The Joy List ~ 6 June 2010
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
~William Arthur Ward
Every Sunday on Living Happiness, we focus on the joy-giving, life-giving moments in our lives by sharing them with others shouting them out to the world. This week, I asked my readers and Facebook friends:
What moments have brought you the most joy this week?
Here’s how they responded:
1. Watching a child wake up, red shoes with white spots, the courage of a friend, holding a little hand in mine, and my husband turning the heater on for me in the morning. ~Claire, Gratitude Connection
2. Yesterday, we went to a “Concert on the Green” hosted by Ben & Jerry’s … which meant free ice cream all day! The neat part, though, was that it was a bluegrass festival (which is a very Southern thing) in Vermont of all places! All the bands kept saying they’d never played up this far north, and they were super well-received, with standing ovations and calls for encores. It was a lovely North meets South moment on a beautiful, sunny day. ~Lisis Blackston
3. Discovering a new musical artist (Missy Higgins from Australia) and really loving her music. ~Lance Ekum, Jungle of Life
4. Having fellowship with old friends because without friends life would be dull and boring. ~Paulette “Sal” Nall
5. Two years with my boyfriend, G, on the 5th! Who’d have ever thunk?! ~Kelly Nebeker
6. Getting advanced! ~Jessica Williford
7. Having my 4 year old read me a book!!! How awesome! ~Shelley Doolittle Bowers
8. Being with family and going antique shopping together! ~Julia Haddock Nofsinger
9. Just today I had a Carolina Bluebird stop by our bird house (built by a friend just for bluebirds). It’s the first one I have seen since I don’t know when. Am hoping for it to use the house as a nest. ~Carolyn Cummins
And here’s what brought me joy:
10. Walking to the supermarket with my husband on a cloudy afternoon
11. Laughing in the bed with him over something he had done
12. Chatting with a girlfriend on a sunny afternoon by the pool
13. Receiving a real letter in the mail from a friend’s son in the States
14. Hearing from some of my very first students at my very first school in Greece
15. Sipping my morning tea with the kitty cat who now comes and sits with me in the mornings after her meal
16. Making new blogger friends ~ there are so many of you and you’re so wonderful! Deepest thoughts today to Karen Wallace of The Calm Space – wishing you and your family peace.
17. Appreciating older ones ~ a special shout out to Sara Healy of The Sharing Connection – I hope you’re recovering from your surgery, love.
What about you?
What moments (or people) have brought you the most joy this past week?
Your sharing is more than welcomed.
Abundantly and peacefully,
or follow Living Happiness on Facebook.
Photo Credit D Sharon Pruitt
the beauty of the countryside! young people & parents alike exhilarated at graduation and the moving forward thru accomplishments! summer sweetness- BBQ’s, the water, sunshine, the air is fresher, seeing more family time all around me, people dressed more comfortably!, a break for single parents doing the school & activities, a break for kids from the homework & activities, summer camp, family vacations! THE BEACH
Hi, Angela. I love so many of the things on your list. Thank you for sharing them today!
Chania Girl,
Reading your list – especially of hearing from your first student – I’m reminded of my son. We were at his completion ceremony from 5th grade on Friday. Next year will be a new school. And the teachers really were all encouraged to visit often – and how much they really mean to each teacher. Even in those connections that are passing – we make lasting bonds. And that’s wonderful, isn’t it!
Do you know what I really LOVE about this list? It just feels so uplifting!! As I read through it, I’m touched by how much JOY there really is…if we are open to seeing it.
Much love and big hugs to you, sweet friend…
Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day
I agree so much with you, Lance. I love EVERY WEEK being able to learn about how much joy there is out there in the world, so much to celebrate. I’m also reminded every week, as I read these blessings, at how not one single one is ever about money or material wealth … .
So happy to see you today, as always.
Hi Carla,
I love this idea of wrapping up the week with joy and gratitude. I do attempt to be grateful for things everyday – but sometimes with all that’s going on I “forget.” This is good discipline for me.
The things that have brought me the most joy are also the things I’m most grateful for. My continuted good health, my family and all my wonderful friends both in the flesh and in cyberspace! I’m also grateful to have choices in my life at this time. The freedom to choose how I wish to live my life is an enormous blessing and joy!
Thanks for this Carla.
Angela Artemis´s last blog ..Would Your Rather Have a Big House Or A Big Life?
Angela, you mention something that I know I so often forget: freedom to choose. There are so many people for whom this is not a right OR a privilege, and yet we can easily forget that in the very privileged lives so many of us do lead. Your comment also, therefore, reminds me that in much freedom there is much responsibility.
I hope you are enjoying the steps you are taking towards downsizing your life so that you can embrace the Big Life. I definitely think this Big Life Club could catch on: something new on your blog perhaps?
Sending polla filakia.
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How about taming a tiny rabbit and watching it get to trust you!
The trust of a grandchild as he/she slips a little hand in yours.
A span of good health!
Most of my happiness comes from small things……….
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Most of my happiness does, too, Maggie.
