It's CRACK, I Say!

This morning I was up at 6am readying myself to coach both a 7am strength class and an 8am SPIN class.  

There was unusual commotion in the homestead because my middle son had an all day wrestling tournament and the "men" in the family were all heading there early.  So me and the boys were all on the run.

I finished up my classes, jumped in the shower and thought about what I wanted to do today.  The day stretched out in front of me with no obligations (and no menfolk) and I instantly knew.  My daughter has been earning and saving quite a bit of $$$ this past month or so.  I'm sure she'd love to spend some of that cashola...

Mom - "Broooooookeeeeee"
Brooke - "what?"
Mom - "Wanna go...SHOPPING?"

Well...do I need to tell you the JOY that spread across that girl's face???  When did my 11 - 3 weeks away from 12 - year old daughter become drunk on shopping?????  LITERALLY - she was GIDDY and JOYful and a bit TIPSY at the thought of going shopping!!!

Who ARE you and what did you do with my baby???

I HATE shopping!!  

I first experienced this sight about 18 months ago.  I suggested going to the mall for some back to school shopping.  I witnessed my, then 10 year old, go into a glazed, giddy euphoria as we walked from the car to the mall.  I was actually looking at a stranger.  This kid LOVES to shop!!  It's not like I am a shopper and she has been following me around malls all her life.  Grocery store - maybe - but certainly not the MALL.

But then I recalled.  Her girlfriend's mother LOVES to shop.  And Brooke went once or twice with them to the mall.  THIS is how she discovered crack shopping.

So off we went.  It was a raw, damp, drizzly day and we stopped for breakfast and then headed out to a mall.  Now - as I said - I'm not a shopper but I stopped in a few stores looking for boots and bored the hell out of her.  I quickly realized the stores I wanted to go in were NOT the stores she wanted to go in.  

So I let her lead the way.  J. Crew - nope.  Justice - nope.  Old Navy - now we're starting to find a few things.  Ok - so we pick out some goodies and I say, "Ok - so you have $80..."

WHATTTTTTTTTTTT??????   
What whattttt?
I have to use MY $$$$$?????

Seriously????  You never saw clothes get thrown back on the racks so fast.  WTHHHHHHH???????  Now I'm like - am I being a bad mom cuz I expect her to pay for these????  

Mom - "Grrrrrr -  all righttttttt, pick out a few things..."

So we walk out and she's all excited...TO HOLD THE BAGS!   

What?  She never wants to carry anything.  

Welllll - who KNEW???

Mom - "YOU want to carry the BAGS???"
Brooke - "I LOVE to carry all the bags.  I feel so all shoppy and happy carrying all the bags.  It's so cool to carry a bunch of bags."

HOW SHE THOUGHT SHE LOOKED.

Seriously - this was HER!!!!  You want to talk about catching JOY??

HOW SHE REALLY LOOKED!

Crack, I say!  It's CRACK!

Next stop, Rue 21.  What the heck is Rue 21??? Well - "just the best store I've ever been innnnn"  to quote an 11 year old.

In all honesty?  There were alot of "good stuff cheap".  So she has an armload and I'm like - ummm, I'm not buying all THAT!

Enter sad face.

Mom - "Okkkkkk - let me see what this would come to."

Sigh... 

Mom - "I'm only paying for half.  You need to cough up the other half."

Now we're talking.  

Big.JOYful.smile.Done.deal.





The moral of the story?  Close the deal RIGHT after:  "Wanna go...SHOPPING?"

And the happy, giddy, girl?

So happy and giddy and JOY filled all the way home - how does Mom NOT catch JOY?

WANT WHAT YOU HAVE

It's all relative - ya know?

I mean - get this...yesterday I was literally GIDDY with JOY for finally getting through the Connecticut healthcare insurance website (that would be through the Affordable Care Act - for those of you who haven't explored it yet.  AKA "The Exchange") and was able to get an AMAZING healthcare plan for my family.  

As a double entrepreneur income family, it has been very financially difficult to get good health insurance.  This has been especially hard to swallow because when we were emploYEES, we had the best of the best plans.  As soon as we opened our own businesses we were saddled with pre-existing condition clauses and extremely high premiums if we wanted the same type of policies.  Or even a lower bells and whistle policy. 

