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October 25, 2020: Seeking Joy

Autumn’s glory and kaleidoscope of brilliant color is fleeting.  Here in northern New England, the ground is now covered with a carpet of drab, fallen leaves, a poignant reminder that the dark, cold of winter is waiting around the corner. Yet we continue to head out each day and seek the natural glimpses of beauty we know we will find…..any time of the year. 

This process of searching, discovering and photographing the wonders of nature brings me both happiness and the knowledge that in the very act of seeking beauty, I am bringing joy into my life. It is a time proven antidote to the onslaught of negativity in the news.

Our vision of the world is determined by how we perceive it.  Joy is ultimately a personal experience, that enriches and brings a sense of hope and value to our daily life. When it is lacking, we can be left with a sense of despair and hopelessness.  Whether you are a bonafide optimist, or a pessimist, how you respond to the events in your life can either invite joy in or diminish it.  

We need to remember to seek joy,  develop it and ultimately share it with others. Without its presence, we respond defensively, closing our hearts and minds, existing in nebulous states of anxiety, dread and fear, and engaging in distracting behaviors to avoid unpleasant emotions.  

Optimists find joy in small things. They are more concerned with having many small joys rather than having one huge joy. 

– Robert M. Sherfield

We can all discover the joy in little things. Instead of expecting, waiting and wishing for grand events to transform our lives, we can celebrate the simple gifts of pleasure in life that make each day special. A favorite song on the radio, the scent of cookies baking, a shared cup of coffee with a friend, the sight of a brilliant sunset, a hug from a beloved child; all can be a gifts of happiness to weave into your daily tapestry of life.

Let your joy be in your journey—not in some distant goal.”

—Tim Cook

When we visualize how we want to live our lives, we can make a conscious choice by setting our intention to seek those elements of joy and be grateful for how they bring hope, lightness and positive energy to each day. Joy and positivity are contagious. Even during the multiple challenges of difficult times, a little bit of joy can illuminate the way forward for each one of us, as well as others in our lives.

What are the things that bring joy and light to your soul? Once found, gather them into your soul and let the happiness they bring flow through your days.

Thank you for reading our Weekly Wandering’s Blog. Writing these each week does bring me joy. Please feel free to share it with someone who might find it meaningful. Here are a few more quotes that inspired this week’s reflections.

Inspirational Quotes

“If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment.”

—Carlos Santana

“Just follow your joy. Always. I think that if you do that, life will take you on the course that it’s meant to take you.”

—Jonathan Groff

“Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.”

—Chuck Palahniuk

There are souls in this world who have the gift of finding joy everywhere, and leaving it behind them when they go.

– Frederick William Faber

“Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow.”

—Helen Keller

Do good, live in the most positive and joyful way possible every day. –

—Roy T. Bennett

Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.

—Mother Theresa

I define joy as a sustained sense of well-being and internal peace – a connection to what matters.

– Oprah Winfrey

Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain. –

—Joseph Cambell

Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.

–Emily Dickinson