Trish Finds Joy in Beautiful "Visions"
I woke up on the day I watched "The Secret" DVD. There was, implanted in me, a deep need to know more. For the next two years I set out to read everything under the sun (I'm still reading, just not as compulsively). Everything suddenly made sense and I understood things that didn't seem possible in high school. I was not the kid to take physics or chemistry. More likely you'd find me in home economics or woodshop because I was such a skater! One of the exercises that kept coming up was to make a vision board. Being of literal mind, I sought (of course, they fell in my lap) a stack of magazines and began cutting out everything that appealed to me. One after another, the vision boards began piling up and I thought, "This is fun!" Some time later, a friend of mine was having a difficult time and I thought if my vision boards make me feel good, maybe they would help her feel good too. So I made her a little one, framed it and surprised her with it. Seventy or eighty framed vision boards later, all gifted, I thought I might be onto something and started calling it Vision Art, later changed to Vision Art Designs. The joy? Seeing their faces as they looked over their dreams, goals and the improvements they wanted to make. Some I asked questions beforehand; others I did from my own knowledge of them. There was such a reaction, usually tears, that I knew it had touched them deeply. Piecing it together with magazine clippings, finding the perfect image or phrase, mixed with beautiful flowers...it was art. I spent 20 years in the transportation industry and hadn't done anything artistic, really ever! Along the way, people kept asking, how did you know this, how did you know that? For a long time I shrugged it off . Now I realize that when piecing it all together I am tuned into that person/business for hours at a time and had been given a gift. How do I know? I just do! For further joy, I realized what my mom does with her quilts - what she does with material, piecing together custom images and patterns - usually as a gift, is what I love to do with collage. Moms are about memories, mine about the future. I love it!
Trish is another woman I met through the loving power of the internet. Her work is so unique and beautiful and clearly she finds joy in the creation and final outcome of her art. I invite you to check out more of what Trish has to offer by visiting this websiteor this website, and friending her through Facebook or Twitter. Be sure and tell Trish you learned about her on FindYourJoy.com!
Trish is another woman I met through the loving power of the internet. Her work is so unique and beautiful and clearly she finds joy in the creation and final outcome of her art. I invite you to check out more of what Trish has to offer by visiting this websiteor this website, and friending her through Facebook or Twitter. Be sure and tell Trish you learned about her on FindYourJoy.com!
Nona Found It In Nature & Family
Running up the trails of Yosemite falls brought me joy this weekend. My husband and I spontaneously took a trip to Yosemite just to see the waterfalls with the kids. We packed a small picnic lunch, got in the car and started driving. We didn't even have directions. When we got to the park, amazingly it happened to be a free weekend to enter the park. The drive up was a bit hot, but when we arrived at the falls it was spectacular! The noise of the waterfalls was so humbling, the mist of the waterfalls everywhere was so refreshing, and the sight of the waterfalls, the rocks and rapids was sooo invigorating. Witnessing the power and beauty of these waterfalls with my babies and my husband this weekend brought me joy!
Nona Sandoval, Central California
Nona Sandoval, Central California
Sarah Finds Joy in the Success of Kids!
I have found that "finding joy" is a matter of actually searching for it! I have discovered pure joy in many places over the years. Most recently I have found joy and satisfaction in raising CEO kids. It has been a pleasure, a blessing and a sacrifice to teach, inspire and encourage kids to be entrepreneurs. It is joyful to see them gain confidence, discover strength, overcome obstacles, and make their own money. Some days bring the rain of disappointment and rejection, and then the rainbows of praise and accomplishment appear again. Joy is in the journey of raising entrepreneurs and I am happy to be part of seeing my own children create success.
Sarah is another vivacious woman I found through the world of Twitter. I was attracted to her desire to help kids become financially independent and love to read her tweets about this passion of hers. If you have children, you may want to see what Sarah has to offer. There are so many ways to find her. On Facebook, on Twitter and on individual websites - Raising CEO Kids, Saturday Morning Mastermind and Cash-Savvy-Kids. As always, I respectfully request that you say hello and mention you read about her on this website. Thank you, Sarah, for the difference you make in the lives of kids and for your contribution to Find Your Joy! ~~Kim
Sarah is another vivacious woman I found through the world of Twitter. I was attracted to her desire to help kids become financially independent and love to read her tweets about this passion of hers. If you have children, you may want to see what Sarah has to offer. There are so many ways to find her. On Facebook, on Twitter and on individual websites - Raising CEO Kids, Saturday Morning Mastermind and Cash-Savvy-Kids. As always, I respectfully request that you say hello and mention you read about her on this website. Thank you, Sarah, for the difference you make in the lives of kids and for your contribution to Find Your Joy! ~~Kim
Syda - She Found It!
