Meri's Musings

This Note to Myself is only partly tongue in cheek. We know from experience  that too much of a good thing sometimes can be disgusting. . . think back to amateur drinking behavior in college and the hangovers (or toilet-hugging) that ensued and you'll know what I mean. But with those other kinds of good things, things without unfortunate after-effects, we often fail to luxuriate  and really suck each drop of joy from them. Sometimes we don't even acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful things in our lives. There's a saying that goes, "Where attention goes, energy flows." What we focus on is a signal to the Universe that we are asking for more of those experiences. Too often we turn our focus on the problems and unfortunate experiences in our lives, rather than on things that bring us joy or cause tears of gratitude to well up in our eyes. Let's make it a practice to feel joy from our fl...

One thing I've learned about cultivating JoY is that when you start looking for it, it shows up everywhere. In the weirdest places. In unbelievable forms and shapes. Like this guy. . . . found in an antique store in Thorp, Washington. It's a kitschy pitcher.   Trying saying that fast 5 times. I dare you. I bet you can't do it without laughing. And letting the JoY leak in. The crazy pitcher made me laugh out loud. If I hadn't been in a "paring down, simplify" phase of my life, I absolutely positively would have brought him home with me. Simply for the smiles he'd evoke. (Instead, I bought a beautiful embroidered handkerchief to add to my stash of beautiful nose wipes.) How are you cultivating joy? Share your wins, your misty-eyed moments, your ear-to-ear grins. Where do you find JOY? What thrills you? Notice it. Cultivate it. Celebrate it. Share it. ...

Yesterday, I spent some time leafing through my digi photo collection, looking for Uncommon Shapes , the 52 Photos Project theme for this week. As I reviewed various photo collections,  I found that every photo is linked to memories. . . of fun, of exploration,  of just  slowing down to notice appreciate the beauty all around me to refill my well. Hmmm. . .   those are all components of  cultivating joy. What a coincidence! How are you cultivating joy? Share your wins, your misty-eyed moments, your ear-to-ear grins. Where do you find JOY? What thrills you? Notice it. Cultivate it. Celebrate it. Share it. 1. do a post that tells and shows what gives you joy. 2. capture the URL of the specific post and paste it into  the Mr. Linky box along with your info. 3. Visit other players and let their ...

What gives me joy? Saying YES selectively, "Affirmative" by MeriMagic (Meri Arnett-Kremian) on Polyvore. only to those things that ignite my curiosity, fan the flames of my passion or hold some seed of possibility I find worth planting given other demands on my time. That's been a hard lesson for me to learn. For too long, I said yes reflexively. To almost anything and anyone. That's an invitation for burn-out. One of the wisdom gifts of getting older is discernment. What gives you JOY? Share the Joy.  1. do a post that tells and shows what gives you joy. 2. capture the URL of the specific post and paste it into  the Mr. Linky box along with your info. 3. Visit other players and let their joy infect you. Leave them a comment because everyone  enJOYS getting positive feedback. Let's start an epidemic of JOY!

As most of you know, I've got another blog called MeriMagic , mostly dedicated to participation in collaborative blog things. Over the past 12 days, I've posted 12 posts celebrating the Divine Feminine, the Holy Mother, the Virgin of the Americas, in connection with Rebecca's A Virgin a Day. Looking forward to creating something special for each post, to seeing the posts so lovingly created by all the other participants was a treat each of the days. Feeling like each encounter was a bit of girl talk, a conversation about what's important, what speaks to our souls, what feeds our wellspring of joy. So thanks, Rebecca and all of you who participated (and yes, Spadoman, I'm including you in the girl talk-ers, but that's a compliment) you're the JOY I'm talking about this week. What gives you JoY? Please share! 1. do a post that tells and shows what gives you joy. 2. cap...

just keep on dancing for the pure joy of it

Today's walk in my garden provided me with abundant because the lilies -- both day lilies and the other kind -- were putting on a show. I also discovered that my Columbines have produced massive amounts of seeds, so if you want to grow a crop (they'll self-seed year after year if they're suited to your climate), drop me a note at my email and send me your address. I'll pop some seeds in an envelope and send them to you. Oh yes -- I'm doing a happy dance and got some because my repeat mammogram was perfectly fine, so thanks for holding health energy for me and saying a few prayers. What says JOY to you this week? To play along and share the joy: 1. do a post that tells and shows us  what gives you joy. 2. capture the URL of the specific post  and paste it into the  Mr. Linky box along with your name. 3. Then click the NEXT box If the "next" box doesn't pop up, click the link to go to the page to select your image -- choose one f...

There's a prayer called the Metta Prayer that's part of the meditation practice of a spiritual community headquartered in Boise that some dear people I know are involved in. There's so much heart in this prayer and it's so acutely relevant in these troubled times that it fills me with JOY to share it: May all beings have fresh, clean water to drink. May all beings have food to eat. May all beings have a home. May all beings have someone to share love with. May all beings know their true purpose. May all beings be well and happy. May all beings be free from suffering. Today I shall do what I can to make this so. It brings me JOY to think of the energetic shifts that would occur if each of us said this prayer every day, as often as we think of it and for each of us to put our words into action. It brings me JOY to share my light and see the light in you. It brings me JOY to create photographs and works of art  that might touch someone's heart. I...