On a recommendation from my unbeknownst-to-her life guru, Becca Syme, I read the book Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee. I felt joyful and excited from the first page because, just as I had when I first learned about Personality Strengths (via Becca), I felt seen. Everything the author said in the first chapter fit me to a T. But here's the Amazon book blurb, judge for yourself:
"Have you ever wondered why we stop to watch the orange glow that arrives before sunset, or why we flock to see cherry blossoms bloom in spring? Is there a reason that people—regardless of gender, age, culture, or ethnicity—are mesmerized by baby animals, and can't help but smile when they see a burst of confetti or a cluster of colorful balloons?
We are often made to feel that the physical world has little or no impact on our inner joy. Increasingly, experts urge us to find balance and calm by looking inward—through mindfulness or meditation—and muting the outside world. But what if the natural vibrancy of our surroundings is actually our most renewable and easily accessible source of joy?
In "Joyful," designer Ingrid Fetell Lee explores how the seemingly mundane spaces and objects we interact with every day have surprising and powerful effects on our mood. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and psychology, she explains why one setting makes us feel anxious or competitive, while another fosters acceptance and delight—and, most importantly, she reveals how we can harness the power of our surroundings to live fuller, healthier, and truly joyful lives.”
As I read through chapter after chapter, I was inspired to not only find and create joy for myself, but also for the people I come into contact with. My first foray as an Ambassador of Joy was to buy confetti and sprinkle it on the tables at the restaurant where we meet for my writers group meeting. It went well. I have other ideas and plans as well, and I'll keep you updated as we go along.
Brother Bear
My dearest littlest brother --he just turned 36, lol!!--James joined the Army Reserves. He recently graduated boot camp and is on his way to Virginia where he'll get his actual job training. I'm so proud of him for going after this thing he's always wanted to do. I can't wait to see him in September when I head north for a visit.
An apple a day not only keeps the doctor away, but apparently it’ll kep the dentist away too. Now, I didn't read up on the doctor part, but I was curious about the dentist part, and here's what my research and came up with:
- Apples have a high water content, and their crisp texture stimulates saliva production which helps cleanse the teeth while you are biting and chewing.
- Apples contain dietary fiber and the fibrous texture helps scrub your teeth while that extra saliva helps wash / rinse you teeth.
- Apples contain vitamin C which keeps your gums healthy.
- Apples are low in acidic content relative to other fruits and that means there is little to no erosion of tooth enamel.
It just seemed providential when DD mentioned this to me just last week. You know why...? Because, I've been eating apples three or four times a week for a good three / four weeks now. And my trip to the dentist last week went well. I saw the actual dentist--he visually checks my teeth every other visit--and he said everything looked good. :0)
And mostly because it was like a thumbs up from the universe; like God was saying "I'm glad you're eating those apples again." I've eschewed eating too much fruit for years now because of the natural sugar and my low carb mindset. But these days I'm trying for a little more balance and a little more enjoyment in what I eat. I feel like God’s on board with too.
One last thing--big shout out to my followers on Goodreads. If you're reading this--thank you for following me. I really appreciate it.
Okay friends, that’s all I’ve got. Have a super week. Catch you on Thursday!
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