THE JOYS OF LIFE
Life is full of Joyful moments - they come upon us unannounced and can sometimes be quite fleeting. If we don't stop and appreciate them, we can miss them entirely. We take so many blessings for granted - our health, our family, our friends, sunshine, rain, laughter, and the list goes on. Sometimes we need to stop the busyness of life and take a moment to smell the roses.EMBRACING JOY
This is what Embracing Joy is all about. It's taking the time to appreciate the beauty of our lives and the people who are a part of us. Every day small moments come our way....sharing a joke with a friend, sharing a memory with our partner, seeing our children behave in a way that makes us proud, getting a difficult job done and done well.Too often we are focused down into the depths of all the things that are going wrong, all the illnesses and troubles and other little annoyances that beset our lives. We are upset at the person who stole that great parking spot, peeved when our co-worker left their coffee cup in the sink (AGAIN), or when our children didn't call, or our husband forgot to get the washing in when it was raining. There are just SO many little irritants that suck the joy out of our day.
IT'S TIME TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS
Maybe it's time to turn our focus away from those upsets and instead acknowledge the lovely little happenings in our day. They don't have to be big drum-roll events - we'd all like to win Lotto, or take a trip overseas, or watch our child marry the perfect person, but those are the standout points - they don't come every day and we can't expect them to. What we need to look for are the little snippet moments that pop up all the time and often go by under the radar while we're "busy making other plans"...
Let's start looking for, and celebrating the joyful moments - our morning coffee, a hug from someone we love (give one if none are being offered), a friendly smile, a shared laugh, a lick from our dog or a nuzzle from our cat, a text from our child who lives away from home, a shaft of sunlight in just the right spot, finding something we love on sale, receiving a compliment (remember to say thank you!), chocolate, baby smiles, cheerful greetings, I could keep going forever if I'm not careful. Embrace it all and watch your smile get wider and your sense of being blessed increase with every joyful encounter.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Think about the little things you get joy from and leave them in the comments - I'd love to have a few more examples to add to my list.
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So true Leanne. I think joyful moments are ones that we might miss if we aren't aware. They are the special but simple moments no winning lotto but taking the time to appreciate a sunrise or sunset or just a beautiful blue sky.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many little moments if we look for them Sue - and if we appreciate them enough, winning Lotto doesn't even seem that desirable any more :)
DeleteVery true! If we don't slow down and enjoy what's around us we'll often miss some of the most beautiful things in life. Like that beautiful granddaughter of yours! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeletethanks Carol! She is gorgeous isn't she? I can't believe I've entered the Nana club and what a lovely time of life it is - small joys indeed :)
DeleteAnother great post. I love the Brene Brown quote. She is really hitting my issues and touching my sensibilities lately. I am working hard on enjoying the small moments. Maybe as I age zi am realizing that we shouldn't miss out on our lives.
ReplyDeleteBrene is becoming my go-to guru for this stage of life Michele - she is just so straightforward and down to earth - and addresses a lot of issues I didn't even know I had! And yes we need to make sure we enjoy every moment of this life we've been given :)
DeleteYes...so many blessings every day. It's all in your focus. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeletemy pleasure Cathy - it's a great reminder to myself as well - celebrate the small joys every day!
DeleteI sometimes find that I get derailed by the most tiny, minor things. We do need to embrace all those wonderful little things that happen to us throughout the day instead.
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to let little things get us down Rosie - I'm working on trying to get past them (usually after a small period of dwelling on them - because that's me!) and looking for the bright and sunny things instead.
DeleteThis is something I have been working really hard on the last year. Sure I slip and let the iritantation sneak in, but for the most part life seems much smoother since I try to focus on the happy. Thanks for sharing our post on #FridayFrivolity. I hope you will party with us again.
ReplyDeleteHi Audrey - it's been something for me to be working on over the last year or so too. It makes for a much happier and more content life if you see your blessings and appreciate them.
DeleteThis is a beautiful reminder to actively seek joy. It's truly all around us. The great part is that we're capable of being the joy for others.
ReplyDeleteI love that Brene Brown quote! Thank you for sharing.
I like the idea of being joy for others - it's such a nice thought that we can make a positive difference in other people's lives - being a joyful person tends to overflow doesn't it? :)
DeleteI like your suggestions. I am turning 49 this summer and I love it. I welcome getting older and wiser. I love your Ellen quote too, by the way. Congrats on the A to Z. I did it too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy - the A to Z was certainly a challenge, and it's lovely to have finished it. I think Ellen has some very insightful things to say and with wonderful humour!
DeleteYour list is a lot like mine, Leanne. So many moments to be joyful and yet we sometimes want to focus on the things that go wrong.
ReplyDeleteI am a classic case of finding the cloud in the silver lining at times Corinne, but I am working on myself and choosing to focus more on the good stuff and shaking off the rest :)
DeleteHi Leanne,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post. Too many people focus on the negative.
Thank you for bringing your post to the Blogger's Pit Stop.
Janice, Pit Stop Crew
I think getting older gives you a choice - to keep being negative and head into grumpy old woman-dom or start looking for the blessings and become someone who is fun to be around (I know which I choose!)
DeleteCongratulations Leanne,
ReplyDeleteYou are the Pit Stop winner!
You'll be featured this Friday.
Janice
That's wonderful Janice - I feel very honoured!
DeleteFabulous post. Embracing joy is something I will work on this week. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Always focus on the positive. That is the way to go. Joy is it. :)
ReplyDeleteJoyful moments are a pleasure and a treasure never to be missed. They momentarily erase the miserable times.
ReplyDelete