Live the Joy
JOY ~ Journey of You                                     May 14, 2010
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Past joy droppings feed the soul.
 
 
 
 
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Love can't change the weather...
 
That is a song lyric (from John Ondrasik, Five for Fighting). (All of life is a song lyric). (and I can't carry a tune).
 
There are some things we cannot change, like the weather. We cannot change other people and we cannot change the fact that sometimes, sh*t happens.
 
The essence of happiness is knowing the difference between what we cannot control and what we can indeed change. Spending my energy raging at the rain is pointless. We know that, yet we spend precious energy raging at the attitudes and behaviors of others around us, and that too is pointless.
 
The only attitude and behavior we can change is our own. Your boss/ex/neighbor may indeed be a jerk. You cannot change that. How you deal with the circumstances, your reactions, is your concern.
 
Letting go of anger and bitterness may not happen overnight, but you carrying venom toward someone else is only eating at you. 
 
Practicing happiness techniques builds your immunity, physically,mentally, and emotionally. The more you focus your attitude to positivity, the more it becomes a habit. The more you look for the good, you will find it. Then when the "bad" creeps into your life, it will have less power to bring you down. 
 
The process of learning to be happier is like building a foundation for yourself for when the rains start to pelt and also like insulation to keep out the harsh winds. It happens in layers, little by little. Reading positive stuff like this is mortar.
 
Keep building. Forecast calls for sunny skies. 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Words to Ponder~  
 
 I've got sunshine on a cloudy day.
 
 
Lyrics to love
 
Even though she's flying high, she can't help but wonder why
It took her half her lifetime just to find out
She could let herself learn how to be real, to be radiant...
 
Christine Kane, "How to be Real"
from Wide Awake www.christinekane.com
 
sign of the times....
 
 good for the soul
 
 "Give people a fact or an idea and you enlighten their minds; tell them a story and you touch their souls."

~Hasidic Proverb
 
 
 
Let's tell our stories. Let's touch souls.
Picks this week
 
Book Pick -    Oh, The Places You'll Go! Dr. Seuss
                     Best gift book ever -for babies, graduations, anything
                     (yes, I know I've picked this before; I have not had time to read a book this month.) 
 
Flick Pick -    Iron Man (the first one)
                     Watch it before you take in Iron Man 2. RDJ rocks.
 
                     
Your JOY assignment this week:
 
Be good to yourself. No berating. No comparing. Just heavy doses of self-love. 
 
Lose yourself in what you love
 You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need.
-Jerry Gillies
 
Birthday Love
 

  HAPPYHAPPYJOYJOY BIRTHDAY WISHES TO:

 CHRISTINE KANE
TOM PALEKA
PAUL WENGER
TESSA KOEPP
SUSAN RICHARDSON
RILEY EPPERSON
 
AND to
 ALL who are celebrating this week/month/year
 
 
 SPICE GIRL WISHES YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
 
 
(Send in your birthday. Each month a name is drawn for a JOY prize delivered via snail mail.)
 
 
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Giggles
 
 
"Some thoughts from a retired mind:"
 
(thank you, Don Morrison, for sharing!)

         I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell
phones that everyone has clipped onto their belt or purse. I can't afford
one, so, I'm wearing my garage door opener.

       You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that
people who avoided me just didn't like me.

      I've come to realize that the secret to a happy life is not looking
like Barbie or Ken and suffering through tofu and rice cakes to stay that
way. It's eating chocolate, staying chunky and explaining that you're really
a perfect size 6, but you keep it covered with fat so it doesn't get
scratched.

       I know, when people see a cat's litter box, they always say, "Oh,
have you got a cat?" Just once I want to say, "No, it's for Visitors."

       Employment applications always ask 'who is to be notified in
case of an emergency.' I think you should write, "A Good Doctor!"

      Just once, when someone says "How are you?" (without really wanting
to know), I'd like to say "Well, I can't keep my teeth in, I pee on myself
every time I laugh, my hair is falling out, I cannot see where the heck
I'm going most of the time, my back hurts and I pass gas every time I sneeze (and feel like sneezing right now)!

 
 
 
Quote Junkie
 
Consciously cultivating thankfulness is a journey of the soul, one that begins when we look around us and see the positive effects that gratitude creates.
~ MJ Ryan, Giving Thanks   
 
(Thanks, Happiness clubber Marj from Orangeville!)
 
 
Let us begin the practice of CCT,
Consciously Cultivating Thankfulness. 
 
