filledwithjoy – Surprised By Joy

It’s a Sign

March 30, 2022March 30, 2022Posted in filledwithjoyTagged humor, influence, inspiration, positivity11 Comments

“If you were waiting for a sign, this is it.” – unknown

It seems like we’ve had an outbreak of creative energy into our signage in Seattle lately. I’ve noticed so many fun and inspiring signs and they have me thinking about our personal sphere of influence.

We all get our space to write our message – maybe it’s within our family, or a blog, or a sandwich sign. We can update that message as often as we want. And we’ll never exactly know what passers-by are influenced by that sign. We can make people laugh, think, cringe or cry. We can inspire fear or faith.

The impact of the sign might vary by how many people drive by or if anyone is paying attention. But our work is to know that our lives are our message: we channel our creativity and essence into the message we are broadcasting every day.

So, here’s my sign for today:

I see you.
Blink if you’re awesome.
Now believe it!

What’s your sign?

Glimpses of Sunshine

November 10, 2020Posted in awakeandinspired, filledwithjoyTagged inspiration, meditation

The other day at my 5-year-old daughter’s check-up, the doctor asked her how online school was going and she answered, “It’s stressful.” And it is stressful – for her teacher who can’t see the kids when she is sharing her screen, for my daughter who often doesn’t feel seen, for her younger brother who wants to do what his sister is doing and for me adding the jobs of teaching assistant and janitor to parent and breadwinner. On one level we are fine and on another level, we are deeply tired as most everyone is during this pandemic.

But every once in a while, something breaks through my grief of how things ought to be to show me the beauty of how things are like the sunshine in this picture. I know that I will be grateful for this extra time with my kindergartener and the extra glimpse I’m getting into how she learns. I also know that generally speaking, I’m a Pollyana but I greatly need these miraculous glimpses to fuel my sunshine!

There are moments when I’m buried too deep in my to-do list to let the light in. Finding time to clean my windows when I don’t have two spare moments to rub together is not easy. But when I take fifteen minutes before the kids wake up in the morning to meditate, do yoga, read something inspirational or write anything that is authentic, it changes my day. The step back from my to-do list restores my heart space that holds the why I am running around doing all these jobs. It widens my aperture to include the big picture so I am more open to see the sunshine streaming in. And when I’m operating from my calm, all my tasks, whether they be work, kids or home go a little better. This Zen saying makes me laugh but probably even more so because there is truth to it, “You should sit in meditation 20 minutes a day. Unless you’re too busy, then you should sit for an hour.”

Yes, this time of remote learning and social distancing is stressful. It puts a spotlight on our human struggle to see and be seen. All of which goes better when we whatever we need to do to clean our windows and let the sunshine in.

The Truth of Expression

September 1, 2018Posted in filledwithjoy

Olivia said to me this morning, “I need the thing that makes me look like this.” It was a perfect description of her pop-up toy with the suction cup and spring.

It made me think of what if we described other people but our genuine facial reactions? Are we being the people that we want to be if measured on that score?

Standing Tall

March 11, 2018March 10, 2018Posted in filledwithjoy

I think the daffodil who rises from the dark every spring to stand tall regardless of the weather would agree with this quote. I’m surrounded by strong people who do the same. They suffer great illnesses or stand by those who do and still bring joy to others, endure loss with both tears and laughter, they are parents who love unconditionally, they climb mountains and ski down them, they are people who encourage, participate and repeat. I’d name them but it would be everyone I know so instead I’ll say may you all be blessed by feeling your strong roots, cherish your ability to stand tall, enjoy the pleasure of the sun kissing your cheeks and appreciate your beauty!

Minister of Joy

March 9, 2018March 10, 2018Posted in filledwithjoyTagged Dad

Lifting others up was both my dad’s nature and profession. Though many of the things he said were memorable, it is his enthusiasm, smile and faith that abide with me still. So here’s to being a minister of joy, no ordination necessary!! Happy birthday, Dad! We miss you!