The Roots of Morning Joy

Between my 25th and 30th years working at UM-Dearborn, life was full. I was working full-time, attending school part-time, and even launching my own interior design business. And somehow, in the midst of that full schedule, I still found moments to create beauty and meaning in my everyday environment. Without realizing it, I began planting the early seeds of what I now know as Morning Joy.

I started decorating my office cubicle using the Bagua Map as my guide. It became more than just a workspace—it was a peaceful retreat. People often lingered at my desk, not just to talk, but to feel. They’d tell me it was calming. Comforting. Inspiring.

I created photo collages—collections of images and words that reminded me of what I was dreaming of. I changed them often, letting them tell new stories, reflecting my evolving hopes. People noticed. And sometimes, when a coworker needed encouragement or a reminder of their light, I’d create a collage just for them. A few even cried when they saw what I saw in them.

At the time, I called them Soul Snapshots. I just followed what felt good. And looking back, I see so clearly:

Morning Joy didn’t arrive suddenly.

It’s been growing through me for years.

Through beauty. Through space-making. Through the quiet art of seeing people.

I share this to remind you: the things that call to us don’t come out of nowhere. They rise from the sacred ground of our lived experience.

We’re never starting from scratch. We’re remembering the way.