It's All About Joy!

Must Reads: Bloggers I Love

(Part I in what will likely be a long series!)

The best parts of my mornings are sending and receiving email and reading my favorite blogs. The list keeps growing since there is so much good content out there. Every so often I am compelled to just shout from the rooftops how wonderful I think all these people are who write about joy, love, and spirituality.

So consider this post a rooftop, and here’s me shouting some of my favorites:

Peggy at Serendipity Smiles wrote about overcoming her perfectionist tendencies and had this little gem of encouragement in there: “I don’t have to strive for  perfection today, tomorrow or next week. I’m perfect just as I am…I can be a four today, a five tomorrow, a two on Friday.  It’s all good.”
Click to read Dreaming Perfection

Jodi at Joy Discovered wrote about truth – what it is and what it isn’t (and how we frequently mistake non-truths for truth). If you want an eye-opening read, you absolutely have to check out this post. Here’s a great snippet from it, “…how many times have you recounted an incident, and as much as you try to tell only the truth you realize it is quite impossible; you realize that without the other person about whom you are reporting sitting there with you, recounting her side exactly as she experienced it, you don’t actually know the truth. In those situations you realize there is a difference between facts and perceptions.”
Click to read The Truth Will Set You Free

Positively Present always has a fresh energy in what she writes, and this post, in particular, took me all the way back to childhood. See for yourself how growing up is optional.
Click to read Growing Up Is Optional

Nadia at Happy Lotus writes so compellingly and with such peace and love... From day 1, I've been a fan. She wrote a post about the myth of perfectionism, which I loved since I’m a recovering perfectionist. If you find yourself falling into this category, her post is a must-read.
Click to read My Perfection Myth
 
Liara at Dream Builders Australia had the most fantastic post about dis-ease in our bodies, and how to not only view it differently, but in some cases, undo it. If you’ve suffered anything from a cold to emergency surgery, this post has something in it for you.
Click to read 7 Ways to Re-frame Apparent Dis-ease

Mark at The Naked Soul (love that title, by the way!) dissected the topic of self-worth in this post called “What Is Our Value?” Do we use money, love, or other external circumstances to determine how valuable we are? Or can we go inside and recognize that simply by being alive, we’re more worthwhile than we ever dreamed?
Click to read What Is Our Value?

Tess at The Bold Life had a guest blogger (Jan Lundy) who wrote a fabulous post describing how the first 30 minutes of our day sets the tone for how the rest will go. Did you know that? It made me grateful for my morning routine, which is infused with peacefulness and love. Read this to learn how to make more of your days enjoyable, right from the start. (And PS - Tess is also a brilliant writer... so I'll include one of the posts she wrote on Jan's blog here, as well!)
Click to read Mind Fitness: How About a Workout For a Healthy Mind
Click to read 75 Ways to Make The World a Better Place to Be

Oh my God, I laughed so hard when I first read about Millie on Suzen’s blog Erasing the Bored that I nearly fell off my chair. Millie is old, tells it like it is, and isn’t afraid to fart (that’s right… fart!). Please, please, please read this if you want some amazing “living right” advice and also want to laugh.
Click to read Millie Wisdom: Lessons in Living

Lance at The Jungle of Life writes inspiringly and gently, and quite often so succinctly that I’m awed. I absolutely loved this quote he shared from Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, and was greatly encouraged by it. If you’re looking to do what you love or find more meaning in life, read this!
Click to read Sunday Thought for the Day, June 21

Katie at You Can’t Say That on the Internet! is constantly writing from such a space of love – for both her life and her incredible partner, Patty – that I’m moved to tears. The love Katie and Patty share, and how they keep their love growing, is inspirational. The post Joyful Creators is a great testament to how they live their spirituality and love for one another right out loud, and in doing so, positively affect all of us who share this planet with them. Take a look.
Click to read Joyful Creators

And if you like food – to make or to eat – I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Patty’s site, affectionately called The Joyful Chef. I frequently read her step-by-step posts that are full of the most delicious pictures and think, “now I’m hungry.” Best of all, I’ve met Katie and Patty, who live on the opposite coast as me, and they’re even better and more delicious in-person than they are on their blogs! See what Patty’s been up to by reading her latest.
Click to read The Joyful Chef

There are more – my gosh there are more. So please know that this is just a start. I’ll be doing another “Man I love these bloggers” entry in the future and including even more of the fabulous writers who fuel my days and weeks with their brilliance, insights, and love.

A Happy Mouth = Just Plain Happy

When I was a kid, my grandma always had Trident gum in her purse. Specifically, she carried the blue package (which I think was peppermint). My mom was also a Trident chewer. She preferred the green package (spearmint). To this day, if I chew a piece of Trident I'm instantly six or seven years old again and hanging out with my grandma or mom.

It's the simple things that bring the longest lasting joys (for me, anyway).

Speaking of which, enjoy this video which put a big ol' smile on my face: http://www.tridentgum.com/alittlepieceofhappy/?cad_id=P207654829#/Daisy

Triumph of the Left-Handed

I was hanging out with a friend of mine recently who told me that some of the most spiritually enlightened and gifted people in history were left-handed:

• Benjamin Franklin
• Ramses II
• Alexander the Great
• Charlemagne
• Helen Keller
• Michelangelo
• Leonardo da Vinci

As she kept rattling off names, I couldn’t help but ask, “Let me guess – are YOU left handed?” Of course she is.

