MORE JOY EVERY DAY: Take The Time To Share, Send Kind Words, And Do Kind Deeds
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As artists we really know —how you feel matters! Whether you're feeling tired, worried. sad, anxious, or stressed or even lonely you can change that. More Joy Every Day is an idea I have rehearsed for years and so I bought the URL years ago and started writing a book. One day I will share it with you. the draft of my MJED book is growing cobwebs in Google Docs. I need to get it out, dust it off, and bring it back to life. Writing this blog will help.
Thinking and writing helps me keep the mindset that seeking More Joy Every Day is a good thing. In the days to come, I will share words for overcoming the negative in your life and thoughts for turning your day into positives. It is not a program, it is an attitude adjuster to help you take control of your feelings and thoughts. I found I need to deliberately do that to stay focused.
MJED More Joy Every Day offers you old ideas, new insights, and proven techniques that have been developed; not just by me, but by reading the thoughts of leading thinkers, scientists and experts who've been studying the idea of being positive. They are gurus in the fields of positive psychology, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy who for decades have shared words of wisdom on staying and living with a positive mind set.
I received a box in the mail from my nephew and Co-Artist on Art•Lessons•Now, Jim Wildman. In it were some wonderful happy surprises. In the box was Melatonin; as he knew I was not sleeping well. And a special gift of CBD Oil to help ease my back pain. Also, included was a stack of Lidocaine patches to apply just where I need relief the most. I had a hard time choosing between my knee and back. Ah, the joy of growing older.
There were two signs for my wall in my studio of our new site name: Art•Lessons•Now and a box of handcrafted art templates that he made for me in his woodworking shop on his CNC machine. So cool. I can hardly wait to teach a class on how to use the templates in making art. I am trying to talk him into offering them on our Art Supply page. Perhaps you can urge him to make sets of templates that you can covet like I do. I wonder is coveting a gift a sin? He sanded them all by hand and sent them as a happy surprise. I just love them. Thank you JC.
I call him JC - you can call him Jim. Smile!
I placed them carefully by a painting I did years ago of my Grandmother on the Farm in Canada with my father. I love that painting. It is O.K. you know, to keep art you create.
When was the last time you boxed up a gift for someone you love? Simple acts of kindness can mean the difference in someone's day. Take the time to be kind.
Read the words of Michael Singer:
Perhaps as an artist this is your first exploration of inner emotions and that empty space, or perhaps you've devoted your life to the tunnels and canyons of your mind that are the inward journey, this book will offer insights and transform your relationship with the you that is you and the you you call yourself and the world around you. Reading this book, you will discover thoughts on how you can put an end to the thoughts that are simply habits of going down the dark road and you can master the ability to turn and walk toward the light as you explore emotions that do limit your consciousness.
Michael Singer shows you ways to tap into meditation and mindfulness. This masterful author and spiritual teacher Michael A. Singer shows how exploring the development of consciousness can move us into the "NOW" and enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of the past and painful thoughts and memories that haunt us and keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization.
This book changed my spiritual walk. This book opens the door to a life lived in the freedom of your innermost being.
Preview some of Michael's words — The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
“If you truly love someone, your love sees past their humanness”
“Only you can take inner freedom away from yourself, or give it to yourself.
“If you want to be happy, you have to let go of the part of you that wants to create melodrama.
Think of Wayne Dyer for example.
"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
You'll see it when you believe it.
How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours."
Or ponder over the words of Maya Angelou
#6 ALONE
,Published: 1975
Excerpt:-
Now if you listen closely
I’ll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
‘Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.
Explore the thoughts of Kabat-Zin:
If science intrigues you look down the microscope into words by Kabat-Zinn, MIT Molecular Biologist; turned mindfulness advocate, who first began researching mindfulness in the west, back in 70's.
He skillfully, artfully and gently guides us back in the room of inner thought and he shares some beautiful poems, which he articulately recited by heart, and from the heart.
One of my favorite ideas from Kabat-Zinn "Be mindful rather than do mindfulness."
‘Mindfulness is not a specific rule or technique, it’s a way of being’. Kabat-Zinn in his talks continuously emphasised this point. He urged, the power of mindfulness comes from living with awareness, moment by moment, in everything you do."
The idea that caught my eye was "Remember, you’re already perfect."
As artists we want to draw the world and often self criticize our work. Remember, you do not have to try and improve or change yourself. Because, catch this idea-- you’re perfect already. Trust me, when you look way inside you will simply know our inner essence is clean, bright, whole, pure, totally perfect and complete as it is.
In school, a thousand years ago I wrote a book of poetry and one sentence that keeps jingling back into my thoughts is:
We always have time for the words of Jesus:
During this time where the world is fearful over the Covid-19 and for that matter, anytime let us not forget the words of Jesus.
Here are wonderful words from Jesus:
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ...
“Love your enemies! ...
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
I would love to just spend a day with the Dali Lama:
I would be remiss if I did not share the Dalai Lama Quotes on Life.
“Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.” “The way to change others' minds is with affection, and not anger.” “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” “An open heart is an open mind.”
I could share a million thoughts he shared and still be eager to hear more.
