Live the Joy
JOY ~ Journey of You May 21, 2010 |
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Past joy droppings feed the soul.
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Old dogs, and humans, can learn new tricks.
In nearly all presentations and speeches that I give, I include "Ancora Imparo" blurb - "I am still learning." (Michelango, in his 80s, painting Sistine Chapel said ancora imparo....)
Learning new things, meeting new people, going to new places floats my boat. (And hopefully my kayak; I'll be doing that for this first time this weekend, with new friends, in a new place.)
Even if we think we have our life laid out, we cannot predict the twists and turns it will take. I thought I would stay married forever, stay at the IRS forever, stay in my first house forever. I'm now a 40-something single, writer/speaker, living in my 7th or 8th abode. But I'm happy. Some things I have no control over; some things I do. My outlook is up to me.
Learning new tricks is good for mind, body, and soul. I'm learning to cook. Sort of. I'm learning new professional and technical skills, systems, and practices. Slowly. And I'm learning that there is so much more that I want to learn.
I read that we should do something new every day. Do something that scares you. At the Erma Bombeck love fest in April, I did 3 minutes of stand-up comedy. New, scary. I am launching some new ventures. New, scary. I'm learning the difference between a head of garlic and a clove. New, scary.
And holy cow, the fun I'm having! When I'm in my 80s. I do believe I will say ancora imparo. Just as importantly, right now, I'm learning it's okay to be me.
Words to Ponder~
You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when.
You can only decide how you're going to live. Now.
~Joan Baez
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| Lyrics to love | |
I feel fine
I'm talking about peace of mind
I'm gonna take my time
I dig snow and rain and the bright sunshine.... |
| good for the soul | |
Looking back, I have this to regret, that
too often when I loved, I did not say so.
--David Grayson
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| Picks this week |
Book Pick - go for a walk (and maybe get ice cream if you're in the mood)
Flick Pick - watch an old favorite, something light and fun
Your JOY assignment this week:
Do something new.
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| Pay attention | |
roadside flowers bring me joy...
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Leo Tolstoy wrote in a letter:
"It's spring! It is so good to be alive on this earth, for all good people and even for such as I. Nature, the air, everything is drenched in hope, future, a wonderful future. ... When I think about it more soberly, I know perfectly well I am nothing but an old frozen potato, rotten, cooked and served up with a tasteless sauce full of lumps, but the springtime has such a powerful effect on me that I sometimes catch myself imagining I am a plant that has just opened and spread its leaves among all the other plants and is going to grow up simply, peacefully and joyfully on the good Lord's earth. ... Make way for this wonderful plant that is filling out its buds and growing in the spring." |
| Birthday Love | |
HAPPYHAPPYJOYJOY BIRTHDAY WISHES TO:
TARYN HARRISON
JIM OLMSTEAD
VINCE BREWER
LOIS CHRISTIAN (LOIS & LINDA)
SANDY NUGENT
DOTTIE NAXERA
DANNY DONUTS
AND to
ALL who are celebrating this week/month/year
(Send in your birthday. Each month a name is drawn for a JOY prize delivered via snail mail.)
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| Crabby attitudes need not apply | |
"Life is too short and too hard and too serious not to be humorous about it. We look for attitudes, people with a sense of humor who don't take themselves too seriously. We'll train you on whatever it is you have to do, but the one thing Southwest cannot change in people is inherent attitudes."
~Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines
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AND
At a cafe in Galway, Ireland
this sign was posted in the window
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| Quote Junkie | |
Life moves pretty fast.
You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
~Ferris Bueller
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| Sage Advice | |
"What ought one to say then as each hardship comes? I was practicing for this, I was training for this." - Epictetus |
| 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
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
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| sign of the times.... | |
It's wise to not put all your eggs in one basket....
(Taken on Road Trip through small town Iowa) |
| UPCOMING JOY EVENTS | |
Mark your datebook!
JOY Dance Party! (tentative Oct 1)
JOY One-Day Retreat
OCTOBER 9
Joy: A Luncheon
December 2
"Join Us on the Lake"
Creative Expression/Joy Retreat, Lake Maggiore, ITALY
SIGN UP NOW:
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 to Kelly Epperson, PO Box 2324, Loves Park, IL 61131. 815-871-7864.
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
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HAPPINESS CLUB, LOVES PARK, IL
NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, June 3
6:30 - 8:15 pm
North Suburban Library, 6340 N. Second St., Loves Park
Program - Roni Golan, Laughter Club
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| Word Nerd | |
tipple \TIP-uhl\,
verb:
1. To drink intoxicating liquor, esp. habitually or to some excess.
2. To drink (intoxicating liquor), esp. repeatedly, in small quantities.
noun:
1. Intoxicating liquor.
Perhaps Tipple was a noun until someone got tippled (adjective) and tipple-ly (adverb)created the verb. Or maybe it was the other way around: KrazyKelly tippled her tipple and was so tippled, she fell tippelly from her stool.
Nah.
Does Ripple count as tipple?
Does anyone else have as much fun playing with the word tipple?
The Joy Fairy has been mildly tipsy, but tippling, no. I like a lovely glass of red wine, can I call that wipple? For someone who really downs the tipple, instead of a double, do they drink a triple tipple?
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| What brings me joy.... | |
* The delightful people I meet at speaking engagements
* Road tripping
* Graduations
* Cake at graduation parties
* My new Flip video
* Making new friends, keeping the old
* Music, music, music
* Flowers, flowers, flowers
* Sparkly jewelry
* New fairy wings found at Oddly Enough (Rockord, IL)
* Money and love in my PO Box
* Parades, fireworks, ice cream cones
* Compliments, giving and receiving
* People who make me laugh
* People who cook for me
* People who invite me to Italy
* Tipple (kidding ;)
* Learning new things
* Writing the weekly JOY letter |
| Thought provoking | |
I'd seen many clips of the "No arms, no legs, no worries" guy speaking, but I had not seen this one showing scenes from his life. He is a shining example of attitude over adversity.
"I cannot hold my wife's hand, but I can hold her heart."
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Thank you for being a friend. Go out and spread a little joy in your corner of the world.
joyfully,
xxkelly
ANYONE WANT TO PARADE?
Young at Heart Parade, Loves Park, IL
Saturday, May 29
9:00 am
Smartcar/JOY mobile needs some friends to walk along and pass out candy and joy. You can hand out promotionals for your own biz too. Wear red, white, blue. Bring candy (water for your self), comfy walking shoes, and a sense of fun! Contact me for meeting location. THANKS! |
| SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY JOY AND PASS IT ON
Spread the word! Let's build an army of JOY Spreaders! | | parting shot...
"One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed." - Bernard M. Baruch
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Kelly Epperson
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 |
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| 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 |
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