“In-Joy” them!

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. - e e cummings

The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. -Mark Twain

Laughing is inner jogging. -Norman Cousins

Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine. -Lord Byron

At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities. ~Jean Houston

Determine to live life with flair and laughter. ~Maya Angelou

Laughter is the closest distance between two people. -Victor Borge

The highest vibration in the Universe is Unconditional Laughter. -David Wolfe

I just read an interesting article on The Secret to Happiness According to Kids - and I found it to be very encouraging. Kids are able to maintain their happiness more easily, it seems to me, because they are living in their NOW more than most adults are. As adults we tend to take on responsibilities that extend way out into the future or we feel guilt over our past. Kids are living in their NOW moments and appreciating the small things - Can we return to that way of being?

Wanting to begin to reintroduce that joy-seeking openness back into my life I headed to the toy section of Target. I found 4 packs of Play-doh for less than $2, little bottles of bubble solution with bubble wands for under $1, and in the checkout lane I picked up a pack of BubbleYum bubble gum, too. What fun!! (And inexpensive, too!) Just going through the checkout lane with these purchases felt like a surprising secret because the bag of fun was for ME! It wasn’t for a small child – it was for over-40 ME and it felt great!

Last night I tip-toed from my bed after my hubby fell asleep and went to play and create with my Play-doh. I had so much fun! As I was finishing up my Play-doh “critter” my 16 year old daughter walked into the room and burst into laughter upon finding her mother intently rolling and forming the colorful dough into something silly. That was ok with me, I just had her go get her camera to document my creation before I took it apart for the night.

The idea of child-like playing and creating must have been floating around last week, because on the same day I did my fun shopping my 18 year old daughter and my mom went out and bought coloring books. I think I may have to see if they will share a page or two with me…

Today I invite you to return to your own playful roots. Think about your own simple childhood joys and seek them out in your present. Maybe you have joy filled memories of jacks, marbles, Legos, Lincoln Logs, Matchbox cars, finger paints, cutting paper snowflakes, hopscotch, jump rope, hula hoop, catching frogs, or swinging higher and higher on a swing. I’m sure you can come up with something simple that might still make your heart sing. Have fun with life – growing up is no reason to grow boring!

I felt that the TED talk presented above is a fabulous presentation explaining how what we tend to believe should work in business is not the same as what actually works. Management is out and Autonomy is in.

As I was watching, I could easily apply what he was saying to our current education system. All information is now available 24/7, why is Western society still trying to enforce learning in a manufactured setting?

Kids learn and grow because it’s natural. They don’t learn because of a set curriculum although they can sometimes learn in spite of a set curriculum. Many children feel security in our traditional schools, but I do believe our children should have a choice in how/where/when they learn. I invite you to stretch your understanding of education.

Think about applying the Results Only Work Environment to our education system… Brilliant! It’s called Democratic Education and it exists already.

Grades are the rewards, they are the bonus system of schools and according to the research it will only create better results in situations where there are simple directions with one answer. Where is the creativity in that? Where is there opportunity for expansion and growth?

As an adult I LOVE to learn and discover new things. It brings me joy, excitement and energy! I learn every day. But, if I am told that I HAVE TO study a topic that is not of my choosing, I feel enslaved.

Aren’t our children the same? Why are we enslaving our children and telling them what they have to learn? Why does our society continue to insist that our children should study to grow up to be good employees? It truly does not have to be that way. Let’s release Enforcement and instead practice Allowing. Doesn’t that feel better?

I propose a personal, inspired learning model based in joy where we adults butt the hell out and share our expertise only when it is asked for.

I propose that we allow ourselves to recognize how much we can learn and benefit from the untarnished beginner’s mind.

I propose that we acknowledge our children for the brilliance that they exhibit naturally. Acknowledgement rather than grades.

Have fun with it all! All is well and getting weller every day!

Relax, ease away any tensions, and tap into a deep connection to higher, good-feeling vibrations… Less than 20 minutes will leave you feeling refreshed, energized, and allowing a flow of positive energy in your life.

You can allow yourself this gift of Spiritual Pampering from the comfort of your own home! This Spiritual Spa will be held *LIVE* as a conference call gathering, including other like-minded souls.

Spiritual Spa is a guided meditation – and you will always have control of your personal experience. It is my intention to create a sacred space for you where you can feel comfortable and uplifted. The experience of guided meditation can be heightened by the energy of a spiritually aware group and that is why I am inviting you all to join me.

During this season of Graduations, moving from one stage of life to another, this first Spiritual Spa will be a guided meditation with a focus on Appreciating and Honoring what has been while Opening our life to wonderful new possibilities.

This call is offered FREE*. My intention is to offer the live group experience so there will not be a recording offered at this time – but, Spiritual Spa will continue at various times with a new focus each time.

