BLOG 169—Finding the Joy in Life!

With my words, I hope to throw some oblique light upon your life.
I want to inspire you to see life in a different and/or better way.

*** Remember, to read past blog posts, go to >> kitsummers.com/blog/
*** If you are reading this through Facebook, check out my blog on my website.
*** If you are not my Facebook friend, yet, please, befriend me.
*** The happiness I am experiencing in my life is a marvelous thing!
*** Going where I want, when I want, and seeing wonderful places and people, too.
        (But no longer alone, Beth is by my side.)
*** I will have places to show you and tales to tell.
*** Secrets to unfold and good news!
*** I want to thank my wonderful wife Beth for her superb editing and adding to the blog each week.

BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES!

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INTRO TO THIS WEEK >>

You may know some of the things I have been through in my life >>

• Hit by a truck and went through a 37-day coma.
  

• 18 years later hit by another truck, much of my body was damaged.

• Up-down, Up-down.

• I had to find joy in my life once again.

Still, I maintain the joys I have found in life.

Joy is an emotion, and emotions are often mute. They’re mainly physical sensations in our bodies. We express the emotion of joy in many bodily ways. For example, we jump for joy when we win a difficult competition, or we bring on uncontrollable laughter when someone tells a hilarious story. We howl with delight after getting a surprise gift and whoop and roar exuberantly when we hear fantastic news. We feel buoyant and jubilant on a beautiful day.

When we are conscious of our joy, we feel great about ourselves. We feel confident, capable, powerful, endearing, and fulfilled. These are all good reasons to experience more joy in our life. Here are some suggestions to find the joy that is always in you. It is up to each of us to find the joy that is right there for us.

Integrate as many of the following as you can into your life >>

1—EXERCISE GRATITUDE

One way to move away from the past and feel joy again in your life is to practice gratitude. By choosing to be positive and optimistic and focus on the good things in your life, you can actually train your brain to feel joy more often. When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears again. That’s how gratitude creates a cycle of constructive emotions. You see, the more you practice gratitude, the more positive emotions you will feel.

2—GIVE BACK

The secret to living in joy is giving. Making a difference in the lives of others brings meaning to our lives and reminds us of all that we have. That’s why learning how to have more joy in your own life always involves giving back to the world. You don’t need money to find fulfillment through giving, all you need is a desire to help others in the world and the drive to donate your time, skills, or expertise to a cause.

3—LET GO OF THE PAST

Don’t hold yourself back! Your past is not your future unless you live there – and living there prevents you from learning how to find joy in the present. If you have lost a loved one, ended a relationship, or have been having a hard time financially, these are certainly valid reasons to feel down. Let yourself feel sad or lonely, but limit the time spent there, and never be hopeless. Ask yourself what you can learn about yourself from your experiences and emotions.

Let go of the past.
You are beyond that.
You deserve to feel joy again.

4—SURROUND YOURSELF WITH OPTIMISTIC PEOPLE

Encompassing yourself with good people goes hand in hand with the law of attraction and is vital to all areas of your life. When you’re surrounded by optimistic people, it will be nearly impossible to feel negative. They will lift your spirits and help you find the good in every situation. Keeping yourself away from people who don’t make you feel joy – or who actively work against it – isn’t always easy. However, you cannot learn how to find joy with their negative world holding you back.

5—USE THE LAW OF ATTRACTION

The more positivity you feel and bring on, the more you will attract positivity in your life – that’s the law of attraction. This principle has been around for thousands of years and is used by the world’s most successful people to design the lives of their dreams. Remember, if someone else can do it, so can you.

It isn’t complicated: What you focus on, you attract.
Focus on creating joy in your own life and sharing it with others.
You will naturally attract even more joy.

6—CHANGE YOUR THINKING

You’ve heard the expression “fake it ‘til you make it.” If you’re still having trouble changing your focus to feel joy instead of negativity, put on a smile. If you tell your brain you are happy – even if you’re not – it will change your outlook.

Smile!
Change your posture and stand up tall.
Throw your shoulders back and adopt a power pose.
Confident physiology can change your entire demeanor.
You will have more joy in your life!

