One Word

I was just so excited when Maxabella loves announced that she was going to do a linky for people's word of the year.

I was excited, because I had a revelation a few days ago that I wanted to this year to focus on Joy, and in the following days I began to think about it even more.  It came to me in a moment of clarity, and I feel that 2012 is my year to *indulge* in joy; to see it, feel it, hear it, taste it, smell it - totally revel in it.
 

JOY

I want to try and make every minute count. To be grateful of all the wonderful things in my life, and to really feel the happiness.

My quote for myself for the year is:

Think Less. Fear Less. Enjoy More. Live More.

linking up here with Maxabella Loves, head on over to find lots of inspirational words.

Grateful for SO much

I am so grateful for all the wisdom that I find on a daily basis through the internet. With a quick flick of my fingers I can contemplate quotes from amazing philosophers, and read inspiring blogs.

I thought that I would like to share a couple of the things that are inspiring me this week, and that I am very grateful for:

Finding Debra Dane and her site Home Life Simplified and an old post of hers about conformity

Soulemama for her story that resonated with me about being authentic, and how it is important to be able to sometimes say No.

I feel like I am making baby steps to the person I want to become, figuring out the life I truly want to live. This is happening because I am starting to be able to let go a little, be more mindful, more joyful, think less about tomorrow and more about the present, and be less fearful about making the 'perfect' choice.



Joining in with Maxabella, head over here for many other grateful posts.

Joy.

So, I have been thinking a lot this week about Joy. I truly believe it is the key to everything. Of course it isn't the only element, things like gratitude are also part of the picture, but how often do you stop for a second and concentrate on the joy that you feel?

Do you even know what you enjoy?

I think as mothers we can get so focused on getting things done, making things work, meeting other people's needs, that we forget what we enjoy, and even when doing things we enjoy, we don't have time to feel joy, and don't allow ourselves to feel joy. (I think instead our emotions are plagued by guilt).

When was the last time you felt really joyful about something? 
Real, true, unadulterated joy?

I have decided to do a 365 project, where I will aim to take a photo every day. Rash and reckless, I know.
I decided to do it about joy.  Things that give me joy, and I will try really hard to feel that joy when I look at the pictures.

For some completely unknown reason I felt compelled to blog about it too. Initially I was going to blog about it here, but decided instead to do it separately. It is called 365 Moments of Joy. It is completely in its infancy, but I hope it will change and grow over the next few weeks (and year!), and I would love it if you get a chance to visit.

What makes you happy?
  
Joining in with FYBF

Dismantling a ginger bread house gives my children joy :)

Thankful Thursday

I am SO thankful and grateful for the school holidays. The lack of routine allows me to clear my head, and frees me up to more clearly see what is really important to me. I am not completely there yet, but I am feeling like I am leaving behind the claustrophobic space I felt I was in at the end of 2011, and am feeling more motivated and inspired to think less, fear less, enjoy more, live more.

Hmmmm... writing that felt good. I might try that again.

Think Less. Fear Less. Enjoy More. Live More. 

Thankful? Definitely.

Linking up with Kate says Stuff for Thankful Thursday.

My Joy Manifesto

I just came across wordle and love it!! Create your own manifesto :)

Things that make me happy #1

 Just this moment I had a little epiphany. I have vaguely been thinking about making resolutions, but I am really not a New Years Resolutions kind of girl. Probably too scared of failure. Then I was looking through my recently downloaded photos and thinking that so many of them are things that make me happy. I feel joy when I look at them.  So, I have decided that in the weeks ahead I might try and blog about the things that make me happy.

I am hoping that if I try and relinquish the goal setting, and instead just concentrate on the feelings of joy, that will in turn make me try and do things that give me joy and make me happy more often.

I have recently discovered that growing mushrooms makes me happy. 

Look at those beautiful swiss browns...

They start looking like normal mushrooms and then you come back a few hours later and they have exploded into beautiful plump lumps of goodness.

I had no idea that growing fungus would give me so much joy...

 What gives you joy?