How did you find JOY today?

Gráinne · 08-22-2024, 11:00 PM

I've lately begun a "joy journal", with things that might be really small but gave me a little "ooo!" in a tough time. My mind just has to take a break from situations. So I think this thread might become a favorite haunt!

At work I take a slip of paper or a card and whenever something joyful happens, no matter how small or maybe meaningless to anyone else, I write it down. I'm shocked when I read my card over and find I can clearly remember bullshit and aggravation but forget the joys I wrote down just hours before!

Today, for instance, I filled up the hand sanitizer bottles on the registers. They are a kind of cobalt blue. Since it was 7:30 AM, the sun was just coming up through the windows and turned the sanitizer to little glistening drops of blue. It struck me as beautiful, so onto the card it went!

iamkeri1 · 08-23-2024, 02:59 AM

Watching the Democratic Convention gave me joy - and hope - from beginning to end.
Smooches
Keri

cinnamongrrl · 02-05-2025, 08:56 AM

Watching the sunrise through the rhododendron this morning….
the still naked trees against the sky as it wakes up…
my rescue dog, Henry, trotting ahead of me in a hurry to get breakfast… he wasn’t able to run when I first got him <3

Bèsame* · 02-08-2025, 06:49 AM

My Joy..

There are moments that when you hear a song that brings you to a memory. My Mom was a cheerleader coordinator for a cheer group that I belonged to, the local Pop Warner football league. Both my brothers played and I was a cheerleader for one of the teams. It was something I got to share with my Mom and I met a friend who became a life long bestie!

There was a homecoming game that brought all the cheer groups together to perform at half time. My Mom selected this song for us. I do remember " when the moon is in the seventh house" our arms waved a circle going across the sky. It's something I remember to do when ever I hear this some. What a great joyful memory.

iamkeri1 · 02-16-2025, 04:00 AM

My daughter and her family were here for dinner tonight. My baby girl, who is six, declared me the best gramma in the world. Made my heart sing.
Smooches,
Keri

Bèsame* · 02-21-2025, 09:22 PM

Such a surprisingly Joy was found today.

I was going thru my Mom's cedar chest. Beach towels (we had a pool) hand knitted stockings and various older crafts she had made. On the bottom I find folded tissue paper with tulle inside. I unfold it, it looks like a veil. I compared it to her wedding picture. I had no idea she had that still. It's older than me! It makes sense to me now, when she made mine!

I sure need a Mom conversation about now! What joy to my heart today!!

Bèsame* · 03-15-2025, 07:55 AM

Kinda of bittersweet and sad but I'm still thinking about it today.

There is a clothes swap at church today, so I sent over what was left of Mom's clothes. As I was packing, I was tearing up remembering what she loved to wear. I also went thru her two big boxes of costume jewelry. I picked out what I wanted to keep and hope I see some ladies at church wearing some one day. But....I also found a pair of these big gaudy pink sunglasses. Someone gave them to me and I threw them out. She took them! Lol lol

Making me smile and have joy in my heart💝

Bèsame* · 08-23-2024, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gráinne

I've lately begun a "joy journal", with things that might be really small but gave me a little "ooo!" in a tough time. My mind just has to take a break from situations. So I think this thread might become a favorite haunt!

At work I take a slip of paper or a card and whenever something joyful happens, no matter how small or maybe meaningless to anyone else, I write it down. I'm shocked when I read my card over and find I can clearly remember bullshit and aggravation but forget the joys I wrote down just hours before!

Today, for instance, I filled up the hand sanitizer bottles on the registers. They are a kind of cobalt blue. Since it was 7:30 AM, the sun was just coming up through the windows and turned the sanitizer to little glistening drops of blue. It struck me as beautiful, so onto the card it went!

I agree! Use this thread to share your joy. It's the simple things that make us stop and smile. Life is what you make it. Lets make it happiness

iamkeri1 · 08-24-2024, 01:33 AM

Before i moved to Florida, I lived in cold country (Michigan and Ohio) except for two short sojourns in California, where I fell in love with Palm Trees. From that point on I dreamt of, longed for, strongly desired , a palm tree lined driveway. I tried a couple time to plant palm trees here, but for one reason or another they didn't take.