7—BE FULLY PRESENT

As you know, we live in a fast-paced world. We are always planning our next move, searching for that perfect relationship, or throwing ourselves into work. When we do relax, we’re often glued to our phones – and social media constantly reminds us of what we’re missing, and how we could be better. How can we feel joy when we are always searching for something better? Unplug. Focus on the present. Notice what’s around you and savor it. That’s true joy.

8—CREATE POSITIVE DAILY HABITS

Learning how to develop joy in your life starts with your mindset, and, always, your daily routine has a powerful effect on your state of mind. Exercise is proven to reduce depression. Even a 15-minute run or an hour-long walk per day can boost your mood, so find an exercise you enjoy and make it a part of your life. And, eating right is just as important, and adding mindfulness practices like thinking positive will help you feel joy on a daily basis.

9—FIND YOUR AIM

When you’ve set yourself up for success through gratitude, empowering daily customs, and mindfulness, you’re ready to find your purpose in life. Your purpose goes beyond your calling or short-term goals. It’s what gives your life hope and meaning. It is the thing that you most want to accomplish in life.

It’s your heritage.
What makes you feel joy?
What do you want to be remembered for in the world?

10—Be here, now!
Most of us rush through every action so that we can move on to the next one, without really immersing ourselves in the present moment. Make the most of each and every moment you have on earth.

Try being mindful rather than “mind full.” Keep your full focus on what you’re doing, now and always now. When you’re eating, eat: don’t watch TV or worry about the next day. The same goes for when you’re bathing, drinking coffee or tea, etc. Break things down and make each and every moment special.

11—FIND JOY IN THE LITTLE THINGS

Are there fun or silly little things that you really like that make you smile most every time you encounter them? Then definitely spend more time with those things and thoughts! Our life is comprised of little things, make the most of each one of them.

Watch bees disappear into flowers.
Take delight in wearing ridiculously funny socks.
Try adding a spoonful of ice cream into your coffee instead of cream.
These little pleasures may seem silly, but you know what? GOOD. They’re wonderful.

12—LISTEN TO MUSIC YOU LOVE!

You have your favorite tunes which never fail to brighten our spirits. When was the last time you cranked up the volume on an album that you love? Make music a big part of your joy in life. Keep a new playlist full of music that makes you feel happy. Play that music whenever the notion strikes you. A great soundtrack can even make housework seem like a joy!

13—BAKE OR COOK SOMETHING DELICIOUS FROM SCRATCH.

Many of us have gotten used to fast food or quick meals that we throw together because of time. Work, childcare, and other pressures often leave us reaching for frozen items, or ordering in whenever possible. Remember the great meals that gramma used to make?

Instead of the fast eat, set aside the time you need to prepare a delicious dish from scratch. This can be an old favorite or something new that you’ve always wanted to try. Then you’ll have the double joy of reveling in new flavors and conquering new cooking or baking techniques. Learn as you go. Make every meal an opportunity to celebrate, with sincere gratitude and appreciation as you take every bite.

14—SURROUND YOURSELF WITH BEAUTY

It’s often hard to feel happy when your surroundings make you feel “yuck.” Are you feeling down about your current decor? You can change things up a bit.

A new paint job for a room?
New curtains or pillows for your main room?
That new painting you’ve wanted?

Remember the smells in your home. Scent is linked to many aspects of well-being, and aromas evoke different responses for everyone.

Burn some beautifully scented candles or incense.
Make homemade room sprays with essential oils.
Make some cinnamon rolls just to make the house smell like a bakery.

You spend so much of your life at home, so make it a place that inspires and delights you.

15—SPEND TIME WITH ANIMALS

We have Jemma the dog, five cats, four rabbits, turtles, and more.

How delighted do you feel after you’ve spent real quality time cuddling your animal friends? Non-human friends need a lot of love, and everyone feels happier after an hour of solid cuddling. As you comfort them, it will comfort you.

If you don’t have a pet (or aren’t sure whether you want one), consider fostering some kittens, or help as a dog walker at a local shelter. Both you and the animals will undoubtedly benefit from time spent together.

