Written by Heather Tritten, President and CEO
Joy can feel out of place during difficult times. When budgets are tight, needs are great, and every decision feels heavy, joy may seem naïve or indulgent. Yet joy is necessary to sustain us through moments of uncertainty or frustration. A little bit of laughter or the delight of seeing a flower peeking out of the ground provides a little bit of levity that can break through even the toughest situations.
I have come to see joy as an act of resilience, essential to maintaining the momentum required to create real and lasting change.
This act of resilience is something that is fully engrained in every child. Kids are always looking for something that brings joy through play and exploration. And they find it everywhere – in the whoosh of a swing, the excitement of success in the classroom or a high-five on the field. Children yearn to run, play, and connect. They continually seek joy and create laughter, even under difficult circumstances. We could learn a lot from their example.
Joy also brings hope. Hope is what really sees us through tough times. If joy is an act of resilience, it’s hope that propels us forward to take risks and enter tough spaces, because we believe change is possible. Anyone who has watched a child learn something new, build an imaginary world, or struggle to master a skill knows that hopes and dreams lead to change and growth. Children use their inherent joy as fuel to persist. They remind us that joy is not the absence of struggle; it is the presence of possibility.
April can be a heavy time for the work we do at The Campaign. It’s budget season, we are tired, and our reserves are running low. The strain is real. But so is the hope.
As budget debates continue and policy decisions are weighed, we know that investing in our children is both an economic calculation and an affirmation that tomorrow matters. This belief fuels compromise, innovation, and collaboration across systems. Legislators negotiate. Educators adapt. Communities step in. Families persevere. Adults come together so kids can be kids.
Joy shows up in small victories and in meaningful policy shifts.
Right now, I feel hopeful. I choose to look for joy – not because I’m naïve or because I don’t feel the weight of budget deficits, ugly politics, or even war. I feel it all, but I am inspired by the optimism and excitement of children. Their example pushes me forward. I choose to find joy and it helps me continue to fight the good fight with purpose rather than despair.
Colorado’s future depends on our ability to face hard decisions with humanity rather than fear as much as it depends on balanced budgets and passed bills. It requires us to approach complex problems with the curiosity, openness, and imagination of a child, instead of the cynicism we too often accept in adulthood. By choosing to notice and nurture joy, we make a profound statement. Difficulty does not define us, and hope is not reserved for easier days. We can practice hope and joy now, in the belief that the work we do and the investments we make in children light the way forward.
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