Suddenly, my meager right-handedness seemed more of a liability than ever before (and make no mistake, it’s not something I ever spent time thinking about prior to our conversation). 

But she really had me with that list! Suddenly I wanted to know every famous, spiritual or really far-out gifted right-handed person in the world, just to ease my mind. (As it turns out 90% of the population is right handed, so I’m sure I’m in good company.)

After I dropped her off and came home, I began researching famous right-handed people. (Much easier to find famous lefties, in case you’re wondering.)

• Was Jesus right-handed? (Oh please, oh please…)
• Buddha?

I’m guessing they were both ambidextrous, but who knows? My friend’s voice rang in ears once more, “Oprah, Obama…” Stop it! You’re just hurting me now!

Why of all things would dexterity matter to me? I mean, it was absolutely silly and I knew it was just my ego at work trying to throw me off-balance, but it definitely got me thinking.

Speaking of thinking:

“Left-handed people are high achievers. Research reveals that…their brains are structured to widen their abilities, an attribute that is genetic and on account of the enhanced governing of 'language centers' within the brain.

“Left-handed persons use visual stimulus to process information. Research reveals that people who are left-handed do not use the sequential processing style like their right-handed colleagues, to disseminate information. Instead they are good at applying themselves to multiple tasks with the help of the synthesis method of breaking down information and finding a solution.”

By Gaynor Borade as published on Buzzle.com

In any case, a few days after our discussion I’ve moved on to other things to obsess about and let my ego run rampant with (do blonds really have more fun than brunettes, and should I dye my hair?!). It was an intriguing idea, though, to think that lefties are wired differently than righties, and that somehow it could affect where they end up in life.

Be well & joyful, no matter which is your dominant hand!

Tips To Maintain A Healthy Level of Insanity

This list was sent to me by a friend last week, and while I'd seen it before, it's still one of my favorite "email forwards" to-date. I've edited it down to the ones that made me giggle the most.

To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity
 
1. Page yourself over the intercom at work. Don't disguise your voice!
2. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that...
3. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for marijuana."
4. Order a diet water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face...
5. Specify that your drive-thru order is 'to go.'
6. Sing along at the opera.
7. Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you have a headache. 
8. When the money comes out of the ATM, scream 'I Won! I Won!'
9. Tell your children over dinner one night, 'Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go.' 

And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity

10. PICK UP A BOX OF CONDOMS AT THE PHARMACY, GO TO THE COUNTER AND ASK WHERE THE FITTING ROOM IS.

Finally, A Joyful Look At How Men Think (As Written By Steve Harvey): Excerpts From “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man”

I heard Steve Harvey talking about his new book on the Ellen show, and within two minutes I knew I wanted to buy this book. He’s not professing to be Dr. Phil or to have done any sort of scientific research on how men think or act, but from the sounds of it, his 52 years toting around the “y” chromosome haven’t been in vain. From the short interview I saw, he’s a guy who just gets it (and subsequently, makes me want to go and get his book!).

Here are some excerpts to hopefully entice you to do the same:

Men are Simple.
“There is no truer statement: men are simple. Get this into your head first, and everything you learn about us in this book will begin to fall into place. Once you get that down, you’ll have to understand a few essential truths: men are driven by who they are, what they do, and how much they make.”

The 90-Day Rule.
“Look, here’s the deal. I used to work at Ford Motor Company. They have a probation period of 90 days. You have to stay on this job for 90 days because they’re going to check you out. They’re gong to see if you work well with others, if you’re on time, if you’re going to do what you say you’re going to do. Then after 90 days, they give you this benefits package… I look at women who meet guys and wind up in an affair – in a relationship with them – physical…in two or three weeks. Three days… what are you doing? Ford Motor Company don’t give away benefits for 90 days! It doesn’t make any sense. And you all have the greatest benefits package…You’re the reason we wake up in the morning. We want one of you! I go to work because of one of you!”

Men Are Either Playing You Or They’re Planning With You.
“You’ve got to know on the first night that you’re talking to this guy what his intentions are. If we see you across the room when we walk over to you, we want something. We’re not coming over there to find out what your future goals are. We don’t care what your hopes for tomorrow are. We saw you, we saw something we wanted, and we’re coming over there to see how much it’s gonna cost to get it. That’s the deal! That is really the truth.

“It’s real simple: we’re either playing with you, or we’re planning with you. We’re only doing one of two things. You want a guy that has a plan for you. If you know you want a serious relationship, you have to state that up front. Or it will run him off. If he goes away, he was only there to play in the beginning. The guy that has something in his head is going to stick around and see how high the bar is and how high he’s gotta climb to get to you. See, too many women got their fence only this high (visually depicts low fence). Lots of guys stepping in their yard…playing in their yard. Messing up your flowers, digging holes…”

The Three P’s.
“Men show their love with the three P’s. If we love you we will Protect, Profess and Provide for you.”

In Summary: Three Things Guys Want From Their Woman.
“To sum up, we’ve got to have these three things – support, loyalty, and sex – from you or we’re going to go.”