16—WRITE REAL LETTERS TO FRIENDS

Remember the old days when you sent letters to friends? Emails are all well and good, but we can hear our friends’ voices in their written words. I remember stacks of letters that my gramma kept wrapped in ribbons or in special boxes. It takes time and effort to put thoughts to paper with a pen, and we all feel amazing when we know that others think enough of us to make that happen.

Get yourself some pretty note cards or stationery and write a few lines to people you love. It’s actually a lot of fun to bring back memories as you write these (especially if you make the cards yourself), and just imagine how delighted they’ll be to receive real mail instead of just bills!

17—WATCH A MOVIE THAT MAKES YOU SMILE OR LAUGH

Is there a favorite film or movie that always lifts your spirits? Well, when was the last time you watched the picture show? If it’s been a while, ask yourself why you haven’t put it on, and then change that as soon as possible. Bring back that joy that you had in the past by watching this special film.

Make popcorn.
Put your feet up.
Prepare to smile your face off.

18—GET OUTDOORS MORE OFTEN

I’ve been to every national park in continental America. I love to be out in the wilderness, back to nature. There is scientific evidence that shows, that being out in nature makes us feel better.

The soothing sounds of wind through tree leaves.
Birds singing in the trees.
Water flowing in the stream.
This calms our nerves and lifts our spirits.

Go for walks in the park or in the wilderness or forested areas whenever possible – preferably far away from the sounds of cities and traffic. Bring a drink and some snacks, hunker down against a tree, and breathe deeply. You’ll feel amazing afterward.

19—MAKE TIME TO WORK OUT

So many of us live inactive lives stuck at our desks or glued to the couch. It can make our bodies cramped and uncomfortable. Set time aside every day (or at least a few times a week) for some kind of physical movement.

Take a long walk.
Do some gentle stretching or yoga.
Go for a swim in the local lake or pool.

Anything that moves your limbs and gets your blood flowing. You’ll love the endorphin rush and the strength you’ll feel in your muscles.

20—GET MORE REST

This is something I’ve had trouble with all my life. If you can, learn to nap. Sleep whenever possible. This is quite good for your brain. Take a hot bath and go to bed early at least twice a week. You’ll be surprised to discover just how much better you feel when you’re well-rested.

We live in an era in which exhaustion and working until we drop are lauded as admirable traits. Help turn this around by making real sleep and regular rest some of your top priorities. If you need to, change your life so this can be achieved.

21—DRESS UP FOR JUST YOU!

Like I do so often, do you find yourself wearing the same apparel all the time, especially if you work remotely? When was the last time you dressed up in some of your favorite items? Make a point of “dressing up” for yourself, simply to observe how awesome it feels to wear clothes you love.

22—GET RID OF DISORDERLINESS

Cluttered surroundings can make you feel frustrated and confined. You can change that by packing away, donating, or throwing out whatever you’re not using on a regular basis. I think owning less makes for a better life. Essentials – that’s it.

Like I wrote before, incorporate as many of these in your life and you will like your life more.

LIFE IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME – ARE YOU KEEPING UP?

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WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU! >>

Inspirational quotes and motivational sayings have an amazing ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thinking.

This is why I find them so interesting, challenging, and important on our path to joy and happiness and finding ways to inspire ourselves as well as others.

Inspirational quotes and ideas provide us with a quick and timely burst of wisdom to get our focus back, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion.

I hope to inspire you with my words.

Words have power.

At any age, you can (and should) make changes to make your life better.

You see, the way you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible for you, determines everything that happens in your life. It all derives from your quality of thinking.

When you improve the quality of your thinking,
you change the quality of your life—sometimes instantly!

Just as positive words can make someone smile, and/or, a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your own thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control!

In fact, you have complete control over only one thing in the universe — Your Thinking — and that’s where motivational quotes come in!

To keep your motivation, you have to use each day as an opportunity for improvement, to be better, and to get a little bit closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it!

Self-talk is so important—THINK RIGHT!

Motivational words, yes, they’re just words.

