Ray of Sunshine: Reservoir of Joy

Joy is found in small things. Look to those things and you will find an endless, beautiful reservoir of joy to draw from.

Blessings for your day and week. Spread sunshine. Be the light.

Ray of Sunshine: Cultivate Joy

Like ripples of water, the joy we cultivate for ourselves can’t help but spread to others.

Blessings for your day and week. Spread sunshine. Be the light.

Ray of Sunshine: Unexpected Places

Sometimes, while you're busy planning your life, you find your heart in unexpected places.

Blessings for your day and week. Spread sunshine. Be the light.

Sunday Sunshine: Seek Joy on Your Journey

When you think about the word “Journey,” what do you see? 

When you look at it carefully, you see that “Joy” bookends the word: JOurneY.

It’s easy to look for the outcomes, the results and the end in sight. But, if we only focus our energies there, we miss out on something vital—the journey itself.

Joy is there to be found on the journey. Reframe your perspective. Soak up every moment of every day.

Today, this week: Find joy in the journey, not just in the destination.

Sunday Sunshine: Let Your Joy Burst Forth

At this time of year, when we often experience an abundance of blue skies and brightly colored landscapes that wear their favorite fall colors, there is a joy in the air. The bright colors bring a loveliness to our days and uplift our spirits.

We can take a cue from nature. We can bring joy--a feeling of blue skies and brightness--to ourselves and others every single day, regardless of the season or the weather.

It's much easier to be joyful than it is to be dispirited. And when we focus on joy, more of it seems to come into our lives, as if our joy attracts even more joy!

Today, this week: Let your joy burst forth, bringing loveliness to your day and to those around you.

Sunday Sunshine: Cultivate Joy

It's that glorious time of year when we till the soil, sow the seeds, and plant what will in just a few weeks become a bountiful harvest of flowers, vegetables and more. 

Whether you sport a green thumb or not, you have the opportunity each and every day to be a gardener, a sower, a cultivator. You have the opportunity to cultivate joy.

Fortunately, cultivating joy is easy. When you view your life as blessing, abundance, grace and love, you tend to feel happier, to feel more joyful. 

Happiness and joy don't just stay within you. Their good energy exudes from you and spreads to others. You cultivate joy, which in turn, gives others joy to cultivate, too.

The great thing is you don't need lots of money, a new car, a fancy house, fashionable clothes or the latest gadget. Most often, our greatest joys come from our ordinary moments. Look for those moments and begin sowing "joy" seeds.

Today, this week: Cultivate joy.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Enjoy the Joy of Being

At this time of year when the commitments on our calendars seem to increase, leave the hectic pace for just a while. The Thanksgiving preparations can wait. The holiday shopping can wait.

Slow down.

Observe the beauty around you.

Enjoy the joy of being.

Today, this week: Learn the art of slowing down so you can enjoy your day.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Joy on the Journey

When you think about the word “Journey,” what do you see? 

When you look at it carefully, you see that “Joy” bookends the word: JOurneY.

It’s easy to look for the outcomes, the results and the end in sight. But, if we only focus our energies there, we miss out on something vital—the journey itself.

Joy is there to be found on the journey. Reframe your perspective. Soak up every moment of every day. 

Today, this week: Find joy on your journey.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: See the World with Wonder

See the world through the eyes of wonder. Each day holds the possibility for beauty and joy.

Think back to when you were a child. Everything felt new, exciting and amazing! It was easy to see the world through the eyes of wonder back then.

As we grow up and older, however, our eyes can become clouded due to the haze of commitments, obligations, disappointments and distractions.

What, if just for today, you shed those lenses of adulthood, and viewed the world instead with amazement and wonder? How might your day be shaped if everything and everyone were viewed with such affirmation and attention?

Today, set aside some time to look at your world in new ways. What might you see and how might you feel?

Joyfully Exhausted

My husband Larry has been called a sage by my good friend Melanie and I do believe she's right.  While whining about being exhausted the other evening, Larry stopped me in my tracks and asked if I had joy.  I really didn't know how to answer at first, but finally, I said that it was hard to be joyful when so tired.  He replied that one must find joy, even in times of exhaustion.  I reminded myself that this blog is called Time to Be and that it's meant as a reflection of living in the moment with gentleness, gratitude and joy.  Was I practicing what I preach?  Not at that moment.  But, Larry's carefully crafted message to me stuck and I started to look at my exhaustion with a different perspective.  While I don't like being over-tired, I became grateful for being able to do all of the things that I had done to make myself over-tired.  I have encountered much serious illness in my adulthood and there have been times when I have questioned whether I would ever be able to do what I used to do.  Recently, my exhaustion has come from doing perhaps too much of what I like to do.  It's time to simplify my schedule a bit, but I will do so with joy and gratitude, even if I am a little exhausted.