In an era of political and social unrest, breakdown of morals and increased crime, it’s easy to lose our JOY. Lately I have noticed a shortage of individuals who appear to be enjoying themselves. We tend to concentrate on things that are wrong in our personal lives as well as the outside world. We seem to have lost touch with ourselves and most of the things that bring happiness are overshadowed by worry and unrest. I’m not saying the things robbing us of our JOY are unimportant or don’t need to be addressed and dealt with in an effective manner; but in order to preserve our mental and physical health, perhaps we need to reassess our attitude as well as how we spend our time.

How many of you live or have lived on a farm? How many write, paint, dance, decorate, or engage in sports? How many wish you had time for more creative activities ? How many have a great idea for a book. When I talk to a group it is amazing how many hands go up in response to that question.  Do you want to be a writer, or do you want to have been a writer. Most of us fail to do the required work so only dream of the latter.

Perhaps we should approach life like a railroad crossing and stop, look, and listen. How often do you look at the sky and study the constantly changing clouds? Do you ever yearn to be removed from human language, the constant interference by all our modern technological tools?

Like writers and painters, we must soak in or absorb scent, sight, sounds and textures. Get in closer contact with self. How does your skin respond to temperature change, or the brush of a leaf against your forehead? Is it possible to reawaken our nerve endings to the sensations we experienced in childhood?

We humans are the only animals on earth unhappy with ourselves. Does a white-tailed deer want to look like a hippo, or a porcupine like a gazelle? There is too much emphasis on beauty - fitting the mold of acceptability. What if all wild animals looked alike? Can you imagine how boring nature would be if there were only one species of trees or flowers? Can’t we celebrate our uniqueness; open our hearts wide to other possibilities? Even hurting means we’re alive.

We fret about physical attributes. Who decides what is physically acceptable and what isn’t? They should be voted out of office. Why do we allow the opinions of others to rob us of our JOY? We’re too short, too bald, too childish, a stuffed-shirt, a slob, and the most troubling one - too fat. Consider a WATERMELON. It doesn’t mind being fat - we choose the fattest one at the market. A watermelon is GENEROUS - it begs you to eat it! A PEACH is also generous, juicy; its nectar fills you with JOY. Lets show the world we’re a PEACH not a PARSNIP!

DISCOUNT THINGS THAT TAKE TOO MUCH TIME! What if we had to peel grapes? I don’t even buy ones with seeds!

REINVENT YOUR CHILDHOOD: I’ve found JOY in a field of cosmos, or as a child, walking in the woods and finding may-apples hiding beneath umbrella-like leaves,  or picking blackberries. Eating my mother’s fresh blackberry cobblers brought a special JOY. Watching fog lift to reveal a field of Queen Ann’s lace, or fog wrapping itself around a lamp post on an empty city street can bring JOY. Think of a bus driver - a lonely job before the city awakens. I’ll bet he finds JOY in the solitude, the stillness before the traffic and blasting horns invade his day. What is more JOYFUL than seeing, feeling, or smelling the blossoms of orange or other fruit trees? How often do you go the beach and drink in a sunrise or sunset - all by yourself?

Creative action of any kind can bring JOY not only for ourselves but to the observers as well.  In a topsy-turvy world and uncertain future, I challenge you to briefly revisit and reclaim the things in your past that brought you JOY. Only if we open our eyes to the beauty of the world, and embrace nature and all living things, can we expect to maintain a JOYFUL future.

Would you take a moment and share with me how you maintain JOY in your life, and indicate whether I can share your response with others?

Thank you, and may SPRING bring you a special JOY.    ““““`