Joy, such an important skill to cultivate. I love the pics of your furry family members. I found a copy of Ursula Le Guin's "The Left Hand of Darkness" recently and loved it. So much to ponder over. I'm in the thick of reading a lot of nonfiction for my studies at the moment, so finding a good novel was such a treat.
I seem to be in a nonfiction groove these days. I think I’ll add a fiction to round it out. Sometimes my brain needs to rest and allow the words to wash over me.
Charlene, if ever there was a year to make ´Joy’ a very challenging word of the year, 2025 is it. lol of all the years to choose it!! So glad the diagnosis is not a stroke. So scary when they think it could be something incredibly serious.
Oh my goodness, that does sound terrifying. I’m So glad you’re ok now. I broke my foot in December and the joy of being able to get outside again and the simple pleasure of walking again has been wonderful. I don’t think we ever truly appreciate the things we can do or the things we have until they’re taken away (thankfully temporarily for your smile and my foot!) I’m currently reading and writing my way through The Artists Way for the first time. Been meaning to read it for years!
I broke my toe in October and it plagued me for months. Finally being able to move with freedom is exhilarating. I have a new appreciation for my body and health. Glad you are healed. The Artists Way sits on my bookshelf too. ❤️
I’m so glad that you are healing and resting Charlene. The stress of illness and the unknown can be overwhelming and draining. I’m finishing If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie right now. I’m sitting in the parking lot of Lowe’s waiting for my hubby. Joy is something that I have been actively cultivating in my life. I’m trying to weave it into all my tasks, even cleaning the bathroom. Coming to a place of joy more often lightens my heart and allows more ease into my life. Wishing you a beautiful journey with JOY this year. I just posted my word RADIATE this week on my page. Who says it has to be in January? 😊
Glad that you found what was wrong and that you're healing up. It always puts so much into perspective.
Recent reads I loved here: "Mad Wife: A Memoir" by Kate Hamilton, "The Schubert Treatment: A Story of Music and Healing" by Claire Oppert, "Live Through This: On Creativity and Self Destruction"
So sorry to hear about your scary start to the year; and super relieved that you have recovered and that the pursuit of joy is back on track. Vicariously, your pictures of shadows in glorious light brought me great joy, thank you. Cute dogs too.
Glad to hear you're on the mend. I also lost most of January as my father was gravely ill, home now but almost bedbound. Joy is such a great word, I think through difficult times we understand better how important it is! Wishing you a joyful year! 🧡✨
Dear Charlene, I am so relieved you are recovering from what sounds like something really very frightening and that there will be no lasting effects, thank goodness!
I will join you in 'joy' your word of the year just as soon as I too am feeling recovered from a nasty flu bug that simply doesn't want to let go! 💛x
What brought me joy, better say what has brought me joy this January, the two months before it, and this current February has been studying German, and imagining what my life would be like when i start studying in Austria. I haven't had much time to paint, although art is still sth that sooths my nerves when i'm not myself.
Glad to have you back and am happy to hear you have healed from such a serious episode. And so glad to hear your voice again. It is one of my joys.
I also find in watching and hearing the birds at the bird feeders I've hung around the garden. A couple of times, it has been warm enough to sit in the swing and watch the wrens attack in a mass the feeder just a few feet over my head. They've come to realize I'm not going to hurt them. In fact, one day when I was cleaning out the watering bowls, the whole flock fluttered over and around my head in such a way that I noticed the feeder there was empty. Aha! I've been remiss and they're brave enough to let me know. That's a joy too. Gaining their trust.
A great word for 2025. Joy is everywhere, it’s in everything, it’s in us.
So pleased you are recovering Charlene. I’m celebrating 5 years cancer free right now but the surgery I had on my neck left me with palsy in my neck and shoulder. I can empathise with you. But Somehow the body adjusts and we get on with things. Maybe not the way we did before but in a different way.
I’m behind with my reading- finishing the last book in the Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel. Enjoying it slowly.
Hi Charlene. Oof sounds like it's been a really difficult and worrying time for you. I'm glad you're on the other side of that particular ordeal now. And it's moving to see how the experience has brought a new perspective on things like gratitude for your wonderful face.
In a very different way, I've had some health struggles recently and I've been leaning heavily on some of what you write about here too. Trying to be a bit more in the moment and working to pay attention to beauty and joy. It takes effort! But it does us a lot of good.
I'm dipping into different books atm. Loving: Women Who Work Too Much by Tamu Thomas. Everything Beautiful by Ella Frances Sanders has been a lovely one to slowly savour with gorge coloured illustrations. (Maybe recommended by you?? Someone on here anyway!) and as a comfort read I'm on The Guernsey Literary and Potato Read Society which has been on my shelf for years. Have a gentle week, love. x
Sounds like you have had a time of it. Glad to know you are healing. I always enjoy your posts and I did notice I hadn't seen your post last month. Glad you are back!
I'm reading Elektra by Jennifer Saint. I hope your enjoying Alias Grace...now I want to reread it! So good!