For many years it was all I wanted. I longed for it. I wondered why I didn't have it. What was wrong with me? I heard I would have it if I deserved it. Someone once told me that he thought I was afraid to be it. I kept waiting for someone else to give it to me. Eventually I discovered that I didn't actually know what it meant.
Happiness.
For most of my life I had an irrational and sky rocketing high expectation of what happiness was supposed to feel like.
Think perky Katie Couric 24/7/365.
I have since chosen to keep a Gratitude & Acknowledgement Journal. I have learned to define happiness as the stringing together of joY-ful moments. I began to consider what brings me joY and allowed myself to experience it, embrace it and acknowledge it. Now there are many things in my day-to-day life that bring me joY: the foremost being playing with my creativity. I have learned that making cards, gifts, journals, altered books, collages, and experimenting with color, paint, and photography bring me great joY and releases me to relax and greet the rest of my day with positive energy. I am no longer waiting for someone else to make me happy. I'm not happy simply because I deserve to be. I am happy because I have discovered the value of giving myself play time. Through reading, experimenting and creating I have found a deep level of happiness. Playing with my creativity brings me a joY-ful purpose that oozes out onto other areas of my life. When I take time to be creative and get dirty and experience MY joY I am able to see blessings I was once unable to recognize.
Besides.....why should kids have all the fun?
Thank you, Syda, for sharing this part of yourself with the readers of Find Your Joy! Your adventures give people the permission they need to have fun and play and not take this adult stuff too seriously.
Friends, there are several ways to know Syda better and read about her creative adventures. I personally found her on Twitter, so if you're a tweeter please add her to your follow list. She also has a website full of delicious musings, photos and beautiful things for purchase. And of course, it wouldn't be complete without a Facebook Page for those who enjoy uplifting messages, photographs and so much more. As always, take a moment to pay her a visit and let her know you read her story on Find Your Joy! We all appreciate a little acknowledgement now and then.
Happiness.
For most of my life I had an irrational and sky rocketing high expectation of what happiness was supposed to feel like.
Think perky Katie Couric 24/7/365.
I have since chosen to keep a Gratitude & Acknowledgement Journal. I have learned to define happiness as the stringing together of joY-ful moments. I began to consider what brings me joY and allowed myself to experience it, embrace it and acknowledge it. Now there are many things in my day-to-day life that bring me joY: the foremost being playing with my creativity. I have learned that making cards, gifts, journals, altered books, collages, and experimenting with color, paint, and photography bring me great joY and releases me to relax and greet the rest of my day with positive energy. I am no longer waiting for someone else to make me happy. I'm not happy simply because I deserve to be. I am happy because I have discovered the value of giving myself play time. Through reading, experimenting and creating I have found a deep level of happiness. Playing with my creativity brings me a joY-ful purpose that oozes out onto other areas of my life. When I take time to be creative and get dirty and experience MY joY I am able to see blessings I was once unable to recognize.
Besides.....why should kids have all the fun?
Thank you, Syda, for sharing this part of yourself with the readers of Find Your Joy! Your adventures give people the permission they need to have fun and play and not take this adult stuff too seriously.
Friends, there are several ways to know Syda better and read about her creative adventures. I personally found her on Twitter, so if you're a tweeter please add her to your follow list. She also has a website full of delicious musings, photos and beautiful things for purchase. And of course, it wouldn't be complete without a Facebook Page for those who enjoy uplifting messages, photographs and so much more. As always, take a moment to pay her a visit and let her know you read her story on Find Your Joy! We all appreciate a little acknowledgement now and then.