But it's all relative.  We ended up with basically a catastrophic, Major Medical type plan for the past 9 years.  It was affordable but literally paid for nothing before hitting the $10,000 deductible.  Did we put out as much or more than if we paid for that $1500-1800/mth policy with all the bells and whistles?  No.  But medical bills were still a burden.  3 kids, a hernia surgery, bad knees, bad shoulders, mammograms, dentists, gyns - it adds up!!!!

JOYfully, we are now the proud owners of a policy that consists of $35-$45 co-pays for almost everything (and NO co-pays for our children) with the deductible of $2500 waived except when hospitalized.  AND - this is the ICING ON THE JOY CAKE - for less $$$$ than we have been paying for that crappy-a** policy we have had for 9 years.  Imagine...a healthcare policy bringing JOY...

BTW - for the record -  one would think - yea, their subsidy is HUGE because they must be at the poverty level.  

Not even close.  Not even less, less close.  Not even less, less, LESS close.  I was SHOCKED by our subsidy.  And my point is this.  Before you go complaining about the Affordable Care Act, you need to do your legwork.  And if you are complaining because you make so much $$$$$ that you didn't get a subsidy? LOL - REALLY?  Paleeze.  OBVIOUSLY - it IS all RELATIVE.  The policy I obtained for our family - without the subsidy - was an expensive policy.  I will give you that.  But it STILL was less expensive than what we would have been paying for this same policy before January 1st.  

I know - I know - people are b*tching about their policy benefits going down and the price going up.  Or their policy being canceled.  It's all relative, I understand.  But you know what?  Our family has survived on less and paid more - and not just for health insurance. 

It's like incessantly complaining about your daily aches and pains and debt and lack thereof in any arena, when people you know and love as well as those you don't, are battling cancer or other health hardships, losing loved ones, living on the street etc. etc. etc.  They surely would trade places with you.  But then again - it's all relative...

At any rate - this brings me to the real point of this blog post.

Want what you have.  WANT WHAT YOU HAVE!!!

Our family has made so many sacrifices in the past few years, most in the name of being there for our children, as they grow through to adulthood.   We could be the well-off family with two full-time working parents who can't get to their kids games, struggle to get them home from practices or leave them in after-school for un-godly hours because they are on the road to work in the morning at 7:00am and not home until almost 7pm.  We could have.  Lord knows - We WERE!  

But we made the choice and we live with the choice.  And we complain about it sometimes, and we feel cheated sometimes and we had LOUSY insurance!!!!!  But we want what we have and we deal with the hardships and we love our new healthcare policy and it's all relative.  We are HAPPY with what we have!

A Facebook friend recently posted this and you should give it food for thought:

"Do not spoil what you now have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for"

Greek philosopher Epicurus

Does this apply to all we have?  No - I suppose not.  Certainly if I were ill - I wouldn't feel this way.  But seriously - for the most part -  it rings true.  I hoped for a fabulous husband and I hoped for children and I hoped to own my own home and I hoped to drive a mini-van my Saab (little joke - I actually did want a mini van...LOL.  Kinda done with that want...) and I hoped to own a gym and I hoped to be the type of person who worked out regularly and ate well and had amazing friends and made time to read great books and got a college degree and loved her children.  

I have all of this and more.  

And I also have a child with special needs and a fat mortgage and business debt and a pinched nerve 

and a mini-van (smiling?)...but I have good health insurance!!!  

And I want what I have and what I want may change and then I will change what I have and I will change what I don't want and then I will want what I have.  It's all relative.

The point is - take JOY in the now - in what you have.  Surely, much of it was what you brought to your life - what you hoped for.  Now.want.it!  There is JOY to catch, my friends!  Now go and catch it!!! 

I mean - SERIOUSLY?  A health insurance policy???

Yea - a health insurance policy.  Cuz...It's ALL relative, ya know? 

JOY JOY!

That Auld Lang Syne

The good ole days.  Times long past. 

Ahhhh -remember the good ole days?

 Literally?  "Old long since".  Yes - Auld Lang Syne.

The traditional - ringing in the New Year song.  Interesting - for isn't "the good ole days",  really days filled with remembered JOY?  Hmmmm - now are you "catching" on?  Uhuh...

So the New Year is upon us.  Your resolutions are swimming in your head - losing weight, saving money, getting out of debt, working out, stop swearing - I hear ya!  I have a few myself that are swimming but haven't hit shore, quite yet.  Although ONE better hurry up!  I need to lose some weight before boarding that plane to Punta Cana!!!  In 29 days...AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

But all kidding aside - truly, there is one resolution that is so easy.  

CATCH JOY.  

Go inside.  

Catch it once a day, twice a day, several times a day - just catch it. Wayyyyy easier than that diet!  Just look around for it.  It could be that beautiful red cardinal on a snowy branch.  It could be a smile on a stranger's face at the grocery store.  It could be a perfect eating day.  It could be your pet snuggling it's warm body up against yours hogging the corn bag.  Catch it, record it and move on.  

Because the diet and the gym and the bank account will all blend together.  The bad will pass.  The sad will fade.  But when you string your JOY moments together...now THAT's living.

I have a friend Sarah who posted this on Facebook this morning and I have thought about it all day.  I hope she doesn't mind...

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond. - Rumi  (a fav!)

Catch JOY through good and bad.  And remember - above all - good always wins. 

Embrace those you love.  Be grateful for the privilege of being alive.  It is your gift.  Accept it with JOY.  Move with the music, not through it.  You are making your Auld Lang Syne... 

Best wishes for an amazing and JOY filled 2014.

  

 

The Joy of Un-BLOCKING

Boy, am I blocked. 

I seriously want to start blogging again.  I really do!  I catch the most JOY when I'm blogging.  I believe because it makes me live in the present more, which = more JOY caught.  So I opened up a blank post page...and I sat.  And I sat.  And I SAT.  Why can't I think of anything to write???  You know what this tells me?  I need to blog - MORE.

It is the week of/after Christmas.  My goal has been to curl up on my couch in front of my roaring fire...

with my blanket and my i-pad and my phone and my remotes - eeek!  Those are all tech CRAP!  I can't unplug!  Is it a serious problem?  What does this mean???  I CAN'T UNPLUG??????

Nope - I can't.  But you know what?  I'm ok with that - actually.  I've had a great week here in my nest.  I've watched a bunch of movies.  Family JOY.  AND, I am LOVING - catching much JOY, in fact - getting up to date on Grey's Anatomy!  I had 3 seasons to watch and I am in the middle of last season and still have that and the current season to look forward to.  Yep - JOY!  Don't get me wrong - it's a struggle to get to my nest!  Always so much to do before I can allow myself to be still.  But I did it.  And I will continue to do it until life resumes again - somewhere after JANUARY 1st?

Sadly - I have readers block as well as writers block.  I haven't finished a book in AGES.  Maybe even 4 months.  THAT is not me.  But as I look back - I have been book blocked many times in the past 14 years and have always gotten back to it and chewed through - often - a book a week. (See Book Read sidebar to your right!) 

In 2013 I read 41 books.  Not bad considering I haven't read anything since possibly September or October.  I DO see how tv gets in the way.  My guess is that I haven't read a book since catching up on Private Practice and Greys Anatomy.  I trace this back to - GETTING AN I-PAD?!  

What EVER.  I'll get back to my books at some future date - no worries.  Because I know you are concerned.  tee hee.

At any rate - 2013 was a good year.  A JOYous year, in fact.  It was not without it's problems (hello????  3 little pigs???), but there were major JOYlights.  

The biggest and best are tied.  I reconciled with some precious elementary school friends AND a few months later, 2 college roomies.  BOTH of those visits go down on the "highlights of my life" list.  Hands down. 

There were many more JOYlights this year for sure.  

My middle child slowly starting to change his behavior for the good (thanks to wrestling and his amazing coach). 

Watching my oldest learn to surf. 

Falling in love 

over and over again with my youngest as she rehabbed her way back to the ice after a 5 month injury(ies) pause and came back stronger than ever.  (ummm - thanks to strength coach Mom's persistence?  Perhaps?  JOYJOY...just sayin') 

Celebrating 25 years of marriage with the best man I know.  