Thank you for sharing here today. x
Yay! I love joy list day and all the ones mentioned are true treats indeed! Here are my additions:
Being appreciated, puppy kisses, watching the birds play, tapioca pudding, fun painted toenails.
LOVE tapioca pudding!
Also LOVE fun painted toenails: are yours all glitzed and glammed up now? I totally pimp mine out when I can!
I’ll add – reading about other people’s moments of joy!
PS – I didn’t get to lie on the grass to watch the clouds, turns out the grass was a bit wet, so I sat on the back steps instead, very peaceful!
Claire – Gratitude Connection´s last blog ..Today I’m grateful for…
Reading other people’s moments of joy is truly joyful. I look forward to each Sunday’s Joy List.
So very happy to have your words shared on it today, as well. x
Reading your words brings sunshine into every day, Carla! And the clouds are beautiful also, especially when the sun is behind a huge, fluffy, flimsy cottonball of a cloud, shining through the breaks in the “cotton”.
My “most memorable magical moment” of the past week was hearing my clock chime on the hour one afternoon. I love clocks and have had this one for years…it chimes every hour and on this particular day it brought such a smile to my face, whilst sitting alone at home, sewing.
Oh, Joanne. I absolutely love this moment you’ve shared and the picture you created for me. The sound of old clocks chiming … there’s something so peaceful and a bit other-time-ly about it that I love. I like the tick of them, too, in a quiet room as they progress the hour. Thank you for this!
Sigh. Thank you for asking
Today was the best day in a long time. An old friend and I went exploring my favourite Island near Vancouver. We drove around most of the island, sat on the beach, went for fries and coffee, and then finished the day with a yummy meal at a neighbourhood pub. Took lots of pictures too. One of those days to remember for a long time.
Davina´s last blog ..Sleeping with the Muse
This sounds like a beautiful day, Davina. You are so blessed in so many ways: an old dear friend, a magical day of exploration, a beautiful place to explore ~ all of it sounds like pure soul food.
Thank you for sharing.
This list is so joyful. Summer’s warmth approaching this week brought me joy. Evening walks, holding hands, laughing. Little peaceful moments. My life, my family, my friends. Thanks for the heartfelt post, Carla. Always a joy to visit you.
Kati´s last blog ..7-Week Life Cleanse: Gathering Ease & Flow in Week 3
Hi, Katie! Thank you for sharing your joys. (See! They did come through! Even if you spelled your name wrong!)
All of these are lovely additions to the list. I get such a kick out of reading everyone’s joys each week, don’t you?
Hope your Monday’s getting better. x
Chania,
Great idea for a post! Thank you for doing it. I love reading about all the small things that bring us joy because it’s easy for me to get lost in all the stuff that dragged me down and forget all that lifts me up!
My godson Peter was christened yesterday and I was honored to be standing there with him as his godmommy. Afterward, I was able to hold him as he fell asleep with all the noise and party chaos going all around him. It was a peaceful moment in a joyous day, and holding babies is my personal Nirvana. That was one of my big joys!
Have a wonderful week!
Lisa@Practically Intuitive´s last blog ..Win a free reading!
Yesterday sounds like it held many beautiful, joyful moments for you, Lisa. Thank you so much for sharing them here. (We do this every week. Will look forward to what you have to share this coming Sunday, too.)
Giving myself a day of loose plans and allowing it to unfold as it would over holding myself to a set way of living it… thus I had time with pansies and petunias over a full day of dust bunnies and cat hair!
The charm of a European café (with European owners) in the middle of my DC suburb… with the delight and charm of slow food, open conversation, and laughter.
The Exception´s last blog ..Just… so
Yay for days of loose plans! Yay for European cafes! I enjoyed reading your joys, TE, and am glad you had a delightful weekend.
Thank-you for sharing all of the joy! My moments have been many in the past week. One was the wind as it blew a cool breeze over me, the other was the sound of nature as I sipped my morning coffee on my patio.
Mark´s last blog ..Be Energy Conscious
I loved both of these, Mark. My favorite time of day is early morning, and my favorite place to be is on my back veranda with my coffee. Add some cool breezes to that and it’s truly a little slice of heaven on earth. Thank you for sharing these.
I just took two weeks off from work so that in itself was pure joy! Other joys – planting tomatoes, exploring a new city, taking a nap, cooking for my family, taking a slow walk, not checking email for 10 straight days…
Courtney´s last blog ..3 Biggest Lifestyle Myths and Solutions to Start Really Living Today.
Two weeks off from work?! You go, girl. That is reason enough to be joyful. But I loved your other additions to the list, too … esp the “not checking email for 10 straight days.” Way to disconnect! Thank you for sharing these joys, Courtney.
I’ve been so joyful and grateful to be living close enough to my elderly parents to help them out. Mom went in the hospital this weekend, which was not joyful of course, but being able to be there in a flash, sit with them, and share the more challenging times along with the good brought me joy.
Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..How to Rant and Still Respect Yourself in the Morning
Hi, Jean. It’s says so much about you that you can find joy amidst difficulty. Thank you for sharing here. Will keep you and your family in my thoughts. I hope everything is okay?
Hugs. xx