Meet Jamie - Small Business Owner and Domestic Goddess
Everyone thought I was crazy when I announced I was leaving. I had a great marketing job at a Fortune 100 company with about as much security as you can expect in these times. But after investing 15 years into a successful career, I decided to walk away. I was tired of watching someone else raise the two absolute joys of my life, my little girls, while I worked dawn until dusk. So I decided to merge my marketing experience with my love for all things domestic, and start my own business. This choice gave me the flexibility to take my oldest girl to school and to take care of my youngest myself. I squeeze in as much work as possible in the early morning, during nap time in the afternoons, and after my husband gets home in the evening.
Don't get me wrong. This is not an easy lifestyle change. In many ways the lack of that steady paycheck and the challenges of juggling kids and a business are vastly more difficult than a cozy clean office and help with the kids for 10 hours a day. But it is absolutely worth it. My eldest daughter tells me almost every day how happy she is that I'm home and the reduction in stress on my husband and youngest is palpable. Plus, I have the reward of being able to directly see the impacts of my decision on my business. I also have a great excuse to spend more time cooking and doing all the domestic things I always found JOY in before.
My husband told me a couple of months after leaving the corporate environment that I had smiled more in that six weeks than in the previous years. It was funny because I hadn't really thought about it until he made that comment. At that moment, I had been giggling and making faces with my girls. Moments like those make me happier than anything in the world, and now I can enjoy them every day.
Jamie - thank you for your contribution on how you have found your JOY...for staying true to who you are, what you enjoy and making it work for you and your family. What an inspiration!
You can find out more about Jamie's darling apron business by visiting her Swanky Aprons website and joining her Facebook Fan Page. Stay on top of specials and new products by following her on Twitter too! Why not send Jamie and note and let her know you read her story on "Find Your Joy" -- I'm sure she'd love to hear from you!
Don't get me wrong. This is not an easy lifestyle change. In many ways the lack of that steady paycheck and the challenges of juggling kids and a business are vastly more difficult than a cozy clean office and help with the kids for 10 hours a day. But it is absolutely worth it. My eldest daughter tells me almost every day how happy she is that I'm home and the reduction in stress on my husband and youngest is palpable. Plus, I have the reward of being able to directly see the impacts of my decision on my business. I also have a great excuse to spend more time cooking and doing all the domestic things I always found JOY in before.
My husband told me a couple of months after leaving the corporate environment that I had smiled more in that six weeks than in the previous years. It was funny because I hadn't really thought about it until he made that comment. At that moment, I had been giggling and making faces with my girls. Moments like those make me happier than anything in the world, and now I can enjoy them every day.
Jamie - thank you for your contribution on how you have found your JOY...for staying true to who you are, what you enjoy and making it work for you and your family. What an inspiration!
You can find out more about Jamie's darling apron business by visiting her Swanky Aprons website and joining her Facebook Fan Page. Stay on top of specials and new products by following her on Twitter too! Why not send Jamie and note and let her know you read her story on "Find Your Joy" -- I'm sure she'd love to hear from you!
Carla...on JOY for family, simplicity and writing.
I dreamed of being a mom from the time I was a little girl...becoming a Mom filled me with incredible JOY and confidence like nothing I had experienced before. Motherhood grounds me in a really good way, stretches me to ends unimaginable and brings JOY that fills me to the core and goes beyond words.
Becoming a Mom also pushed me to unknown territory within myself. When my first son was 8 months old, I began to notice a disconnect within, like something was missing. I had become so absorbed and happy in being Mom, I forgot or perhaps never truly knew who I was outside of that and was ready to find out. Nudges and whispers began calling me to write. I listened! I wrote and wrote to find myself. It has become a journey of acceptance and love through writing. As I began to honor that quiet place within, I discovered where my JOY resides; as that place is nurtured and loved up....it begins to overflow.
It used to be that my JOY was determined by my external world - what was happening, what others said to me or didn't say, and how much good was in my life. I now realize that it's not caused by external events, but by a conscious choice to be happy and joy-filled. My JOY is a reflection of how i'm taking care on the inside. It is much easier to find and BE JOY when I already feel it on the inside.
Something that brings me great JOY and also clears the way for greater and greater JOY is journaling. It's where I clear the mental clutter or wash the windows of my mind. It brings clarity and restores the true color so the light can shine through. As I write I clear my path and discover more and more ways to experience JOY in my life, express JOY and give it away!
