Finding Joy in the Process (Even When It Is Hard)
Finding Joy in the Process (Even When It Is Hard)
This week was tough. Being under the weather is never fun, and it definitely slowed me down physically. I had all these ideas, all these plans to push my Artistic Experiment (AE) forward, but my body was saying, “Nope.” At first, I felt frustrated, like I was wasting precious time. But then, I decided to shift my focus. Instead of throwing away the week, I used it differently. I dug deeper into my characters, refined my concept, and found new inspiration that completely reinvigorated my vision.
Sometimes, creativity is not just about physically doing, it is about seeing, listening, and absorbing. And honestly, I think this shift in approach made my project even stronger.
Happiness is Contagious: The Core of My Story
I knew from the start that my Dance Storytelling Mini-Series was about joy, but this week really made me rethink how I want to frame it. I stumbled across some incredible videos that reinforced the idea that happiness, like dance, is infectious.
Take Coca-Cola’s “Happiness Starts with a Smile” campaign.
In the video, a guy on a subway watches something on his phone and starts laughing—loudly. At first, people look at him like he is crazy, but then something amazing happens. His laugh is so genuine, so contagious, that people around him start laughing too. Soon, the whole subway car is smiling and giggling, and they do not even know why.
Please watch the video below:
QUESTION: Did you find yourself laughing or smiling as you watched?
It reminded me of what Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis explains in his talk, “Happiness is Contagious”. He discusses how emotions ripple through human networks, meaning my happiness is not just mine, it affects my friends, their friends, and even people beyond them. It spreads like an invisible force.
Please watch the video below:
QUESTION: Have you experienced this before?
This concept hit me hard. This is exactly what my Happy Virus character is doing in my AE. He is not just a guy dancing; he is sparking a ripple effect, turning boredom into energy, resistance into movement, and hesitation into joy.
And then there was Giovanni Maroki’s TEDx talk, “Smiles are Contagious”. Giovanni, a first-grader, talks about how something as small as a smile can completely change someone’s day. He recalls how a simple smile from a friend picked him up when he was feeling left out. I loved this reminder. A smile is such a small, effortless thing, yet it has the power to shift an entire mood. That is exactly what my project is about, using movement to create a ripple effect of joy.
Please watch video below:
Reimagining My Characters: Backstories & Development
With all this new inspiration, I realized I wanted to go deeper with my characters. Originally, they were just “The Nerd” and “The Cool Kid,” but now, I want to explore who they are before the Happy Virus enters their world.
The Nerd
He has always loved music but has never been confident enough to dance.
He scrolls through dance videos on social media but never actually tries the moves himself.
In the opening scene, he looks tired, slouched over his phone, wishing he could be the kind of person who dances freely.
The Cool Kid
He prides himself on being too “chill” to get overly excited about things.
He likes dance, but only when he is in control—he does not want to look silly or out of place.
He rolls his eyes when the Happy Virus appears, but deep down, he is intrigued.
The Happy Virus
He is the embodiment of infectious joy.
His energy is so pure and confident that people cannot help but be drawn in.
He does not force anyone to dance, he just makes it impossible not to join in.
Now, the story is not just about two people reluctantly dancing, it is about breaking through self-imposed limitations. The Nerd wants to dance but is afraid to. The Cool Kid does not want to be seen trying. The Happy Virus comes in, not to push them, but to light a spark that they cannot ignore.
What This Means for My AE Moving Forward
Even though I was not able to be as physically active this week, I feel like I made a huge leap creatively. My next steps are now much clearer.
Refining Choreography: Now that I understand my characters better, their movement will feel more natural and true to their personalities.
Filming Test Clips: I want to experiment with different ways of showing how their transformation happens. Building the Visual Storytelling: How do I capture the moment the Nerd and the Cool Kid go from resisting to fully letting go?
My Final Reflection
This week reminded me that creation is not always about doing, it is also about thinking, feeling, and reimagining. Even when I could not move as much as I wanted to, I still found ways to move forward. And most importantly, I remembered why I am doing this AE in the first place. Dance is more than steps, it is connection, transformation, and pure, infectious joy. Now, I want to hear from you: What is something small that has made you smile lately? Drop a comment, and let us keep this ripple of joy going.
Stay tuned, next week, it is time to dance. 🎶✨
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