Joy, such an important skill to cultivate. I love the pics of your furry family members. I found a copy of Ursula Le Guin's "The Left Hand of Darkness" recently and loved it. So much to ponder over. I'm in the thick of reading a lot of nonfiction for my studies at the moment, so finding a good novel was such a treat.
I seem to be in a nonfiction groove these days. I think I’ll add a fiction to round it out. Sometimes my brain needs to rest and allow the words to wash over me.
Stay safe and healthy for JOY💕💕
Charlene, if ever there was a year to make ´Joy’ a very challenging word of the year, 2025 is it. lol of all the years to choose it!! So glad the diagnosis is not a stroke. So scary when they think it could be something incredibly serious.
Oh my goodness, that does sound terrifying. I’m So glad you’re ok now. I broke my foot in December and the joy of being able to get outside again and the simple pleasure of walking again has been wonderful. I don’t think we ever truly appreciate the things we can do or the things we have until they’re taken away (thankfully temporarily for your smile and my foot!) I’m currently reading and writing my way through The Artists Way for the first time. Been meaning to read it for years!
I broke my toe in October and it plagued me for months. Finally being able to move with freedom is exhilarating. I have a new appreciation for my body and health. Glad you are healed. The Artists Way sits on my bookshelf too. ❤️
I’m so glad that you are healing and resting Charlene. The stress of illness and the unknown can be overwhelming and draining. I’m finishing If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie right now. I’m sitting in the parking lot of Lowe’s waiting for my hubby. Joy is something that I have been actively cultivating in my life. I’m trying to weave it into all my tasks, even cleaning the bathroom. Coming to a place of joy more often lightens my heart and allows more ease into my life. Wishing you a beautiful journey with JOY this year. I just posted my word RADIATE this week on my page. Who says it has to be in January? 😊
Joyful cleaning sounds so lovely! 🧡
It helps me from procrastinating. 🤣
Beautiful everything thank you
Lets train for joy. ❤️
Glad that you found what was wrong and that you're healing up. It always puts so much into perspective.
Recent reads I loved here: "Mad Wife: A Memoir" by Kate Hamilton, "The Schubert Treatment: A Story of Music and Healing" by Claire Oppert, "Live Through This: On Creativity and Self Destruction"
So sorry to hear about your scary start to the year; and super relieved that you have recovered and that the pursuit of joy is back on track. Vicariously, your pictures of shadows in glorious light brought me great joy, thank you. Cute dogs too.
Glad to hear you're on the mend. I also lost most of January as my father was gravely ill, home now but almost bedbound. Joy is such a great word, I think through difficult times we understand better how important it is! Wishing you a joyful year! 🧡✨
Dear Charlene, I am so relieved you are recovering from what sounds like something really very frightening and that there will be no lasting effects, thank goodness!
I will join you in 'joy' your word of the year just as soon as I too am feeling recovered from a nasty flu bug that simply doesn't want to let go! 💛x
What brought me joy, better say what has brought me joy this January, the two months before it, and this current February has been studying German, and imagining what my life would be like when i start studying in Austria. I haven't had much time to paint, although art is still sth that sooths my nerves when i'm not myself.
Glad to have you back and am happy to hear you have healed from such a serious episode. And so glad to hear your voice again. It is one of my joys.
I also find in watching and hearing the birds at the bird feeders I've hung around the garden. A couple of times, it has been warm enough to sit in the swing and watch the wrens attack in a mass the feeder just a few feet over my head. They've come to realize I'm not going to hurt them. In fact, one day when I was cleaning out the watering bowls, the whole flock fluttered over and around my head in such a way that I noticed the feeder there was empty. Aha! I've been remiss and they're brave enough to let me know. That's a joy too. Gaining their trust.
A great word for 2025. Joy is everywhere, it’s in everything, it’s in us.
So pleased you are recovering Charlene. I’m celebrating 5 years cancer free right now but the surgery I had on my neck left me with palsy in my neck and shoulder. I can empathise with you. But Somehow the body adjusts and we get on with things. Maybe not the way we did before but in a different way.
I’m behind with my reading- finishing the last book in the Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel. Enjoying it slowly.
Hi Charlene. Oof sounds like it's been a really difficult and worrying time for you. I'm glad you're on the other side of that particular ordeal now. And it's moving to see how the experience has brought a new perspective on things like gratitude for your wonderful face.
In a very different way, I've had some health struggles recently and I've been leaning heavily on some of what you write about here too. Trying to be a bit more in the moment and working to pay attention to beauty and joy. It takes effort! But it does us a lot of good.
I'm dipping into different books atm. Loving: Women Who Work Too Much by Tamu Thomas. Everything Beautiful by Ella Frances Sanders has been a lovely one to slowly savour with gorge coloured illustrations. (Maybe recommended by you?? Someone on here anyway!) and as a comfort read I'm on The Guernsey Literary and Potato Read Society which has been on my shelf for years. Have a gentle week, love. x
Sounds like you have had a time of it. Glad to know you are healing. I always enjoy your posts and I did notice I hadn't seen your post last month. Glad you are back!
I'm reading Elektra by Jennifer Saint. I hope your enjoying Alias Grace...now I want to reread it! So good!