"For more peace in your life, silence is sometimes the best answer. Love is the absence of judgment. To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle. My religion is very simple. The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness."
Pope Francis
Let us pray together for doctors, hospital staff, and volunteers who are giving their own lives to save others. And for civil leaders, for those who have to make decisions at this time. All these people are the pillars defending us in this crisis. Read the Popes Twitter
And just because they lived a long time ago does not take away from their profundity as great thinkers and sharers of the profound and beautiful.
Francis of Assisi spoke these thoughts:
"For it is in giving that we receive.
Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle."
And let us not forget how important laughter is in the world today.
Read the words of Pope Francis
CHOOSE TO NOT LET THINGS UPSET YOU
"An example I often use to illustrate the reality of vanity, is this: look at the peacock. It's beautiful if you look at it from the front. But, if you look at it from behind, you discover the truth. Whoever gives in to such self-absorbed vanity has huge misery hiding inside them."
Friends Are Chosen:
I got in the car of a dear friend of mine, Bird the other day. I call her Bird as she is aerial and light and wings happiness into my life. And because years ago my Jayno called her Bird as her hair was puffed like a Cockatiel. Ah, sweet memories.
Bird, was listening to Joel Olsteen on the radio. It made me smile when I heard him say:
"Every day we have plenty of opportunities to get angry, stressed or offended. But what you're doing when you indulge these negative emotions is giving something outside yourself power over your happiness. You can choose to not let little things upset you."
It is so nice to surround yourself with positive people. Get in the car of friends often and ride in their energy. It will restore your day.
Today she just called and invited me to come to her home for dinner on the lake. I am taking salmon, cheese, corn on the cob and a bathing suit as the hot tub is waiting heated and ready. Mostly I am taking an attitude of fun. More reasons to enjoy friends. Sharing food, laughter and positive energy. Take the virus of MORE JOY EVERY DAY with you wherever you go.
My sisters also have a way of influencing my life with their continual encouragement. My sweet sister Bonnie send daily affirmations to brighten my day. In the past week alone she sent these this thought. The first from Earnest Hemingway:
“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.”
Then the words that touched my heart was her text at Christmas time when I sent her a book of my art. Most people would simply say thank you. Bonnie extolled and went on wildly. I love that about her.
"The Christmas wrapping fairy has come to our house. And magically the box it came from Amazon today has been wrapped and addressed to Bonnie and Tom— Love Cheri Lynn.
I will hide my wonderful beautiful amazing outstanding fabulous
Extraordinary, especially extraordinarily large
Extremely good
Told of in fables and legends
… more ▼
Adjective ▲
Extraordinary, especially extraordinarily large
amazing astounding
astonishing extraordinary
stupendous prodigious
remarkable breathtaking
incredible phenomenal
tremendous fantastic
inconceivable staggering
unbelievable exceptional
overwhelming spectacular
unimaginable unspeakable
unthinkable awesome
awful extravagant
eye-opening eye-popping
immense implausible
impossible improbable
ineffable legendary
marvellous UK marvelous US
miraculous outrageous
portentous striking
stunning sublime
surprising unlikely
untold unutterable
wonderful wondrous
amazeballs mind-boggling
unheard of unthought of
rad
Extremely good
excellent wonderful
marvellousUK superb
fantastic sensational
splendid great
superlative terrific
awesome cool
exceptional fab
magnificent outstanding
stellar capital
fantabulous fine
magic matchless
peerless smashing
super topping
tremendous ace
brill very good
wicked wizard
brilliant grand
marvelous US frontline
heavenly keen
lovely neat
nifty quality
spectacular sterling
superior mean
noble radical
righteous slick
top unsurpassed
first-class first-rate
top-notch prizewinning
tip-top first-string
gilt-edge gilt-edged
out-of-sight top-shelf
bang-up high-class
out-of-this-world par excellence
super-duper top-hole
A-OK on fleek
out of sight out of this world
What a wonderful list of words of accolades and appreciation. Bonnie your appreciation touched my heart. I love you.
Both my sisters, Marlene who is a wordsmith extraordinaire penned me a Birthday card. I always love seeing her beautiful cursive script enter my mailbox. She has such wonderful handwriting. Her card arrived, and on my Birthday.
I need words of encouragement even on special days. Her note arrived in the mail and I gleefully ran to the mailbox when I saw the mailman walking down the sidewalk with his hands full of mail; and all for me.
Sweet Bonnie, my younger sister sends me cards often and I was excited to see a card from her as well. She doesn't know I save them all in my file in my office and I have a treasure box upstairs filled with letters from my family I have saved. In fact, I save the cards from both my sisters and all my family members in the file drawer in my office. It is almost full and time now to be transferred to my treasure box. So many years of loving me is stored inside. I know it is silly, but sometimes I just go into the closet to do more than pray. Simply open the box and read my cards. Dust and all they are filled with love that smudges all over my heart.
Take the time to send the ones you love well wishes. You never know they may need to hear from you on today.
You will be able to read more of my words as I prattle on about having More Joy Every Day and I would like to hear from you and share your insights with the world. Send us your thoughts: info@artlessonsnow.com and put in the Subject: MJED.
