joyful living

On Being Joy in a World that is Filled with Bad Things that Happen.

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_2120I just got back from a mid-day walk with Miss G. I’ve been trying to get out for a walk during the day more as a break from being at my computer.

Often times I listen to Hay House Radio which I download right to my ipod. Today as I was listening to one of the hosts, she was talking about how she tries to only post joyful things on her Facebook page because we have enough negativity in the world.

Someone posted and said, “Enough with the happiness stuff! Don’t you know a journalist was just beheaded?”

She wasn’t sure how to respond to this, but didn’t get angry. She thought about it and wondered how yes, there is plenty of bad in the world, but how do we balance that out without being insensitive to what our world is really like. But at the same time choosing to spread more joy?

I loved her guests response in that we do have to find balance. While we can’t ignore the news, we first have to be strong within ourselves. Which reminded me of the quote I posted on my Facebook page today:

To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right. – Confucius

The guest more or less said the same thing. We have to begin with healing ourselves. He also once believed that we should never surround ourselves with negative people, though he has changed his tune about that. But first he said, we have to become stronger ourselves. When we do, we must be out in the world sharing that joy and happiness – that this is the way to more joy and happiness for our world. In essence when we do, we give others permission and encouragement to do the same thing.

He said, “Depressed and angry people will not change this world, but people who are healing themselves and are happier, will.”

He went on to say that those who do the work of healing themselves by default live with more joy. It is then that we begin to want to give that back to the world. Just imagine if all of us did that? What a powerful impact we could make!

It’s what I wish with my joyful paws blog and thoughts I share and post on Facebook, as well as, in my newsletters. I want to contribute to the positive of the world, even though I know and understand there is plenty of bad in the world. I don’t try and block  the ugly of the bad news out of my life, but I do keep it to a minimum as I’m very sensitive to it.

But I’ve also come to understand that I can make a difference, as can so many others, by sharing our joy even if it is only one small step or action at a time.

Annoyed at the “Heavy” Comforter & then it Turned into My Joyful Pause Moment.

Posted by Barbara Techel

g in comforter 12Cleaning the house isn’t my favorite thing to do. Well, maybe I should say this differently. I don’t mind cleaning, but often times there are other things I’d rather be doing. I think most of us can relate to this.

On the positive side of it though, my house is only 1,000 square feet, so it’s really not all that time consuming. But I could feel myself rushing it today, wanting to get it over and done with. Gidget was hot on my heels as she normally is when I clean. She’s so used to being able to sleep in her little bed at my feet when I am in my writing cottage working, so on cleaning day she does not quite know what to do with herself.

I was busy scurrying around in the bedroom, taking off the bedding so I could get it in the washer and then hang it on the line. The comforter being a king size I have to take to the local laundromat, which was in the plan for today.

My attitude wasn’t the best as I continued to “hurry” and get everything done so I could get on with what makes me happy. As I went to pick up the comforter it felt heavy and I couldn’t lift it into the wicker basket.

I tugged some more, wondering what the heck it might be stuck on. And then I saw the sweetest little face peeking out at me. I didn’t even realize Gidget was no longer behind me, but had quietly burrowed into the comforter for a quick “cat” nap.

“Awe, you little stinker,” I said. “You are just too dang cute!”

I knelt down by her and held her little face in my hands and then pet her soft body. “” I know. You are right. Mama needs to slow down and not be in a hurry.”

The comforter could wait to go to the laundromat a bit longer. It was time to take a “joyful pause” moment and remember the important things and moments in life.

And I’m happy to say the bedding is all clean, back on the bed, house is sparkling clean, Gidget is napping next to me, and an impromptu dinner on our deck with my dear friend, Victoria will be in order for this evening. Life is good.

Something New: Capturing My Joyful Pause Moments. Weekly Recap.

Posted by Barbara Techel

garden off deck 1200Looking out my writing cottage and enjoying how my little perennial garden is starting to grow once again for the season.

I’m trying something “new.” While I do try and live a joyful life, I decided I wanted to try and capture a moment of joy each day. Something that makes me smile. Something that makes me forget time exists. Something that fills me up. While I will concentrate mostly on capturing it in photos, I may also include a quote now and then too, or whatever strikes my fancy as a moment of joy.

The name of my website, Joyful Paws, was born because of my dogs showing me the way to more joy. Even when Cassie Jo was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, and Frankie became paralyzed from IVDD, they lived each day from a place of happiness despite their challenges. They taught me that we always have a choice.

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it everyday. -Henri J.M. Nouven

So each week I’ll recap my daily moment of joy and share it here on my blog (I’ll recap on a Saturday or Sunday- just depending on how my week plays out and what’s going on on any given weekend). I like this idea as a practice to look for, and choose joy, just as Henri J.M. Nouven said.

I hope you will find joy in my “joyful pause” moments I will share with you. And I hope it will encourage you to look for those little moments of joy in your own life.

Here is the rest of my joyful pause moments from the week:

flowers and rainbow outside cottage 1200Bringing home flowers for outside my writing cottage. A second, unexpected joyful pause moment was looking at the photo and it looks like there is a rainbow running through the center of it. I have no idea how that happened!

yoga gidget 1200Coming out of shavasana pose, onto my side, and seeing this sweet face.

cassy painting 1200Seeing my dear friend, Cassy Tully’s heart happy doing her art outside on a beautiful day.

tea and books e 1200Spending time on the deck in the morning, reading, sipping my warm lemon water, listening to the birds, and soaking in a bit of warm sun. These simple pleasures truly bring me so much joy.

tree frog e 1200Hanging out with a tree frog.