Reflections

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  1. Andrea

    I recently moved to a new place that was somewhat of a downgrade. Yet one morning I woke up at 530 and saw the sun rising over the east side. that filled me with great joy. It was a totally unexpected treat !
    love and light
    andrea

    1 year ago
  2. Barb C

    I’m a day late but want to respond anyway. I distinctly remember a sunny day at college walking along a sidewalk absolutely filled with golden leaves, huge maples arching overhead full of more leaves. A feeling of exultation rose up inside my chest that I immediately named the “joy bubble”. It wanted to burst out! I’ve experienced that occasionally since then and it’s almost always something like that day, with me tuning into the here and now and something beautiful around me.

    1 year ago
  3. Robin Ann

    Over the past several years I have re- connected with 2 of my HS friends. Life got very busy with raising children but now we have been able to re-connect and spend more time together. Each of us live in different states but have been fortunate to gather at one friend’s family lake cottage in the summer. Last year we were all invited to a daughter’s wedding in the Bahamas. It was so exciting because finally travel started being allowed toward the end of the pandemic. I also learned this year that the family cottage is now owned exclusively by my friend and they plan to retire 3 seasons there. The cottage/soon to be renovated home will only be about an hour from my new home.

    1 year ago
  4. O.Christina

    When I received a beautiful note and invitation to meet together again for our traditional dinner, which has been sent out to all the group. Thank you so much, dear friend, who sent it and of course, the one who kindly invites us each year! I was full of joy and gratitude so much that surprisingly, I found myself crying. I was not aware of how much I miss each of them until that moment. May be it will be a meeting to get the chance to set things to peace again with someone where I feel so sorry to once having had an inner reaction of strong anger which I know was conveyed and which was completely unrelated to the kind person who unjustly has received the wrath. Whatever will be, I am joyfully looking forward to meeting hopefully many of our friends again!

    1 year ago
  5. Erich617

    About 15 years ago, I moved to a new city to look for work. I moved in with a roommate who had two big dogs. He left them at home during the day, and–since I was not working–I was also home during the day.

    One day, I was really struggling with finding work, worried about money, and feeling hopeless. Perhaps I got frustrated and yelled, or maybe the dogs were just trying to play with me, but–for some reason–the dogs were trying to get my attention. I got upset and waved my arms around, yelling to get down. They didn’t understand what I was saying but got that I was excited and decided to jump up on me and push me down on the couch, licking me.

    I was not expecting that joy, but I could not deny it. I remember that moment, but I have no idea now what I was so upset about then.

    1 year ago
  6. Don Jones

    I think it is when I come home from work or being out and the wonderful, joyful greeting I get from my dog. It is a delight every single time.

    1 year ago
    1. Joseph McCann

      Dogs certainly have a joyous greeting to their humans. I have a feeling they only live in the present Don.

      1 year ago
  7. Charlie T

    I’m not always aware that I’m
    experiencing joy, except in retrospect.
    When I’m in moments of joy, I tend to be
    lost in the present moment.
    When I’ve been surprised by joy,
    it’s usually do to my anxiety going in,
    that blinds me to the possibility of joy,
    and I’ve found joy in spite of myself.
    Im working on being more present, and
    I hope that means that I’m more aware
    of all the joy that’s around me.

    1 year ago
  8. Nannette

    I am not sure that I can relate surprise to joy….Perhaps…when I get to a new place, I may be surprised that it is really nice and I like it (most speciifcally a campground- as we are not traveling for the winter). If the campground is really nice that brings me joy. Now – really nice – what does that mean?? To me that is having lots of trees, some ground for my dog to bask in the sun and that brings joy to him! To be able to hear the birds and not traffic…and to find some peace as I sit and look at all of thise gifts of the Universe. Yesterday after a long and nail biting drive through Houston, we came to the campground that we would be spending the next 7 nights. Although we were met with a curtly ranger – the State Park is a beautiful wooded place full of trees, and trails and some water. I am grateful for the joy that is bringing me.

    1 year ago
    1. Joseph McCann

      Nannette, I think I may have met that Ranger at a few Texas state parks I have visited over the years.

      1 year ago
  9. Yram

    Bene Brown describes joy “as an intense feeling of deep spiritual connection, pleasure and appreciation.” This happened the other day when I saw my long time orchid has a stem that may produce 4 flowers.

    1 year ago
  10. Carol

    Most of the time when I am surprised by joy, it involves a small child–their smiles, their innocence, their unconditional love. That’s not to say I do not experience joy at other times but the element of surprise always makes it so intensely uplifting.

    1 year ago
    1. Erich617

      My three-year-old surprises me with joy almost everyday.

      What I find so wonderful about her spirit is that her mood can shift so readily. Last night, we were playing, and she put a plastic bag over her head. I told her to take it off right away, and she started testing boundaries, putting it on again to see my reaction. I grabbed the bag, and she got very upset, crying and screaming, hitting, etc. After about five minutes, though, she was back to her playful, affectionate self.

      1 year ago
  11. Mary Pat

    I have a reminder on my phone, and it says”No one can take away your joy or your happiness. No one.” I believe that momentarily someone or a circumstance can, but not generally speaking.
    I am still making my way through the book, The Book of Joy by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and The Dalai Lama. There are so many good things in that small book, I am taking my time with it. There are many pages marked with post it notes.
    Our dog is named Joy, because I wanted to be able to wake up in the morning and say “Hello, Joy!” and it really sets my mood for the day. And to be outside, calling JOY makes me smile every time. It is interesting to watch people walking outside when I call her, nearly every person smiles, if only for a second. Most people think we named her after a neighbor-and it was one of the reasons-but the main one was because I wanted to be able to wake up and say ” Good morning, Joy!” every day.
    And the surprise is every time I say it I smile. Three hundred and sixty five days a year for almost 5 years. Now THAT’S a surprise!

    1 year ago
    1. Michele

      Lucinda Williams has a song named ‘Joy’, good one.

      1 year ago
  12. B
    Brittany

    I have been surprised with Joy at the birth of our daughter LillyAnn. I knew that I would love her and adore her but until she was actually here I didnt realize how much or exactly what that would feel like. Watching her everyday fills my heart in a way i never knew was possible. From watching her smile and giggle to seeing her excitement as she jumps around in her bouncer. I never new I could feel this kind of happiness.

    1 year ago
  13. Michele

    I have been surprised by joy by unexpected happenings … seeing a hummingbird in my backyard one day (I just filled and placed a xmas gift from my brother a hummingbird feeder-hope to see more); nature offers many; my cat Daphne; surprise visits from my daughter; I also feel joy when I see others having a joyful moment

    1 year ago
  14. Butterfly

    Over the past year I have made a point of focusing on feeling joyfulness in every moment. I am surprised by the effect on my nervous system and energy level. I feel so calm and that has helped me to have more energy although I am impacted by a very energy-draining illness. Feeling like this gives me even more joy and I know my joyfulness “infects” other people!

    1 year ago
    1. Carol

      Butterfly, Yes, it does . Know that your joyfulness comes through every time you share on this site.

      1 year ago
  15. Laura

    Joy seems to appear when I least expect it, in the routine of everyday happenings.

    1 year ago
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