In my book, The ABCs of Joyful Living, it is my pleasure to literally lead you along a path to rediscover joy, from A to Z; Awareness to Zest. Now, in a series of blog posts, I’ll be sharing many of the insights that I offered in my book, in the hope that you too will discover a few of the secrets that I’ve learned about keeping joy in my life daily. If these posts also lead you to buy my book, that will also add to my joy! Before we move into the alphabetized list of tips, I’d like…
The Apocalypse? That’s not a very loving and joyful thing for a Joyologist to write about, you may be saying. Well just because I’m all about love and joy doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a good story. I like the TV shows, Movies and books about the terrible impending end of the world just like any one else. Whether it be Zombies of the Walking Dead, a terrible virus, Aliens from another planet, a bloody war between nations, atomic bombs, solar flares, earthquakes, floods, fires or any other type of disaster that will destroy the earth as we know it….
Is there really such a thing as the perfect valentine? Maybe it’s finding that perfect card that says exactly what is in your heart? Or it could be a beautiful box of chocolates or a dozen red roses? Maybe it’s a surprise date where everything is set up and ordered and delivered in total perfection and blissful love? Or it’s cuddling up with and being intimate with a special someone? Well what about those who don’t have a special someone? What about those who dread this holiday that was truly made just to find the perfect card, the perfect gift,…
So here’s how my 2016-2017 New Year’s went. The clock was ticking and we were trying to make it back to our hotel room in time to celebrate the big change. Nice hot pizza boxes in hand. We only had a few minutes til midnight. The elevator was climbing approaching our floor and then it stopped but the doors refused to open. We found ourselves stuck in the elevator between floors. Oh great! This isn’t how New Year’s Eve was supposed to go. Fortunately we were able to push another floor button sending the elevator there and then somehow it…
GIVING is the true spirit of Christmas that we all believe in. Following the wise and old adage of “It is better to give than to receive” becomes the common theme and spirit of the Holiday season. And giving truly is a great thing. I simply want to add another part to give more understanding to and living in the true spirit of giving. And that is: RECEIVING I remember when my oldest son was younger. I was trying to teach him the importance of that statement. As we talked about all the things on his Christmas list that he…
Every year it seems we caught in a struggle of what are the best Christmas gifts to give. The lists get longer, the prices higher, and the stress and expectations more severe and demanding. Whether these struggles are real or imagined, created by ourselves or society…we all still like to participate and have JOY in the Holiday Season…no one likes to be a Grinch! So to help ease your struggle a bit, I’ve created a list of the best gifts that you can give. These gifts will meet everyone’s needs, especially your own, in making it possible to experience a…
“A man should hear a little music…every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe If you read my post on Dance this one on Music is a bit like it. It’s not about actual notes, chords and lyrics that are played or sung on a piano, guitar, violin or choir. While that is all wonderful music that we ought to be listening to every day as well. This is about the Music of everyday life. Listening to the notes,…
If you could do one simple thing for a few minutes each day that would: Boost your immune system Decrease physical pain Lower stress hormones Relax tense muscles Improve your blood flow function Help prevent heart disease Ease anxiety and fear Improve your mood Make you more resilient Improve your relationships Make you more attractive and appealing Reduce conflict and confusion in your life Bring you great and joy Would you do it? It wouldn’t even require you to think very long or hard about anything. And it wouldn’t cost you tons of money or time. Want to know what…
My very first journal entry was made when I was 6 years old before I couldn’t even write! I remember dictating what I wanted to be written down to my older brother. He reluctantly but carefully scripted the words I spoke. The tape is a bit yellowed and has lost some of its stickiness but it still holds the tattered piece of leather cut from an old purse wrapped around a classic bound Mead school notebook. The words “My Journal” are lovingly etched across the front. Although somewhat faded, those first penciled words as well as other later ones…
Imagination is a powerful tool! Yet it is something that we often don’t use to its full capacity. Especially as we get older and busier in life we tend to think that we don’t need to give in to childish imaginations. That it’s kids stuff and as grown ups we need to do grown up things. Well an imagination isn’t just kids stuff. Imagination is a very grown up thing. And something that as grown ups we should learn to use more fully and intently as children do. Maybe as grown ups you’d prefer the term Manifestation! It’s pretty much…