Tag Archives: joy

Connecting with everyone I can.

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Daily writing prompt
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
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Well, waking up each morning is certainly dandy.

I will continue to appreciate that gift for as long as I am able and given it. No matter the current state of mind, body or soul, just getting to do that is a great start. Then, you get to make the most of it after that. And if things work out, you will get another.

Once I get things situated so my best friend has all she needs to teach and lead for the day, I get to head to church for communion service or mass. An opportunity to just sit and take in all I have been gifted, with an attitude of gratitude. Gather in a sense of belonging to something much bigger than myself with all those around me. Talk about happiness.

Through my vocation, I get to engage happiness in many forms It might be I n the form of job development for individuals with diverse abilities. Coaching basketball and power lifting for Special Olympics provides a limitless supply of happiness. Throw in some football coaching in the fall, and then it comes at me from all directions.

Once her day is over, teaching is done, and mediation determines the menu, we get to make dinner together. We try all sorts of different dishes, whatever just so happens to be the flavor of the day. These recipes are always two plus servings worthy, and great eaten cold, right out the fridge the next day or so. But the best part is that we can do it together. Mingle in some dancing and that takes happiness to the next level, joy.

Lastly, the interaction which guarantees pure joy, is being able to connect with my kids and grand kids. We might get a group text for a movie or game that lasts through the night. the latest video of Cal taking steps, Molly laughing or Amelia running with the football. Might just be catching up some afternoon at home, over dinner, on a walk or simply talking on the phone. Any way we do it and go brings this one joy.

So if you take a step back and take a second glance, you will find that ach of these examples are contingent on one main ingredient. The source of all happiness and the pure joy which follows.

Connection.

Sure, there might be an aspect of these examples that can bring me happiness just because I get to do them. But if they do not involve another in some shape way or form, then where does that get you?

Does taking a walk alone or working out at PF lack connection? Not in my estimation. In the former, you are experiencing a neighborhood, house by house, yard by yard. At PF, there is eye contact, “are you using this?” or absorbing the energy of another in how they work out.

Even now, as I peer out the kitchen window and rap this out, what sense of happiness or joy would it provide if I merely added the last period, closed the Chromebook, turned off the mouse and put ’em in the drawer?

So that being said, what are the five everyday things that bring you happiness?

Connecting with everyone I can.

The clutter of joy.

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Daily writing prompt
Where can you reduce clutter in your life?
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….how many gigs do I have for this one?

I have bins of old clothes and such that are in the next phase of their trip to Goodwill. There are pictures that will never be hung again, so they can can be disassembled, the frames going with the clothes to GW and the photos being filed away. Some personal collateral needs one final encounter, then needs to either stay or go. After that, not much to be honest. Don’t really have that much.

While the physical things have been contained in about six or so bins, the most prevalent resting places for true life clutter are not consigned to the basement storage area. The things I once collected are what has been left behind and what is just not here yet.

You can decide to shred the old letters, college papers, credit card records and the like and use it to fuel the fire pit. But the mistakes, poor judgement, character flaws and ego won’t fit into one. Perhaps a compactor, or a roll off dumpster. Or two to start in my case. That collection just needs to be let go of, allowed to evaporate into the ether.

The disorder that has yet to arrive, wishes written on a “to do” or kept in a “bucket” list can become just as distracting as those left behind. Taking you away from where you are, what you need to do, how you need to improve and why you need to change things up. That assortment can collide with recollections of the mistakes, poor judgement and the like, confirming the ill will that has come to clutter your view of your true self. Talk about a mess.

And yet if you stay where you are, fully in this moment, you will come to accumulate some amazing things. Peace and serenity for one. A sense that this is just where I need to be right now, totally engaged in the here and now. You will accumulate well being. Belonging. A sense of self. And most of all, joy.

As that collection begins to grow, you will better understand how those of the past needed to be experienced and endured to bring you here. And fundamental aspects of things not yet here will become known so that what you choose to do now eventually takes you there.

Firmly ensconced in the present, you will begin to accumulate the things of a life well lived.

The clutter of joy.

Joy

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With an open heart and mind, plus a  little effort, there is much joy to be found all around you.And for some reason you may have to learn how to find it.  Gain a sense of what it looks like. Sounds like.  Feels like. 

It is beyond fun.  

I  am telling you it lasts way longer than just plain old fun.  

Way longer. 

Mostly because it is like this living, breathing being. Your  partner in  all the things you do, the efforts you make and the commitments you honor.

Now this  may sound dumb, but it can be found in some of the oddest places.  

Like at a practice.  

Working after class with your calc teacher to understand differential equations.  

Struggling to master an adagio.  

Tutoring a youngster to speak English. 

Little things that bring more than just fun.

Something far deeper than happiness. 

So let me ask you this:  

You ever really listen to what it sounds like when you are having a great practice?  

Capture that sensation when you solve a linear partial differential equation on your own? 

Feel the deliberate, meandering nature of a well executed adagio ? 

Or share in the sense of wonderment that comes with reading your first sentence?  

Little things that may not seem like all that much.  

Instants that can dissipate before you know it.  

But moments you can return to over and over and over again. 

As often as you like. 

Once you have been there.  

And know what they look, sound and feel like.  

That living, breathing being. 

Partner in  all the things you do.  The efforts you make. 

And the commitments you honor.

Joy.

(Came across this one from 2015.)