I decided to go a little bigger. I bought 6 queen palms which were about 5 feet tall, and planted them all right away, along the west side of my driveway. I had the idea they would grow better in pairs so I planted three pairs. Four lasted for years and grew so much quicker than I thought they would They are about 30 feet tall now. Three are left. I have the almost daily joy of watching the sun go down behind them. People say Montana has the most beautiful sundowns in the Country, But I can't imagine anything more beautiful that these Florida sundowns which literally light up the whole sky. Joy. Joy. Joy!
Smooches,

Keri

easygoingfemme · 08-27-2024, 06:29 PM

Rowing team tonight. I rowed in a 4 person boat tonight for the first time. It's much more tippy than the 8 I usually row in. We held it down and did well. Next week is the last week of rowing with this team for 2024. I sure am going to miss it until we hit the water as soon as we can in the spring.

Also I was in an older wooden boat tonight that I'm positive my late brother rowed in when he was on the team. I felt him strongly there.

There was a beautiful sunset when we docked. I had enough time to catch a picture after we put the boat and oars away.

Bèsame* · 08-30-2024, 03:51 PM

Huge JOY today.

I had lunch with my Lunch buddy. I brought a fresh dragon fruit so we could try it. Well we both that it was better in a Starbucks pink drink! Lol

Best part, the volunteer coordinator told me she was going to nominate me as volunteer of the year! I wanted to cry, it made my heart so happy. I truly believe my calling is making little people smile and feel important.

All I wanted to do was tell my Mom. I can hear her say, but of course you are a great volunteer. You have such a positive attitude.

I miss her. .... especially today.

easygoingfemme · 09-03-2024, 04:24 AM

Yesterday I climbed Mt. Moxham. My first time on that one. Wow was it spectacular. The weather was perfect. 70 degrees and breezy. There were 4 summit points. When I saw the very top one from the second to last I got a little nervous but the path to it was strong and steady and lead from the inside of the mountain to the outside. The views were worth every step x 10 and I got to pet some really sweet big dogs on the way up and down.

iamkeri1 · 09-03-2024, 08:12 AM

I'm going out to dinner with my son and granddaughter tonight I haven't seen her in a couple months, so the anticipation is joyous indeed.
Smooches,
Keri

Blade · 09-21-2024, 12:12 PM

Watching a video of my nephew scoring his first touchdown. I was unable to go today. He also made a good tackle. As good as it could be in flag football. He's just a little guy, no pads or helmet yet

easygoingfemme · 09-21-2024, 02:43 PM

Petting every dog I saw on my hike. Bonus Pit bulls. My favorite.

Bèsame* · 10-04-2024, 08:00 AM

My joy...
This joy is going to fill my heart for days, even weeks. My Mom had been knitting a sweater for the last year. She would pick it up and do a few rows. She spent a lot of time reading, watching Netflix and playing solitaire on line. She kept her mind busy that's for sure.

So this sweater never got finished. I never picked up the knitting skills. So ...

My niece is expecting and I'm unraveling all those stitches. I'm going to repurpose this into a baby blanket. I will feel all the love in those knitted stitches thru my fingers as I crochet a new baby blanket. Oh the joy in my heart!🩵🩵🩵 (It's a boy!)

Gráinne · 10-04-2024, 10:18 PM

1. Watched a "Captain America" movie with a friend after work, just flopped in my living room. We didn't have to say anything or talk about my day. It was so pleasant, even if the movie was kind of silly.

2. Re-found an old favorite song after many years: David Cicero w/Sylvia, "Live for Today" Gospel rendition from "The Crying Game". I've forgotten how to make a link.

3. The "oof" feeling of cold Ponds cream first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I love how it wakes up all the pores, or leaves me tingling when I go to bed.

Bèsame* · 10-10-2024, 03:06 PM

Joy this morning...

I was looking out the sliding glass doors just as the daylight came. I saw the brightest red bird sitting on a broken tree limb.
That was my Mom sending her love.

Kenna · 12-09-2024, 07:04 PM

Forgot another joy... being able to get out of the house by myself and moving about with less pain.

GeorgiaMa'am · 12-09-2024, 11:25 PM

Doing a great job on a task I completed for a friend. Also made friend some blueberry muffins.

08-22-2024, 11:00 PM	#1
Gráinne Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Neither, nada, out of the box Preferred Pronoun?: My name always works Relationship Status: Happy whatever happens Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,864 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,117 Thanked 7,388 Times in 1,457 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	I've lately begun a "joy journal", with things that might be really small but gave me a little "ooo!" in a tough time. My mind just has to take a break from situations. So I think this thread might become a favorite haunt! At work I take a slip of paper or a card and whenever something joyful happens, no matter how small or maybe meaningless to anyone else, I write it down. I'm shocked when I read my card over and find I can clearly remember bullshit and aggravation but forget the joys I wrote down just hours before! Today, for instance, I filled up the hand sanitizer bottles on the registers. They are a kind of cobalt blue. Since it was 7:30 AM, the sun was just coming up through the windows and turned the sanitizer to little glistening drops of blue. It struck me as beautiful, so onto the card it went! __________________ The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. ~Erma Bombeck

02-05-2025, 08:56 AM	#3
cinnamongrrl Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: cleverly disguised as a responsible adult* Preferred Pronoun?: wild woman Relationship Status: No, thank you. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Home in NC..gonna dig in like a tick this time… Posts: 7,661 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 15,231 Thanked 27,599 Times in 6,956 Posts Rep Power: 21474859	Watching the sunrise through the rhododendron this morning…. the still naked trees against the sky as it wakes up… my rescue dog, Henry, trotting ahead of me in a hurry to get breakfast… he wasn’t able to run when I first got him <3 __________________

02-08-2025, 06:49 AM	#4
Bèsame* Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femm Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: loved by many Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Closer to the waves Posts: 15,376 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,112 Thanked 40,943 Times in 10,729 Posts Rep Power: 21474864	My Joy.. There are moments that when you hear a song that brings you to a memory. My Mom was a cheerleader coordinator for a cheer group that I belonged to, the local Pop Warner football league. Both my brothers played and I was a cheerleader for one of the teams. It was something I got to share with my Mom and I met a friend who became a life long bestie! There was a homecoming game that brought all the cheer groups together to perform at half time. My Mom selected this song for us. I do remember " when the moon is in the seventh house" our arms waved a circle going across the sky. It's something I remember to do when ever I hear this some. What a great joyful memory. __________________ kisses A kiss is a whisper in your mouth. Can I borrow a kiss? I promise to give it back.

02-21-2025, 09:22 PM	#6
Bèsame* Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femm Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: loved by many Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Closer to the waves Posts: 15,376 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,112 Thanked 40,943 Times in 10,729 Posts Rep Power: 21474864	Such a surprisingly Joy was found today. I was going thru my Mom's cedar chest. Beach towels (we had a pool) hand knitted stockings and various older crafts she had made. On the bottom I find folded tissue paper with tulle inside. I unfold it, it looks like a veil. I compared it to her wedding picture. I had no idea she had that still. It's older than me! It makes sense to me now, when she made mine! I sure need a Mom conversation about now! What joy to my heart today!! __________________ kisses A kiss is a whisper in your mouth. Can I borrow a kiss? I promise to give it back.

03-15-2025, 07:55 AM	#7
Bèsame* Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femm Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: loved by many Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Closer to the waves Posts: 15,376 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,112 Thanked 40,943 Times in 10,729 Posts Rep Power: 21474864	Kinda of bittersweet and sad but I'm still thinking about it today. There is a clothes swap at church today, so I sent over what was left of Mom's clothes. As I was packing, I was tearing up remembering what she loved to wear. I also went thru her two big boxes of costume jewelry. I picked out what I wanted to keep and hope I see some ladies at church wearing some one day. But....I also found a pair of these big gaudy pink sunglasses. Someone gave them to me and I threw them out. She took them! Lol lol Making me smile and have joy in my heart💝 __________________ kisses A kiss is a whisper in your mouth. Can I borrow a kiss? I promise to give it back.

08-23-2024, 02:59 AM	#2
iamkeri1 Member How Do You Identify?: femme woman Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: solo Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 905 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 302 Thanked 2,153 Times in 659 Posts Rep Power: 16642920	Watching the Democratic Convention gave me joy - and hope - from beginning to end. Smooches Keri

02-16-2025, 04:00 AM	#5
iamkeri1 Member How Do You Identify?: femme woman Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: solo Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 905 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 302 Thanked 2,153 Times in 659 Posts Rep Power: 16642920	My daughter and her family were here for dinner tonight. My baby girl, who is six, declared me the best gramma in the world. Made my heart sing. Smooches, Keri

08-24-2024, 01:33 AM	#9
iamkeri1 Member How Do You Identify?: femme woman Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: solo Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 905 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 302 Thanked 2,153 Times in 659 Posts Rep Power: 16642920	Before i moved to Florida, I lived in cold country (Michigan and Ohio) except for two short sojourns in California, where I fell in love with Palm Trees. From that point on I dreamt of, longed for, strongly desired , a palm tree lined driveway. I tried a couple time to plant palm trees here, but for one reason or another they didn't take. I decided to go a little bigger. I bought 6 queen palms which were about 5 feet tall, and planted them all right away, along the west side of my driveway. I had the idea they would grow better in pairs so I planted three pairs. Four lasted for years and grew so much quicker than I thought they would They are about 30 feet tall now. Three are left. I have the almost daily joy of watching the sun go down behind them. People say Montana has the most beautiful sundowns in the Country, But I can't imagine anything more beautiful that these Florida sundowns which literally light up the whole sky. Joy. Joy. Joy! Smooches, Keri

08-27-2024, 06:29 PM	#10
easygoingfemme Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Lil' Miss Sassy Pants Preferred Pronoun?: She/her Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: My place by the river Posts: 3,686 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 7,016 Thanked 14,964 Times in 3,313 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Rowing team tonight. I rowed in a 4 person boat tonight for the first time. It's much more tippy than the 8 I usually row in. We held it down and did well. Next week is the last week of rowing with this team for 2024. I sure am going to miss it until we hit the water as soon as we can in the spring. Also I was in an older wooden boat tonight that I'm positive my late brother rowed in when he was on the team. I felt him strongly there. There was a beautiful sunset when we docked. I had enough time to catch a picture after we put the boat and oars away.

08-30-2024, 03:51 PM	#11
Bèsame* Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femm Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: loved by many Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Closer to the waves Posts: 15,376 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,112 Thanked 40,943 Times in 10,729 Posts Rep Power: 21474864	Huge JOY today. I had lunch with my Lunch buddy. I brought a fresh dragon fruit so we could try it. Well we both that it was better in a Starbucks pink drink! Lol Best part, the volunteer coordinator told me she was going to nominate me as volunteer of the year! I wanted to cry, it made my heart so happy. I truly believe my calling is making little people smile and feel important. All I wanted to do was tell my Mom. I can hear her say, but of course you are a great volunteer. You have such a positive attitude. I miss her. .... especially today. __________________ kisses A kiss is a whisper in your mouth. Can I borrow a kiss? I promise to give it back.

09-03-2024, 04:24 AM	#12
easygoingfemme Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Lil' Miss Sassy Pants Preferred Pronoun?: She/her Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: My place by the river Posts: 3,686 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 7,016 Thanked 14,964 Times in 3,313 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Yesterday I climbed Mt. Moxham. My first time on that one. Wow was it spectacular. The weather was perfect. 70 degrees and breezy. There were 4 summit points. When I saw the very top one from the second to last I got a little nervous but the path to it was strong and steady and lead from the inside of the mountain to the outside. The views were worth every step x 10 and I got to pet some really sweet big dogs on the way up and down.

