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Live YOUR Joy!
October 28, 2011
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(Past joy musings feed the soul.)
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JOY every week!
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Greetings!
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I never had a thing for sunflowers until the year we lived in the south of France. Being greeted in a new country with fields upon fields of sunflowers touched something in my soul. When we moved back to the states, I remember writing in my journal "the sunflowers turned their backs on me" as if they were sad I was leaving; I was sad too. That year away was an awakening for me, and I am forever grateful. I'm still not a wallpaper border/kitchen towel sunflower kind of girl, but sunflowers resonate with me now on a soul level.
A gal I met recently who also attended the JOY AD -After Divorce workshop writes me really creative emails. I encouraged her to write a blog post for me and her draft was wonderful, and serendipitously talked about sunflowers. With Maggie's permission, I share this with you:
Wallflower to Sunflower By Maggie Kirby
Wallflowers are pretty. But they are often only noticed in passing and quickly forgotten. Wallflowers are static. They don't grow or change. As people, they tend to be rigid and controlling because they fear how change might erase them.
What if the person they are striving to please decides on new wallpaper? This also causes them to become stagnant because they fear any change on their part might also change their loved ones feelings for them. Wallflowers are flat. As people they tend to exist on the surface of things and go to great lengths to make sure the picture the rest of the world sees stays pretty. Wallflowers are lifeless. Because of all the tendencies above, wallflowers starve emotionally and are unable to grow.
Sunflowers on the other hand...
Sunflowers aren't afraid of the world. They show their pretty faces and raise their leaves out to receive everything offered to them. The sun and the earth help them grow. The rain washes away the dust and also feeds them. It's hard to ignore a sunflower. They stand tall. They also are flexible and can sway with the wind. They bend but most of the time they don't break because their roots are solid and run deep. Their beauty inspires people. Van Gogh didn't paint sunflowers just 'cuz.
Wallflower to sunflower...
The wallflower has to first tire of watching the world rather than being part of it. She needs to begin to realize that by being stuck in one place her world is very limited and will never expand beyond where she already is. She has to start feeling somewhere deep inside her that she is stronger than she thinks and doesn't need to cling to her wall anymore.
There is a lot of fear attached to these ideas though- waking up and moving away from the wall is a huge risk. There is disappointment and failure and heartbreak in the world away from the wall. People tend to take wallflowers for granted. They will always be there in the same place, looking the exact same way they looked when the person happened to notice them last. A wallflower fears this because often the reason they are a wallflower to begin with is to be pleasing to those around them.
I don't blame wallflowers that never make the leap off the wall. I certainly understand their reasons why.
But the brave ones, the ones that take a deep breath and make the leap are the ones I now identify with, because I am one of them.
Words to Ponder:
Are you a wallflower or a sunflower?
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 What brings me Joy lately.... |
- opening up to new opportunities, new possibilities, new adventures
- Fed Ex
- USPS
- Pony Express
- cell phones (oh the things we take for granted these days!)
- my virtual assistant, Emily
- the participants in the JOY Beyond Your Dreams life mastery program
- love, sweet love
- dark chocolate with almonds
- crock pots
- turtles
- my office
- trees
- magnets
- purple paint, well, hopefully we'll get it how we want it this time
- the guy who cheerfully paints the stairwell
- reminding myself that there is no limit to joy
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| HAPPYHAPPYJOYJOY Birthday Wishes to: | |
Marissa Meredith
Julie Gulbrandsen
Johhny Breeze
Lori Kilchermann
Jesse Kuntz
Mary Jane Gallagher
MItch Koepp
Blake Proctor
Candace Murrow
(Send in your birthday. Each week, we do a birthday shout out.
At the end of each month, a name is drawn and receives snail mail surprise!)
OCTOBER BIRTHDAY WINNER........
BETH RANDALL!!!!!
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| Where's Kelly |
October 6, Happiness Club
October 12-14, Smart Women's Institute LIVE EVENT, San Antonio, TX
October 18, SHRM Conference
October 18, USBANK Staff Event
October 19, Singing Bowls workshop
October 24, JOY BEYOND YOUR DREAMS Kickoff
October 26, Singing Bowls workshop
October 26, ComCast TV interview
October 28, Easter Seals Autism Therapy School Staff Event
November 3, Happiness Club
November 12, GPS Women's Retreat
November 16, Women's Group - Department of Energy, Argonne National Labs
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| Books for your joy journey |
I am DELIGHTED TO BE A PART OF THIS BOOK!
- "SMART WOMEN LIVE THEIR WHY - How Women Entrepreneurs are Living on Purpose and In Passion" 50+ essays to uplift and inspire you! This is a BIG FAT BOOK with contributions from many amazing women. It's a great gift for you or someone who needs a dose of encouragement. $25 Click here BUY NOW!
Gift Giving Time is here! Click on title below to buy.
-When LIfe Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes = a collection of Kelly's newspapers columns-365 Days of Joy - How to be Happy Every Single Day = practical steps to live a happier life every day
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| Happiness Club |
Happiness Club First Thursday every monthNorth Suburban Library, 6340 N. Second St., Loves Park6:30 - 8:00 pm New habits can change your life!
All are welcome. It's Free. What have you got to lose but your blues?
One minute Video of Happiness Club
Nov 3 - Tom Zuba (www.TomZuba.com)
Tom is a fun, dynamic, interactive speaker! His program is sure to entertain and educate. You will feel better! "This Season Give the Gift That Illuminates All Others"
A clip from Tom from last year's presentation: click here.
Dec 1 - Year End Sharing/Feast/Celebration (Bring food and a friend!)
Another local joy option:
LAUGH CLUB
Third Saturdays, 9 am
2222 E State-Room 208, Rockford
Leaders: Marty & Jodell Gabriel
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| JOY Assignment |
* "LIKE" the Facebook page for Kelly Epperson:JOY Beyond Your Dreams* Follow Kelly on Twitter
* Do ONE thing that you are chicken to do.
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| JOY Beyond Your Dreams |
The JOY Beyond Your Dreams Life Mastery Program was created for YOU!
We kicked off this week and will allow latecomers to join this week and then the doors are officially closed.
Learn to let go of old limiting habits and instill new ones that will change your life, every single day.
For more info on how to raise your happiness, call toll free 888-637-3563 or write info@kellyepperson.com
register
Info email #1
Info email #2
 | | Kelly Epperson JOY Beyond Your Dreams Life Mastery Program |
 | | Joy Beyond Your Dreams Kelly Epperson |
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Life is so much better off the wall.
Live joyfully,
Kelly
PARTING SHOT:
"Women who live the life of their dreams don't get there by being dainty and darling.
... [That] could mean breaking a few rules, a few hearts and a few habits along the way, especially the habit of apologizing for who you are."
- Laurie Sue Brockway
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ABOUT KELLY:
Kelly Epperson, a former IRS agent, is now an agent of joy, living the life of her dreams and teaching others to do the same.
To download a free copy of Kelly's ebook "7 Steps to Being Happier Right Now" go to www.kellyepperson.com.
Would You Like Kelly to Inspire and Teach at Your Next Event?
Kelly presents keynotes, trainings and Lunch-n-Learns for corporations, associations, public seminars & events, and industry-specific trainings. Contact info@kellyepperson.com or call toll free 888-637-3563.
Would You Like Kelly to Inspire and Teach YOU?
Kelly works privately as a happiness coach/consultant/mentor. If you want to pursue your own Joy Beyond Your Dreams™, write info@kellyepperson.com or call toll free 888-637-3563.
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