elicit strong emotional responses are often my favorite to write about because they bring me to the Savior. He helps me see and write the story, while also healing the pain or enlarging the joy.