Finding fun and joy in life

Many year I have had major let down right after the Holidays. This year as I start the new year, I am finding that I do not have so much of a let down. We cleared up Christmas decoration on New Year's Eve day this year, so we could start the year off clear and ready for the new experiences this year will bring. For me it worked. The last few days I've been upbeat and excited, looking forward to this next year. I have a page and a half of possible project to do for crafting, so I should not get bored. I have started an idea book of projects that I might like to  and I can add to it as ideas come to me. I think the best part of this past season has been just enjoying the holiday and my family. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from this past holiday season with my family. Enjoy! Nick and Alyse's preschool program At thanks giving Point Gardens with Nick, Aryn, Scott, Holly, Dale and myself At the Zoo With Holly, Scott, Nick, Aryn, Ella, ...

As I think on fun and joy, I am finding that I am starting to believe that to really experience then in my life, I must be present in my life. By that I mean that I need to slow down and see what is around me and enjoy where I am; physically, mentally, and emotionally. I often find myself somewhere and I am planning the next trip while on the current one or planning the next thing while working on something. So, I am only partly there, not really seeing how what I am doing is feeling. Not thinking of what the activity is making me feel, think, or believe. So my new goal is to try and truly do what I am doing and give my attention to it. We will see how that goes!

This past week or so, I have been going through over 30,000 pictures. It was a lot of fun and I so many fond memories! It also had times that I got frustrated, but I am so glad I did it.  Laughter and fun  special times  Birthdays  Christmases  and the fun then Halloweens and parties and the crazy costumes  big and small furry friends  winter fun  and summer fun  springs out side and falls relaxing and of course travel. The above are just a very few of the pictures that brought me smiles when going through the massive file I had on my computer. They are not the best or favorites, but the ones that came to me fast as I was doing this blog. They and many more helped me to remember so much fun and joy that I have experience so far. I am looking forward to the new ones I can enjoy that will be coming up yet!

I have been working on being kinder to all in my thoughts and in my actions. This is part of the 30 day kindness challenge I am taking part in with a group my cousin set up. I have been trying to pay attention when someone does something for me and to be sure and thank them. Also I have been working on having more positive thoughts and saying more positive things to people. Also trying to pay attention to my moods and if I find myself getting negative or down, then I am working on changing that so I am feeling better. I have been working at going through somethings I have brought when we moved here deciding what things I might really want and what things re just taking up space. I go through most of my craft stuff and have two boxes of stuff. I am not sure just what I will do with it all yet, which is part of the reason I think I put off going through it so long. I have also given myself permission to fall into some books as of lately. I really enjoy reading. I love to immerce myself i...

My cousin invited me to do a 30 day kindness project with a group she started. Today is the first day. I listened to the video and decided who I was doing it for. I am especially focusing on my oldest son's wife as she and I have had several misunderstandings over the years and I truly have never meant to hurt her, but she has been hurt at times nevertheless. I have always thought of myself as a kind person, but in listening to the first video and thinking about it I realize that I have more work to do to be a kind person in thought, word, and deed. I took the assessment on the website and tried to answer them as honestly as I could. It turns out by doing that I come up somewhere in the middle of the group on kindness. I have a just do it type of personality and sometimes I guess I don't think of the people involved as much as the project and getting things done. Also I know I need work on not being negative in words or thoughts. Often I will try to not show my negative feeling...

As I talk with Dale on this trip, done reading on joy, done research happiness, and thought over what I have heard, read, and talk about; I am beginning to think that happiness is not one thing. It is a set of things all wrapped up and how I react to it. It is more than a feeling or event. It is not adrenaline or doing something out of the ordinary. For me I need to relax and look at the now. I am going to be doing a mini grateful diary here several times a week. I will pick one thing I am grateful for and explore it then think about it and how my life is blessed for having it. I am going to record all of those thoughts so I can have them here to look at if I come to a down day. I am going to try and be more present in my here and now, not being upset over something in the past I can not change or stressing over something that might happen. I will do my best to arrange my life so I have prepare adequately for the future, but not wasted my present on worrying about it or the past. Joy c...