The Wonderful World of Joy
Once upon a time, there was a 12-year-old girl named Giulia. Giulia wasn’t sad, she wasn’t
happy—she was just… bored. Every day felt the same, like a dull, black-and-white movie. Wake
up, go to school, come home, do homework, go to English or German classes, swimming class,
scroll on her phone, sleep—repeat.
But one day, as she lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, she came across a quote:
“If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong.” – Groucho Marx.
She sat up. Was she doing something wrong? Was she waiting for fun to magically appear instead
of creating it?
Determined to change, she ran outside and took a deep breath. For the first time, she really
noticed the world. The golden sunlight kissing the rooftops. The whisper of the wind through the
trees. The laughter of children riding their bikes. She suddenly remembered an old song her
grandmother loved—"What a Wonderful World."
"I see trees of green, red roses too…’’
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed days, the dark sacred nights
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBrd_3VMC3c
She hummed along, and for the first time, she truly felt the words. The world was wonderful! She
just hadn’t been looking.
So, Giulia made a decision. She was going to have fun!
She started small—she played. She played hide-and-seek with her little brother until they were
both out of breath. She built a giant pillow fort in the living room and turned it into her secret
hideout. She filled balloons with water and had an epic battle with her best friend. Games
weren’t just for passing time; they were for feeling alive.
Then she remembered something else—adventure! She grabbed her bike and rode as fast as she
could, letting the wind whip through her hair. She climbed the tallest tree in her backyard and felt
like the queen of the world. She took a notebook and wrote down all the crazy, silly things she
wanted to try—like making the weirdest ice cream flavor (pickle and chocolate… yuck!) or
learning how to do a cartwheel without falling on her face.
But the real magic happened when she turned on her favourite song. The moment the first notes
filled the air, her feet started tapping, her heart started beating to the rhythm, and before she knew
it—she was dancing. Not to impress anyone. Not to be perfect. But just because it felt good.
Music wasn’t just sound; it was freedom. It was joy. It was like her soul had been sleeping and
had finally woken up!
Then she was the best actress on the stage! What a performance! What a feeling!
That night, as she lay in bed, her face hurt from smiling so much. She realized something
important—fun wasn’t something you waited for. Fun was something you created.
So from that day on, she decided that life would never be boring again.
Because, after all, if you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong.
