Month: August 2014

day 23 journey with joy ~ places…

It’s been a gray day here, with a thunder storm rolling through earlier bringing lots of rain and thunder and lightning. For a few different reasons, it’s been hard today for me to make a connection to joy.

Hard to feel the joy.

(even if I know it’s there, inside)

On days like this it helps me if I can think of anything – and any place – where I’ve felt joy.

For me, the beach holds many, many joyful memories and feelings.

At times when you have a hard time connecting with joy, thinking of a place you love might help.

♥

day 14 journey with joy ~ taking a break

Sometimes connecting with joy means taking a break and getting more rest. ‘Cause if we’re exhausted – physically or emotionally – it can sort of block the channel to joy.

(I’m not talking about feeling physically exhausted in that ‘good’ sort of way, like when you’ve had a wonderful day doing something that lights you on fire or has been full of fun or good times with loved ones… I’m talking about the not-so-good kind of being physically exhausted.)

Self-care can help with connecting to joy.

And sometimes self-care is getting more rest.

 

 

day 12 journey with joy ~ hanging out…

Today… partly cloudy outside, hot but not blazing. It was very very late when I finally went to sleep last night but I was able to sleep late this morning – which gave me a really late start to my day, but that’s okay because today is a day when I only had a few things planned. And today is a day when I wanted to mostly be in that take-it-easy space.

(fortunately, my schedule allowed for it too)

My husband had an unexpected change at work – nothing bad – and around mid-day he called to tell me he was coming home a few hours early.

Suddenly the afternoon felt sort of like a play day. Or a surprise vacation day.

On his way home, he stopped at a local Tex-Mex restaurant, got my favorite meal, and brought it to me for lunch.

We ate in front of the tv and watched a show we always enjoy watching together.

We’ve just been watching tv and hanging out.

I realize some people would say watching tv isn’t a great way to spend a free afternoon… but I say it’s our life, our free time, and there are shows we enjoy. I’m not going to pretend I don’t like tv and movies. Entertainment in front of the tube has its purpose.

This was a simple way to spend an afternoon. A relaxing way.

But it felt – it has been – an afternoon of joy.

♥