A Kid's Joy

Finding Joy

Joy is the feeling of grinning inside.

— Melba Colgrove

Joy is possible where ever and whenever you are.  You just have to catch it.

There’s a story that’s been making the rounds on the internet.  It’s about an experiment conducted by the Washington Post.  You may have heard this story before… Continue reading » Finding Joy

Working chihuahua

Working Like a Dog

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Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.

— Buddha

Do you work like a dog?  When we use that phrase, we often mean that we’re working really, really hard… and not necessarily feeling good about it.

Have you ever watched a dog work?  It truly is a sight to behold.  Dogs work with such dedication and focus that they often put us to shame.  Watch any service dog.  Their focus is on the person that they are serving.  They don’t get bored.  There’s never a thought that the person isn’t good enough for them.  They serve with their whole hearts.

Some dogs even volunteer.  They go to Continue reading » Working Like a Dog

JUMP 4 JOY

Jump for Joy!

Creative Commons LicensePhoto credit: Renee Silverman
When something you’re worried about turns out better than OK – how do you express yourself?

Joy is the grace we say to God.

— Jean Ingelow

After what seemed like a long and worrisome wait, we got GOOD news… Hearing that precious news brought us to our feet and left us babbling with elation and relief.  And still, days later, our smiles are wide – we’re jumping for joy!

One joy scatters a hundred griefs.

— Chinese Proverb

For the sake of this post, it doesn’t matter exactly what our good news was… suffice to say that we are most happy to be once again looking at the world through the lens of hopeful optimism. Continue reading » Jump for Joy!

Crayola 2

Launch the Crayola Bomb!

Creative Commons LicensePhoto credit: CrayonWrangler
May you enjoy all the colors of Christmas!

PattiAnn and I wish you the best of Christmases!  Eat, pray, love… Yeah I know I stole that line but it seems to fit the season.  So I say it again… as you gather with loved ones (or ones who need your loving presence) to eat, pray, love – may your celebration of Christmas paint your world with the colors of joy and good will.

Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon.  A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would Continue reading » Launch the Crayola Bomb!

Phillip the smiling dog

Joy to the World

Creative Commons LicensePhoto credit: BotheredByBees

This post is part of the Pet Writer’s Blog Carnival.


Joy is not in things; it is in us.

— Richard Wagner

Today, Wonder Dog (WD) and I walked to the local grocery store.  We were going there because I have recently discovered Redbox (www.Redbox.com).  If you’re not familiar with Redbox, it’s the magic machine in most local grocery stores that lets you rent a relatively recent movie for just $1.00.  What a deal, when you go out to the website you can watch trailers and reserve a movie at a particular location.  Then you go pick it up and it’s due by 9:00 the next evening or, horror of horrors, you owe them… another dollar.  This I can afford.

But Redbox isn’t why I’m writing this post.  I’m writing because I have discovered the secret of creation.  I know this sounds a bit Continue reading » Joy to the World

Cup o’ Inspiration

cup with steam swirl

Take a short break and consider the following:

“Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.”

Joseph Campbell

From the Giftshop

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Recommended Reading

Image of The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (Expanded and Adapted for Small Groups)
Image of The Complete Artist's Way: Creativity as a Spiritual Practice
Image of Organizing from the Right Side of the Brain: A Creative Approach to Getting Organized
Image of Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity