This is the view outside my window next to my desk where I've spent much of my time these past two weeks. . . .
The last time I showed you this view was in January. There was no undergrowth and everything else was brown then except for the Pieris Japonica and a few patches of snow. Now I have wilted hostas due to the lack of rain.
The reason I've been at my desk so much is because I was setting up my new Take Joy Society web journal (wj) and preparing for the first meeting of the Society--my mini-retreat I wrote about last month. I think what I've enjoyed most is finding the poems, music, quotes, movies, books, and articles I've put under the Tabs at the top of the wj. I figure if no one else gets anything out of the Take Joy Society, I will just because I'm spending so much time looking for things to share that enable me to Take Joy! What I haven't been able to find is a rendition that I like of the children's song "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength". Do you know it? It will pop into my head the moment I start to lose my joy and help bring me back around to it.
So my question this month is how do you recapture your joy once you realize you're heading downhill?
There was a time when nothing seemed to stop the descent for me. Then something really great would have to happen to get me out of my funk so I could take my eyes off my disappointment. Since I started the I Come In The Little Things web journal I have another resource to help me find my joy again. I take my camera and go looking for the little things that are fascinating or beautiful in nature. Ken commented about all the posts being about insects. ☺︎ Once they go into hibernation I'll have to look for other "little things" to photograph, so it won't be much longer.
This window is only two feet from the other window but the room takes a 45° turn and therefore has a slightly different view. . . .
.•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•
Take Joy!
The finding of joy is such a personal thing, and over time many different things have rescued me when that downward spiral kicks in {for I, too, know that well} Now, I turn to my camera, and over recent years have learned that there is always something joyful to find, even when the land seems at its most desolate and barren, there is always something if I only look hard enough. Maybe that is the key, looking hard enough?
ReplyDeleteIn writing your new web journal for yourself you are doing the right thing in bringing joy to you. If you bring joy to others in doing so, then that magnifies the joy for you. I know you will bring joy to many!
I'm struggling at the moment with computer issues, this does not bring me joy, only a frustration and a headache! I'm now going to try *again* to leave a comment on Take Joy Society.
Yay! Success! Your persistence has paid off and your comment reinforces for all of us not to give up. I'd like to leave a smiley face here, but ever since I upgraded my operating system my "character viewer" doesn't speak the same language as Blogger and all you get is ??. Maybe I'm being forced to use words to express how I'm feeling which is feeling joy about your comment.
DeleteCathy, you live in a wooded fairyland! No kidding - the photos you have in today's post could be used in part to illustrate "Little Red Riding Hood" or "Snow White." And you have them every day, in every season. Well, I don't keep a web journal but I am a prolific list maker and have been as long as I can remember. I get a lot of "take joy" moments from this. I started actually "keeping" lists in high school when I was given an "empty book" as a present for my sweet 16 birthday party. Of course, technology has made it all much easier. Now I can pop a thought right into the 'Notes' section of my iPod, and NOT forget to add it to my empty book once I got home. As I got older, things expanded quite a bit and at this point, I have over 100 separate lists I "maintain" in addition to "the Big Quiz" which we "play" all the time at backyard fires at my brother's house, or other family gatherings. Whether I'm adding to them or reading them over, they're provide a remarkable amount of fun and great memories. The 16-year old Me never imagined that would happen. Take care and talk to you soon...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janet--another great idea. I'm finally starting to make separate lists of things so I can find them again. I've always put things in my daily journal, but it's a bear to find the thought again. You could say my different web journals are my "lists" though. I've started different ones on which to collect my different trains of thought rather than try to put them all in one place. I can see where reading over your lists would bring you joy. I sometimes go back to a web journal post and read about one of my trips or take a walk through my garden when it was at it's loveliest to remind me that it won't always look like it's looking right now as summer winds down and things turn brown.
DeleteCathy, I understand the downward spriral of which you speak. The outside world can just suck the life out of joy sometimes for me. Turning to my blessings and focusing on "my world" and that which I can control helps sometimes. Sometimes it is "my world" that sends me into that spiral and I have to just walk through it. My personality seems to have seasons of joy. The ups and downs of life can be a struggle.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is suffering the same as mine. We need rain so badly. Even a thunderstorm has eluded our area-- but like the downward spriral, rain and hope will come. ♥
Martha Ellen, I was awoken at 12:30 a.m. this morning by Gabriel's whimpering.....we were having a blessed downpour! I comforted Gabriel and the rain comforted me knowing that my garden and woods would be refreshed and our roof wouldn't leak. The hostas have already perked up this morning and I don't have to water all my potted plants today.
DeleteThat's wonderful you received a downpour of rain! We were coming home from Richmond last evening and went through quite a downpour. When we got home there wasn't a drop around here. I just came inside after watering a few things. My hydrangeas, that didn't bloom this year, look so bad--I had to give them a bucket of water. ♥
DeleteMartha Ellen, my hydrangeas haven't bloomed either--again--this year. That hard winter 2 years ago caused the die back. It's got lots of leaves and looks healthy, but no blooms.
DeleteI have a gratitude ongoing list but I'm thinking maybe I should tackle some other lists. When I have those down days I tend to push through and keep busy if I can--sometimes a little cleaning or a project gives me another focus if I have the energy. I should read back to the journals as over and over again I read of God's faithfulness through hard times. Thank you for this good reminder. I'm wondering if you ever print your web journals? And we too are finally getting a little rain, though I have not been in my house awake yet this summer when it rains (you can tell I enjoy a rainy day at home.)
ReplyDeleteHi Dotsie, thanks for sharing what you do to stop the downward spiral. My web journals have too many photographs to print them economically. I had Freedom in Christ printed--my first web journal. With just two photos it cost close to $30 and that was with a sale going on. I enjoy rainy days at home, too. One a week wouldn't be too much for me!
DeleteWhat a beautiful view you have in every season! That alone would bring such joy as you create/journal. I just added another little blog to chronicle new recipes that I try. And I agree, it is such fun and a joy to journal our lives in this way. Congratulations on your new wj, I look forward to reading it. ~ Donna E.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donna. I didn't realize that you had any web journals. I will have to take a look as soon as I can. Expressing and sharing ourselves is part of what women are, I believe. We were created to be the nurturers. I believe, if we have children, they need our nuturing the most! But in order to nurture we must be nurtured first and often we have to find our own way to be nurtured. Having something to share on my web journal encourages (sometimes, forces) me to nurture myself just so I have something to share! Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my sharing. ☺︎
DeleteGreat subject Cathy, When I get the blues, it is usually because of the state of the country, the world and things over which I have no control. It can really get me down in the dumps.That is when I seek solace in my own little private world. It seems the only place of true peace for an individual is the happiness we devise for ourselves because happiness really is a choice, it is also an obligation to those around us.Getting a sense of joy through the beauty of nature, art, creativity and my animals usually pulls me out of the doldrums.Doing my upbeat blog posts actually helps me appreciate all that I have to be grateful for/
ReplyDeleteJeri, I am in agreement with you about the state of the world outside my little realm and that happiness is a choice. I usually read our local paper with breakfast just so I can stay abreast of what's happening locally, but they mix in national/world news and I've been thinking that this is not a great way to start the day. I do my web journals for the same reason--I'm creating my own "good news" and putting it out there for those who need it....and that makes me feel good. Another web journaler wondered if she came across as bragging. I think it depends on your motive. I share all that I have in my life because I'm hoping it will inspire others to reach a little further than they thought they could. I did. I love visiting web journals to get inspiration from others' successes.
DeleteCathy, I can relate with the morning news. first thing I do in the morning is read political news online...sometimes not a good thing to start with. Then I go to blogs to wipe out all the bad news and cheer myself up. James and I have a rule, NO POLITICS on Sunday! I don't think you are bragging, it never comes across like that
DeleteMy rule is no politics ANY DAY, but I let my husband share all the craziness because it helps him vent. We get the Washington Post so it´s daily news for us.
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