Sage Advice
 
  • Kids communicate with no inhibitions. They speak from the heart. Strive to communicate person-to-person, heart-to-heart in everything you do.
  • ~Tom Asacker 
     
      
    Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.
    Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown in "Peanuts"
     
     
    Charlie Brown. We love him, but did he love himself?
    Who did the happy dance? Snoopy.
    I'm not sure if the little red-haired girl ever fell for Chuck, but I want you to fall in love with yourself. And enjoy peanut butter again.
     
     
    Kelly's newspaper column -    Writing books
     
     
    Kelly's blog for healthyrockford.com -    When Life stinks, go to France
    Speaking Gigs  (living my joy!)
     
     
     KEYNOTES (in the key of life)
     
     
    May 6 - Shelter Care Ministries Annual Luncheon
     
    May 6 - HAPPINESS CLUB 6:30 pm
    - ALL ARE WELCOME!
     
    May 8 - Garden Prairie UCC Mother-Daughter Tea
    May 12 - OSF Nurses Week Awards Banquet
    May 15 - AAUW Sorority
    May 18 - Byron Women's Club Spring Luncheon
    May 20 - Alpine Seniors
     
     
     
    May 21-23 Words in Play retreat, Sunapee NH
    Visit www.wordsinplay.net
     
     
     
     
     
    JOY EVENTS
       
     
    JOY Dance Party! (tentative Oct 1)
    Details TBA
     
    JOY One-Day Retreat
    OCTOBER 9
    ANDERSON GARDENS, Rockford IL
     
    Joy: A Luncheon
    December 2 
    Briggs Mansion, Rockford, IL
     
    "Join Us on the Lake" Creative Expression/Joy Retreat, Lake Maggiore, ITALY
    May 5 -12, 2011
     
     
    JOY of Writing

    Do you have a personal story to tell? Journaling, poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction, novels - what brings you joy? Creative juices will flow with simple, fun exercises; how to get going, keep going, and overcome writers' block. If your goal is to be published, we'll cover that too.  Learn the Basic Do's and Don'ts, how to find markets for your writing.

     

    You must pre-register. Small class size, plenty of personal attention with lots of Q&A in this casual, interactive 1-session "fun"shop. All levels of experience. Space is limited. Reserve your spot now.  $65.

    Evening  June 2, 6 pm - 8:30 pm  OR Day  June 4, 10 am - 12:30 pm

                (feel free to come to both sessions- no, I won't charge you twice)

    North Suburban Library Community Room, 6340 N. Second, Loves Park

     

     

    What brings me joy....
     
    * Irish pubs, new friends, old friends and a Coca-Cola jersey on the wall
     

     
    *Pretending to be a rock star
     
     
     
    *My really cool JoMama (belated happy mothers day to all)
     
     

    The greatest discovery of my generation is that
    human beings can alter their lives by altering
    their attitudes of mind.

     

    -William James

     
    HAPPINESS CLUB, LOVES PARK, IL
     
    wtvo news clip - alex shabad 
     
    wifr news clip - chip brewster
     
     
    NEXT MEETING:
    Thursday, June 3
    6:30 - 8:15 pm
    North Suburban Library, 6340 N. Second St., Loves Park
     
    Program - Roni Golan, Laughter Club
     
    HAPPINESS and COKE:
     
    Yep, life is pretty close to perfect.
     
     
    Happiness Vending Machine
     
     
     
    (Thank you, Peggy Swing, for sharing!)
    Word Nerd
     
     from dictionary.com

    malapert \MAL-uh-purt\,

    adjective:

    1. Unbecomingly bold or saucy.

    noun:
    1. A malapert person.

     
     
    I'm all for being bold and slightly saucy; just don't be unbecoming about it.
    Thought provoking
     

    The female pigeon cannot lay eggs if she is alone. In order for her ovaries to function, she must be able to see another pigeon. If no other pigeon is available, her own reflection in a mirror will suffice.

     
    uselessknowledge.com
     
    Thomas Jefferson is attributed these words, "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."  
    Mr. President, I concur.
     
    joyfully,
    xxkelly
     
     
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    parting shot...
     

    Conflict cannot survive without your participation.
    --Wayne Dyer

     
     
    let it go

    Kelly Epperson
    Writer, Speaker, Listener
    www.kellyepperson.com
    kel_epperson@yahoo.com
    PO Box 2324 Loves Park IL 61131
     
    Member AATH - Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor
    Member AHA - American Happiness Association
    Founder - Happiness Club of Loves Park, IL
    Member NSNC - National Society of Newspaper Columnists
    JOY New book, 365 Days of Joy, is in the works and coming soon.  $20
     (hmm, how long can I keep saying "soon"?)
    When LIfe Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes (collection of newspaper columns) $10
     
     Shirts ~C'est Bon and JOY*US  $10