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Unexpected joy
“Joy is not made to be a crumb.” ~Mary Oliver Suddenly, everyone’s talking about “joy” — a word that’s typically reserved for holiday greeting cards. When was the last time you felt joy? Joy is unbridled optimism and unabashed positivity, which can be hard to feel if you’re mired in the habit of negative thinking. Dark energy, after all, is both pervasive and contagious. So, who doesn’t want to experience joy for a change? Mary Oliver’s poetry always resonates. And when a dear friend shared “Don’t Hesitate” in an email last week, the word “joy” jumped off the screen and lifted me from the funk I was in. It was…
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The keys to discovery
“When one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” ~Alexander Graham Bell Have you ever been so stuck on a frustrating problem or project that you overlooked a potential opportunity elsewhere? Sometimes we have to accept the fact that something isn’t working — whether it’s a product that isn’t right for us, a career we’ve outgrown, or a relationship that’s not a good fit. Letting go of something after you’ve given it your best effort doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Great inventors like Alexander Graham Bell knew better…
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Be a tourist in your hometown
“Home is everything you can walk to.” ~Jerry Spinelli We all look forward to summer vacations and road trips. Exploring new landscapes is the ultimate cure for boredom. Problem is, vacations typically don’t last more than a couple of weeks. When you’re back home, it’s back to the same-old business as usual. That’s when it’s time to rediscover the attractions in and around your hometown — and reboot your sense of community. Is there an outdoor cafe, farmers’ market, boutique, bakery, park, or nature trail you haven’t explored nearby? Being a tourist in your own town will shake up your routine and benefit your local economy. ~CL
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Truth-seeking
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” ~Thomas Jefferson When I was a kid, my parents would stop me in my tracks if they caught me “bending the truth,” as my mom put it. Lies and gross exaggerations were unacceptable. Honesty was the best policy. Most of us know the difference between right and wrong, truth and lies. Yet in today’s political culture, too many people in power have lost respect for the truth — or have no problem bending it. Even more baffling: Their followers don’t seem to mind, and hear only what they want to hear. Here’s a true thing: It takes time and discipline…
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Validation
“Just like children, our emotions heal when they are heard and validated.” ~Jill Bolte Taylor, My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey I love it when I read a paragraph in a book that jumps off the page and affirms something I’ve always believed — as if its author is speaking directly to me. Likewise, I have a friend who’s a caring, first-rate conversationalist. How does she do it? For starters, she pays attention and listens with an open heart. She has a rare gift for making others feel heard, uplifted, and validated in her presence. She doesn’t simply wait for you to stop talking so that she…
