On Saturday, Challenge Detroit fellows volunteered at the Clark Park Winter Festival. Having never face painted before, I set out to turn kids into super heroes, princesses, dragons and angels. Or at least that was the attempt.

I had forgotten how much happiness being Batman for a day can bring. It was therapeutic. Being able to create something, to throw myself into making a good experience for someone was energizing in a way I hadn’t felt in a while.

There’s a quote in my favorite Bollywood movie that says: Agar kisi ka dukh baantna hi chahte ho, toh kaam aisa karo ki dusro ki zindagi mein khushiyan aaye. Loosely translated it means, if you really want to ease someone’s suffering, do some thing that brings happiness into their life.

To be honest, it has been hard for me to find my own happiness these past few weeks, let alone bring it into someone else’s life. I’m an energy absorber, and there is so much angry rhetoric, cynicism and frustration to absorb. But, there are also moments that remind of how many beautiful experiences exist in the world.

Moments like walking into the DTE parking lot and witnessing the sun set on the city skyline (lowkey my favorite part of the day). Or a text from family and friends to check in and make sure I’m okay – and to convince me I’ll be okay when I don’t believe it. Or coming home in the middle of a snowstorm to a warm cup of tea and paintbrushes.

I’ve spent a lot of time recently thinking about what I don’t like, what I am frustrated by. There is value in identifying that, understanding why and in feeling the pain and anger. But with that, I’m going to also focus on what I can create, what makes me feel alive, what I can do to bring happiness into those spaces.