Posts Tagged ‘Joy’

My Version of Joy

Posted: November 4, 2019 in Inspirational
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I have started many blogs on the topic of joy but I’ve never really been able to get very far. You see; in my mind, joy for me was not something I was completely sure about. Joy was always this distant point on the horizon that always eluded me. Joy was like that water mirage in the desert…the one that looks clear until you get close and then it just disappears. That was my version of joy…or at least that is what it seemed.

I also thought joy was a by-product of my circumstances, or in other words, if I’m at Disneyland, surrounded by happy people, then I should be full of joy, right? 

Wrong.

I do think it’s easy to look at the word joy and not really understand it. And for guys this especially true because we tend to look at everything through our identity prism i.e., Achievement, Conquests, etc. WHY? Because that is what the world thinks that joy is.

In other words, the world’s version of joy actually means, what YOU have or achieved, things like money, cars, or just, lots of “stuff”. So that means if you don’t have those things, then you don’t have joy?…is that a fair statement? 

Does “stuff” equal real joy?

Definition according to Webster:

a: joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: delight

Actually, this definition does NOT surprise me at all because it just confirms what we just spoke about. In the eyes of the world, Joy equals well-being, success, and good fortune.

Here is why I wrote this particular blog on this topic;  recently, as I was struggling with a particularly difficult week, God punched me in the face with something that I had not seen before. It was like He pulled the curtain back and let me look beyond what my eyes could see. What I saw, gave me understanding, and most of all, some joy “perspective”.

I felt as if He asked me, “what are the blessings that I have given you?” which really caused me to think. What I saw beyond that curtain was simply my family. My wife, who still loves me after almost 35 years, my sons, my daughter-in-law, and a new grandson. Honestly, I didn’t see any “stuff” like cars or vacations or anything like that. For me, that was the difference. 

You see, I am the guy that always gets lost when trying to focus on the things that I thought would bring me joy…and that was God’s point…THINGS DON’T BRING US JOY, HE DOES.

By focusing on the things of Him, He showed me that by looking at MY LIFES BLESSINGS, it caused me to see them for what they truly are…my version of joy.

So look at it this way guys…

Throughout the chaos and the mayhem of any given day, when your focus on the day and the outcome of that day is bringing you down…I encourage you to stare into that mist and look to find your own blessings… Because what I found is that by focusing on those, suddenly the day doesn’t seem so bad. 

So you knew after reading this blog that I had to ask this question…

What is your version of joy?

Until next time guys-

A Dogs Purpose…

Posted: September 2, 2012 in Inspirational, Just for Fun
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Every now and then we find wisdom from a child. It usually comes out of nowhere and completely unexpected. The following is one of those stories that I just couldn’t pass up and had to share with you. I did not write this article, it was shared to me by a family member. For those of you out there who love dogs, I hope you enjoy this story. 

I give you A Dog’s Purpose: from a 6-year-old.

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live.

He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued,

“Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

  • When loved ones come home, always run to greet them;

  • Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride;

  • Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy;

  • Take naps;

  • Stretch before rising;

  • Run, romp, and play daily;

  • Thrive on attention and let people touch you;

  • Avoid biting when a simple growl will do;

  • On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass;

  • On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree;

 

 

  • When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body;

  • Delight in the simple joy of a long walk;

  • Be loyal;

  • Never pretend to be something you’re not;

  • If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it;

  • When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently;

There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat you right.

Think good thoughts for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy.

Falling down is part of LIFE…

Getting back up is LIVING…

Who knew you could learn so much from both a six-year-old boy and a dog…?

 

 

Until next time guys…