Some of the other things that bring me humungous amounts of JOY today in my life are...listening to the belly laughs of my boys playing together, seeing my husband's car pull in the driveway - home to play and love on us all, exploring my own artistic expressions, sitting in the sunshine, listening to music, thinking of the next time I can get in my creative bubble, inspiring someone to journal, having coffee with a friend, hearing my Mom's voice, growing flowers, loving and caring for my garden, lifting someone's spirit, color everywhere, being a Mom, being home, growing roots of self love, confidence and a willingness to be more of ME and sharing life with people I love.
Carla - the way you "Find Your Joy" is inspiring! Your passion for family, nature and the basic simplicities of life is fantastic!! Thank you so very much for sharing.
Friends, please visit here to learn more about Carla and her passion, Sanity Journals - a company inspiring the tool of journaling for discovering the magic in everyday life! Participate in the Journaling Lounge and see what possibilities unfold in YOUR life! You can also follow Carla on Twitter and become a fan of her Facebook page.
Becoming a Mom also pushed me to unknown territory within myself. When my first son was 8 months old, I began to notice a disconnect within, like something was missing. I had become so absorbed and happy in being Mom, I forgot or perhaps never truly knew who I was outside of that and was ready to find out. Nudges and whispers began calling me to write. I listened! I wrote and wrote to find myself. It has become a journey of acceptance and love through writing. As I began to honor that quiet place within, I discovered where my JOY resides; as that place is nurtured and loved up....it begins to overflow.
It used to be that my JOY was determined by my external world - what was happening, what others said to me or didn't say, and how much good was in my life. I now realize that it's not caused by external events, but by a conscious choice to be happy and joy-filled. My JOY is a reflection of how i'm taking care on the inside. It is much easier to find and BE JOY when I already feel it on the inside.
Something that brings me great JOY and also clears the way for greater and greater JOY is journaling. It's where I clear the mental clutter or wash the windows of my mind. It brings clarity and restores the true color so the light can shine through. As I write I clear my path and discover more and more ways to experience JOY in my life, express JOY and give it away!
Some of the other things that bring me humungous amounts of JOY today in my life are...listening to the belly laughs of my boys playing together, seeing my husband's car pull in the driveway - home to play and love on us all, exploring my own artistic expressions, sitting in the sunshine, listening to music, thinking of the next time I can get in my creative bubble, inspiring someone to journal, having coffee with a friend, hearing my Mom's voice, growing flowers, loving and caring for my garden, lifting someone's spirit, color everywhere, being a Mom, being home, growing roots of self love, confidence and a willingness to be more of ME and sharing life with people I love.
Carla - the way you "Find Your Joy" is inspiring! Your passion for family, nature and the basic simplicities of life is fantastic!! Thank you so very much for sharing.
Friends, please visit here to learn more about Carla and her passion, Sanity Journals - a company inspiring the tool of journaling for discovering the magic in everyday life! Participate in the Journaling Lounge and see what possibilities unfold in YOUR life! You can also follow Carla on Twitter and become a fan of her Facebook page.
Kelly Shares Her Passion
My name is Kelly aka “FattyBelly” and I have been in a life time love affair with food. Food evokes emotion. We use food to celebrate, calm and relieve boredom or depression and for comfort in times of sadness and emotional distress. I call it “Foodgilasim” nourishing the body as well as the soul. So what does that have to do with joy? My joyful happy place is my kitchen. I love to cook and try new recipes. Steve (my husband) would agree but he would also add that my other "joy" (besides him of course) is the grocery store. I love to go and visit all of the pretty produce and walk the isles of colorful packaging. I try and visit as often as possible! When I need to think or calm my nerves...I head to the kitchen and play until my joy comes back. It's a wonderful place.
Thank you for sharing your story Kelly! Your passion for food has inspired many people, including me! Friends, if you are interested in talking more with Kelly about her passion for food, or learning more about her Tastefully Simple business and products, please visit here to make the connection! The Beer Bread is a staple everyone should have in their pantry.
Thank you for sharing your story Kelly! Your passion for food has inspired many people, including me! Friends, if you are interested in talking more with Kelly about her passion for food, or learning more about her Tastefully Simple business and products, please visit here to make the connection! The Beer Bread is a staple everyone should have in their pantry.