joy

The Sweetness of Simple Things.

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_1478 1200What a beautiful weekend of weather, capped off by the official season opener of having a fire in our chiminea last night.  More photos on Facebook.

If we knew when the world was going to end, this is where I would choose to be. On my deck, with my dogs, and my hubby. So many sweet times we’ve already had around the chiminea with our girls hanging out with us.

I felt some emotion rise to the surface last night as I held Joie in my lap. How good it felt to hold a dachshund again in the toasty warmth of the sun, fire blazing in front of me. Thinking back to how long summer felt last year. How I  thought it would never end, the grief swallowing me at times, and the thought of never loving a doxie again too hard to bear. But my heart is home again. It is so home.

It is a reminder that we truly can’t feel utter joy without deep sadness in our lives. It goes hand in hand. Each time I think my heart can’t be cracked open any further I look at Joie, Kylie, and John and even though I know loss will come again- it is inevitable–these moments are to be savored, breathe in, soak it up, give thanks, rejoice and exhale to another glorious moment on this amazing earth.

Vulnerability + Gratitude = Something Many of Us Seek.

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_1431Last night I happened across the interview Oprah did with Dr. Brene Brown for her Super Soul Sundays. Am I glad I ever did!  I had tears in my eyes for most of the interview.  I knew I’d want to write about this today. I  could hardly wait to get up and get to my computer.

I think Dr. Brene Brown hit it right on the head talking about vulnerability and how as a society we view at that as a negative thing. When in fact, it is a very good thing. It made so much sense to me. I especially have felt this as I released my book to the world the last few weeks. How vulnerable I felt sharing some of my deepest thoughts- but how I knew I just had to write my story. But you know what has come from that vulnerability? Just what Brene speaks about, which is joy.

I actually have a piece I wrote for Kathy Pooler’s memoir blog recently about vulnerability that will be featured on her blog next Monday as part of my Joyful Paws Jaunt tour. I write about how sharing your vulnerability can be a beautiful gift when writing memoir.  To hear Dr. Brene Brown talk about this very same subject last night, really blew me away. It made me feel connected deeper to my soul, but also that I am not alone in how vulnerability can feel. But also to be a part of those who have taken that chance and are experiencing joy from it.

I don’t want to give away all that I wrote for the piece coming up, but one thing that is occurring to me again is that I do feel that the more of us who lean into the gift of sharing our vulnerable selves, that we in turn, give others permission to do the same.

So where does gratitude come in?  Well, we must be grateful for all that we have.  To be vulnerable and grateful equals joy. Oprah reminded me of that last night. Not that I’m not grateful, for I am. In fact, I just had a conversation the other day with a dear friend where I thought perhaps I might be too grateful—meaning that I worry others may not think it real. But it is real for me and at times I feel I can’t even find the adequate words to express my gratefulness for so much in my life. But what Oprah reminded me of is that to write it down is important.

Writing it down brought me back to my gratitude journal which I’ve had on my nightstand for years, as this is nothing new—many of us have heard that keeping a gratitude journal can change our lives—change our thinking. I opened up to my last entry which was March 11, 2011. I’m not going to beat myself up for having let this habit fall to the side, but be grateful that I picked up my pen and wrote five things I am grateful for. Forward march to adding five more things each new day.

Vulnerability + Gratitude = Joy.

Catch the replay of Dr. Brene Brown’s interview here.

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness. -Brene Brown

Time and Money: We Never Have Enough. Or Do We?

Posted by Barbara Techel

kylie and joie snuggling on pillow

Before my post today, just want to mention that today on my Joyful Paws Jaunt Blog Tour I am featured on Kim Gifford’s Pugs and Pics blog with an audio interview. Grab your favorite beverage and sit a spell– and I hope it inspires you!

Yesterday on my Facebook wall I asked this question: “What’s the one thing that stops you from doing something that would bring you joy?”  The common responses were time and money.

I don’t know what it is exactly that others want to do in regards to bringing more joy into their lives, but I find the answers intriguing. Maybe they were looking at the question in too big of terms. Maybe I should have been more specific. But none-the-less the answers are nothing new. We hear them all the time, as well as we each face them.

Isn’t time all we have? While at the same time we don’t know how much time we really do have. We could be gone tomorrow. Just like that. Poof. Gone. Then what of that joy we were always seeking?

I guess for me it just makes me think about taking little steps towards those things that bring us joy. Does it have to be so big? What if all the little steps of joy added up to living with even more joy?

We will likely never have enough money. Let’s face it. But what if we could make do with what we have and still have joy?  What would that look like to you?

To me, it is moments of time with my dogs, my dear friends, my family, my Johnnie.  Most of this does not require money. It requires time. And while I have much to do in my everyday life with promoting my books and my mission, besides all the normal day-to day things, I find that if I can fit in moments of quality time with what brings me joy, more joy comes to me.

The other thing it made me think of is when I decided to take three months to hunker down, hire a life coach, and dive into what my soul was trying to tell me. Yes, that required money, and it was money we really didn’t have at the time to spend. But I wanted this so bad that I gave up other “things” to make this happen. Again, I realize not everyone may be able to do this in terms of money, as their situation may be completely different than mine.  But I also think often times it is just a mask. A mask to doubt and fear of uncovering things that may be scary.

We may never have enough time or money. Or do we?  What if we just started today and did one small thing that brought us joy? So just for today find one small thing that does not require a lot of money or time, and just do it.  My moment of joy today is going to be sitting for five minutes with Joie and Kylie, and hugging them tight.  What is yours going to be?