But they’re positive words; they will keep you on track.
Remember, you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind.

Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive and always reaching for advancement.

VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE.
I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS INSPIRE YOU >>

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Here is a list of “JOY” inspirational quotes.

A joyful life lived in peaceful bliss, is the best existence we can hope to achieve. It’s the kind of life that produces positive feelings and feel-good energy and encourages us to look to the future with high hopes.

Pure joy might seem like a fleeting emotion, but even if you only feel it for a moment in time, you can hold on to it. You can relish in it. Get in a joyful state of mind right now with these 15 inspiring quotes >>

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1. “We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” —Joseph Campbell

2. “Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.” —Chuck Palahniuk

3. “The soul’s joy lies in doing.” —Percy Bysshe Shelley

4. “If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment.” —Carlos Santana

5. “Let your joy be in your journey—not in some distant goal.” —Tim Cook

6. “The joy that isn’t shared dies young.” —Anne Sexton

7. “There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.” —Khalil Gibran

8. “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” —Nhat Hanh

9. “We have to embrace obstacles to reach the next stage of joy.” —Goldie Hawn

10. “Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.” —Mark Twain

11. “Just follow your joy. Always. I think that if you do that, life will take you on the course that it’s meant to take you.” —Jonathan Groff

12. “The more the heart is sated with joy, the more it becomes insatiable.” —Gabrielle Roy

13. “Joy is increased by spreading it to others.” —Robert Murray McCheyne

14. “Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow.” —Helen Keller

15. “Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself.” —Mahatma Gandhi

COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!

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MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>

5/1—Not much to write about this week.
I do hope the words in this blog inspire you – much.

5/2—I returned to Gary Trudeau’s annual camp-out at his land on Stevens Creek. I like this area much, in fact, that is where Beth and I were married. For one week, about twenty people a day join Gary in celebration. This friendly crowd has some top chefs included, and Gary is an excellent chef, too. So, great food is abundant.

5/3—Beth found an Anole, which we made a new pet. After a few days, though, after we fattened it up, we released it back into the wild to live its life.

Today I made some of my very tasty salsa. Being strawberry season right now, I decided to use strawberries in the mix. Turned out great, like usual. I will be bringing some to Gary’s get-together when I go there on Friday.

Have you seen >>
summerssalsa.com ?

5/4—Every Wednesday a group meets in the town of Plum Branch, SC to just talk, called, The Coffee Hour. Gary used to live in Plum Branch and had a very successful restaurant (which, sadly, burnt down many years ago.) So, all the talk was about Gary and the history of the town. The learning was nice.

The name of the town is not about the branch of a plum tree, it is named after the branch of the creek that runs through it. Gold was discovered in this area and that is how the first populations were established.

Plum Branch is in the county of McCormick. We live five miles away in the town of McCormick, SC. McCormick County and its county seat, the town of McCormick, were named for inventor Cyrus Hall McCormick (1809-1884). The county was formed in 1916 from parts of Edgefield, Abbeville, and Greenwood counties in South Carolina.

The discovery of gold is what first attracted people to the area. In fact, the area of McCormick was a significant place in the history of the hunt for gold in the United States.

William Burkhalter Dorn searched for gold in South Carolina for nearly 15 years before finding the mother lode in Peak Hill. The 1857 settlement known as “Dorn Gold Mines” eventually became the present-day city of McCormick.

Today we got two box turtles for our zoo. Beth has a friend who has had box turtles for many years. These are two that were born at his home.

5/5—Continuing to work on my projects.

YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>

You can choose to be gloomy, sad, and depressed.
Or, you can choose joy, happiness, and fulfillment.
Always choose right.

This week, keep a smile on your face as much as possible.
Then, make it a constant habit of your life.

I gave you a list of 22 ways to find joy in your life.
This week, do at least five of these from the list.

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NEXT BLOG >>

As Spring and Summer are approaching, our plants and growing.
By next week we should have everything planted and tomatoes will be ripening soon.
You will find out next week.

How about you, is your garden growing, vegetables abounding?

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THIS WEEK, MAKE YOUR LIFE SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT!