I Choose Joy

Two days ago a friend made my day when she asked how "I squeezed every ounce of joy from my days."   So I had to confess, tell her about my 'scrip', my "Rx."  I CHOOSE joy.  It's a choice that every one of us has.

 

Now, people...don't run away because you think "oh, no...here she goes - all fluff & stuff."  My long-term friends know about the times I've curled up in a ball in a corner, gone back to bed and pulled the covers over my head or zoned out, watching stupid-TV with a petite bowl of M&Ms justifying everything I eat, watch or ignore doing...cuz I DESERVE it.  Oh, and the emails, the 100s of emails crying out for prayer.  I'm also known as The Prayer Hog.

 

But, alas, I don't stay in the pit for long.  I think some personalities find it more of an effort to be joyful.  For some reason, I am able to bounce back...shake it off, pull myself up by my bootstraps (huh?).

            

I have made a choice to live a certain life.  I choose...

 

 

 

 

and I crave, long for, need JOY.  When I (finally) accepted who God made me and HOW He made me; I decided to work it, sister!

 

One of my go-to books is The Bible.  That book makes mention of "joy" 244 times!!!!!!!  If God wants us to be joyful, don't you think we should try?  And, if you don't read The Bible, there are tons of other titles to choose from.  And, I read lots of books - all types.  Self help, fo sho!

 

In my last post, I mentioned the author, Alexandra Stoddard.  Another of her books sits on my shelf, "Choosing Happiness."

     "The first requirement of attaining happiness is a nurtured and
     cultivated mindfulness."  A choice.

 

I read, I pray, I ponder.  I also {{{LOVE}}} music.  Again, all types.  Most times in my car, it's 89.3, our local Christian radio station or oldies.  To get psyched this morning on my way to exercise I listened to a CD I made:

• I've Got a Feelin' by Black Eyed Peas  (Flash Mob Dance: how I wish I coulda been there!)
• Come Away with Me by Paolo Conte  (listen to this and NOT smile, I dare you!!!!
• Soul Sister by Train
• Spirit in The Sky by Norman Greenbaum...and a few others.

Joy goes hand-in-hand with gratitude.  Another new concept for moi:  gratitude is a choice.  In my email chat with said friend this week, I told her about the recovery program (for co-dependency) that I went through last fall.  Acceptance and gratitude are part of Step Three.  Melodie Beattie's words pierced me to the core and gave me tools or an Rx for life!  "When I can't stand what is going on in my life, when I resist or deny reality, I can practice gratitude."  And, finally:  "Taking this Step (gratitude) gets us into the flow for our lives.  This flow will take us through discord in our relationships, healing within ourselves, problems at work, struggles in any area of our lives."  (helllooooo....who wouldn't want THIS???)

It works.  One day I SO did not want to attend a certain meeting.  I was a grump.  While driving there, Ms. Beattie's mantra coursed through my mind.  I literally shook my head and started chatting with God.  Yup, had you seen me at a red light, you might have turned me in!  Picture a sort-of-maniac spouting:  "...thank you for that blue sky, oh, love this music, thank you that I HAVE a car that gets me to this meeting, my dogs, my friends, My Guy."  It works.  Your mind CAN flip a switch. 

I choose JOY! It's yours for the taking...grab it & let's dance!

 ...or take a snooze like Stella and Duke.