09-03-2024, 08:12 AM	#13
iamkeri1 Member How Do You Identify?: femme woman Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: solo Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 905 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 302 Thanked 2,153 Times in 659 Posts Rep Power: 16642920	I'm going out to dinner with my son and granddaughter tonight I haven't seen her in a couple months, so the anticipation is joyous indeed. Smooches, Keri

09-21-2024, 12:12 PM	#14
Blade Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: TG Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: once in a while someone amazing comes along...and here I am! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Down on the farm Posts: 5,501 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,855 Thanked 14,415 Times in 4,058 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	Watching a video of my nephew scoring his first touchdown. I was unable to go today. He also made a good tackle. As good as it could be in flag football. He's just a little guy, no pads or helmet yet __________________ Yeah so what if I'm triple dipped in awesome sauce? The best way to predict the future, is to create it.

09-21-2024, 02:43 PM	#15
easygoingfemme Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Lil' Miss Sassy Pants Preferred Pronoun?: She/her Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: My place by the river Posts: 3,686 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 7,016 Thanked 14,964 Times in 3,313 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Petting every dog I saw on my hike. Bonus Pit bulls. My favorite.

10-04-2024, 08:00 AM	#16
Bèsame* Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femm Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: loved by many Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Closer to the waves Posts: 15,376 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,112 Thanked 40,943 Times in 10,729 Posts Rep Power: 21474864	My joy... This joy is going to fill my heart for days, even weeks. My Mom had been knitting a sweater for the last year. She would pick it up and do a few rows. She spent a lot of time reading, watching Netflix and playing solitaire on line. She kept her mind busy that's for sure. So this sweater never got finished. I never picked up the knitting skills. So ... My niece is expecting and I'm unraveling all those stitches. I'm going to repurpose this into a baby blanket. I will feel all the love in those knitted stitches thru my fingers as I crochet a new baby blanket. Oh the joy in my heart!🩵🩵🩵 (It's a boy!) __________________ kisses A kiss is a whisper in your mouth. Can I borrow a kiss? I promise to give it back.

10-04-2024, 10:18 PM	#17
Gráinne Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Neither, nada, out of the box Preferred Pronoun?: My name always works Relationship Status: Happy whatever happens Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,864 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,117 Thanked 7,388 Times in 1,457 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	1. Watched a "Captain America" movie with a friend after work, just flopped in my living room. We didn't have to say anything or talk about my day. It was so pleasant, even if the movie was kind of silly. 2. Re-found an old favorite song after many years: David Cicero w/Sylvia, "Live for Today" Gospel rendition from "The Crying Game". I've forgotten how to make a link. 3. The "oof" feeling of cold Ponds cream first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I love how it wakes up all the pores, or leaves me tingling when I go to bed. __________________ The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. ~Erma Bombeck

10-10-2024, 03:06 PM	#18
Bèsame* Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femm Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: loved by many Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Closer to the waves Posts: 15,376 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,112 Thanked 40,943 Times in 10,729 Posts Rep Power: 21474864	Joy this morning... I was looking out the sliding glass doors just as the daylight came. I saw the brightest red bird sitting on a broken tree limb. That was my Mom sending her love. __________________ kisses A kiss is a whisper in your mouth. Can I borrow a kiss? I promise to give it back.

12-09-2024, 07:04 PM	#19
Kenna Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Fiery, Sassy, Tough As Nails, Femme Tomboy Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: I am your favorite hello and hardest goodbye. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NC & CO Posts: 4,806 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,624 Thanked 12,196 Times in 3,779 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Forgot another joy... being able to get out of the house by myself and moving about with less pain. __________________ **************************** She has been through hell, so believe me when I say, fear her when she looks into a fire and smiles. ~E.Corona~

12-09-2024, 11:25 PM	#20
GeorgiaMa'am Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: High Femme Ma'am Preferred Pronoun?: Ma'am Relationship Status: widowed - involved, poly Join Date: May 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 6,419 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 39,478 Thanked 28,479 Times in 5,791 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	Doing a great job on a task I completed for a friend. Also made friend some blueberry muffins. __________________ -GeorgiaMa'am It's true that you are blessed and lucky It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you. -10,000 Maniacs