« love thursday: everyday joy »

My friend Brené said two more things in her speech on Tuesday night that have stuck with me.  They are:

1.  Living a joyful life is not about living your life 24/7 in a happy state of mind.  She says, and I think she's correct, that being happy all the time would be like living with a constant floodlight in your face -- ultimately annoying and downright exhausting.  Instead, she says, living a joyful life is sort of similar to following the path along a string of twinkle lights -- that really, a joyful life is simply a series of happy moments, and that the trick to living a joyful life is being gratefully in the moment when you are experiencing a happy time; and then, when you're experiencing a down time (the space between the first twinkle light and the next), you live in the present knowledge that the down time, too, shall pass, and another happy moment is just around the corner.  Also,

2.  Joy and gratitude are inextricably intertwined -- true joy is impossible without gratitude.

I believe both of these wholeheartedly.  In fact, those two points are exactly the reason that I blog the way I do:  to capture the joyful happy moments, to be present and grateful when they occur, and to remind myself that there's more joy ahead, during those times when I'm not feeling so great.  And if you think of it, joy -- just like love -- is everywhere.  You need only look.

* * * * * * *

Happy Love Thursday, everyone.  Please feel free to leave your stories or links to your words or images of love in the comments below.

And today, when you experience a joyful or love-filled moment -- and I promise, however tiny or fleeting it might be, you will -- be present in it, and enjoy it gratefully.

Song:  God bless the child by Jill Scott

Comments

[Melinda]

I am so happy and grateful I found your blog, Karen. You've been putting a smile on my face for ages now. Sometimes, your posts are the twinkle lights for me. Or they remind me of the twinkle lights in my day. I love it when you remind me of the important stuff. And I am totally charmed by Alex's smile.

[Amelia]

I love the point about joy and gratitude- when I express gratitude for my many blessings, joy is the result! Love Thursday!

http://www.momsdailyretreat.com/notesfromtheedge/

[nicolien]

Sometimes the twinkles are just very, very close together :) Your blog and Alex's smile are definitely part of the string. Thank you, again, and Happy Love Thursday!

http://qussa.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/love-thursday-good-question/

[Daily Practice]

Love the joy you captured in her expression.
Here's a little 'love' embedded in a blaze of autumn color:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=939

[Mel]

Happy Love Thursday to everyone!

Here is my contribution:

http://memyselfandotherthings.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/love-thursday-father-and-daughter/

[Elizabeth Harper]

I've got the color of joy in full bloom over at my space....

http://giftsofthejourney.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/the-color-of-joy/

[Puna]

I love kids. They are so uninhibited.

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2009/10/what-soccer-game/

[busymomma66]

Happy Love Thursday! Love the spontaneous shot of Alex. You can hear her laughter in it.

I have some love of my boy. Well not sure if he's still my boy.

http://busymomma66.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-boy.html

[Mark Pakula]

An inspirational post!
Here are my brightest lights:
image

[margie]

my sister and i have been talking about the pursuit of joy and happiness on our blog quite often lately. today our love thursday post is by my daughter.

http://www.soeursdujour.com/