I hope you can join me for this quick Vibration-raising Spiritual Spa – Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 1 pm EST (call will last approximately 20 minutes).

(Check your local time for the call here: Spiritual Spa Time )

Call-in number:

1-218-486-1300  Conference Code: 631373

*The conference line may be a long distance call for you, so you will be responsible for your personal phone charges.

• Allow for imperfection. Just as we joyfully encourage a baby as it tries to stand, or tries to walk, applauding even though it may tumble back to it’s bottom. Lovingly encourage your own unsteady steps into meditation and your new skill will strengthen.
• Meditation does not have to be marathon length. A couple, or a few minutes daily, is a great start. You wil notice a positive difference in your life more quickly if you commit to a few minutes daily than if you sit down to meditate once a week for an extended period of time.
• Find a comfortable seated position. Lying down encourages sleep. You just want to find an upright position where your body is at ease. 

• Breathing - Focus on your breathing; slow and regular.
• Counting - Try counting backward from 100 with your inhalations and exhalations.
• Background Noise - Focus on the sound of the air conditioner, furnace, birds outside, water dripping, or a fountain.
• Mantra or Prayer - Repetitively thinking a word, phrase or memorized prayer allows your mind a focus points.  

Some suggestions:

Choose a word that feels good to you, such as: Love, Peace, or Joy.

Maranatha - This is an Aramaic phrase which can be translated as “Come, O Lord.”

I like to sometimes use my favorite prayer - The Prayer of St. Francis of Assissi - as it is a very positive, open prayer.

Music - Choose peaceful instrumental music.

 

Guided Meditations or specific recordings for Meditation - There are many of these available. I found several meditation CDs at my local library, and countless ones when searching online.

Your life is right now! It’s not later! It’s not in that time of retirement. It’s not when the lover gets here. It’s not when you’ve moved into the new house. It’s not when you get the better job. Your life is right now. It will always be right now. You might as well decide to start enjoying your life right now, because it’s not ever going to get better than right now–until it gets better right now!Abraham - 5/11/2002

Are you living life in the NOW? Are you noticing the good that surrounds you?

Right now is where it’s at!

I invite you to open your senses to the good that surrounds you. Appreciate it. “In-Joy” it!

My tendency has been to be a news junkie, but, you know what? That doesn’t bring me warm fuzzy feelings. In recent years, I actively seek out stories that are lined up with joyful, loving, warm fuzzy feelings.

Instead of visiting another “look how terrible the world is” news story, why not check out Daryn Kagan at http://darynkagan.com/index.html ? She has stories that feel good and “show the world what’s possible.” Her stories are like sunshine peeking through the clouds.

And, if you are looking for more good feeling places to visit online, you can check out my list of Joy Stuff at http://www.onthejoypath.com/joystuff/

I always welcome suggestions of sites to add to my Joy Stuff, so please share your treasures!

Today is a dangerously cold day here in Minnesota. It’s one of those days that have me dreaming of living somewhere with shorter, warmer winters… Yes, it’s one of those days where I fully enjoy the opportunity to write and create, putting myself in any desired environment! I enjoy guided meditations that take me to beautiful, warm places!

I turn my focus from what I don’t like (the subzero temperatures) to what I can appreciate in the midst of this. I appreciate: a relatively new furnace blowing warm air throughout my home, even newer insulated siding and windows, thick socks and warm clothes, flannel sheets and handmade (with love) quilts, hot cocoa, warm oatmeal, hot soup… I appreciate all of these things, but the thing I MOST appreciate right now is the ELECTRICITY that flows through my home powering my lights, my modem which maintains my connection with the world, my stove and oven, my furnace, the hot water heater, the garage door opener so that I don’t have to get out in the bitter cold to close the door when I leave… Oh, I am going to shower my love and appreciation for that blessing that is ELECTRICITY!!!

It has flashed off for just the blink of an eye a couple of times this morning, making me really think about how much we rely on it!

I intend to find lots of reasons to laugh and love today (warming me from the inside), and I will spend a great deal of time transporting myself somewhere else with my imagination…

Even before the sun is up there, I notice that Honolulu is about 100 degrees warmer than it is here!

All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. – Dr. Wayne Dyer

I have been following my joy path and it has kept me so joyfully busy that I have not posted to my blog in quite a while. There is so much to fill you in on! I am going to keep this brief for the moment, though.

One of the steps I take to fill my life with joy is to watch Ellen’s show with Marissa every morning before I drive her to school. I love that she fills her show with joy and dancing! Today her show gave me an extra reason to be joyful - she had Dr. Wayne Dyer on again!! And, they offered a wonderful gift. For today and tomorrow only (January 13 & 14) you can view Dr. Dyer’s new movie “Ambition to Meaning” for FREE online. Check it out at: http://www.ambitiontomeaning.com/store/stream

You will be asked to “order” it through Hay House, but there is no charge.

In-joy it!!