Watching my business continue to thrive with both new and repeat clients who I appreciate and adore.

Spending precious time with my 83 year old Uncle AL.

Clamming for the first time in YEARS with precious friends and family.

The list is longer but I think you get the picture.  There are daily JOYS to catch (and release) and then the bigger ones that stay with you - perhaps for life.  They are both important when you are really trying to live a life filled with JOY.  It's never that one continuous "and they lived JOYOUSLY ever after".  But certainly it is the key to a better life.  I know this much is true.

With that in mind - I challenge YOU - to catch more JOY on a daily basis.  Even if you can pick out only one JOY moment to catch each day - I predict your life will be more JOYful.  

JOY moment = JOY life.  Try it and see... 

'NOUGH SAID!

More on this JOY filled weekend later!

AND GOD LAUGHED...

So - I'm working on something.  

WHATTTTTTTT?  Joey WORKING ON SOMETHING??????  For those of you who know me well - I'm ALWAYS working on something.  Whether it be physical, mental, crazy - always got somethin' goin' on.

Lately, life has been somewhat overwhelming and while I have always had it going on with my Universe, God, Law of Attraction, The Secret - it's been tough to stay with it all the time given what life hands you sometimes.  Catching JOY has been a bit of a struggle as of late.  

 So I bought this book.  I liked the concept.  For me - getting back to my trust in what the universe can do for my life...re-touching my spirituality because I've been a slacker lately.   

For others - getting back to their God.  Whatever your gig is...the point of the book is that energy, power and even miracles - actually, especially miracles - are here, now and available to everyone.  I have ALWAYS believed this but as I said, sometimes life gets in the way.

Anyway - so the book offers 9 experiments to put you back in touch.  For example - experiment #1 has you spending 48 hours looking for a gift, blessing, sign - something unmistakeable - that proves there is this invisible energy force or field of infinite possibilities.  I won't go into the details, but rest assured - I got mine in less than 48 hours!!!!  I also manifested something specific - which was the assignment for Experiment #4.  But, it's actually Experiment #2, I want to fill you in on!

So Experiment #2 is essentially a 48 hour experiment designed to make you more "aware" that when you begin to think about something - you draw it into your life.  That what you see in life is none other than what you look for.  It is designed to prove that it's possible to find anything you look for and by changing what you look for, you can radically change what shows up in your world.  

Hmmmmm - are you making the Catch Joy As It Flies By connection???  Ummmm - yeaaa-aa-aaa!!!

As an example - have you ever bought a new car and suddenly, that's all you see on the road???  We bought a Toyota Sienna back in 2007 and I had never laid eyes on one in my life.  As soon as we bought it, everywhere I looked, there were Toyota Siennas!  And not in different colors!  ALL steel gray like ours!  WTH!!!????

So this was the experiment in a nutshell.  It was very simple.  For 48 hours, you just had to actively look for certain things.  The first 24 hours, you had to intentionally look for green cars.  The experiment also said if green cars wasn't your gig, you could change it and look for creamy beige colored vehicles.

The 2nd 24 hours, you had to intentionally look for yellow butterflies.

Ok!  I can totally do this!!!!  I will look for green cars and yellow butterflies.  Easy, peasy.

So at 9:33am on June 21st, driving down the road to meet my bestie Diane for coffee on the beach, I started looking for green cars.  I'm all ready - recording the time so I knew my 24 hour window's start and finish.  I could feel my body sitting up straighter behind the wheel.  Ready, set, GO!!!!  

First car...Creamy Beige.  Ok, no problem.  It wasn't like I was supposed to manifest a green car right from the get go...

Second car...Creamy Beige.  Haaa, you're so funny, Universe...they DO say, the Universe has a sense of humor...

Third car...

CREAMY BEIGE.  Ummmm - hello, Earth to Universe!  I chose GREEN cars???  Remember?  Not Creamy Beige cars????  Yoohooooooooo...

What's that old saying? "Just when you thought you had all the answers..."  Or is it, "We make plans and God laughs"?  Woohoooooo - someone's having fun with me!!!

Anyway - I continued on my journey to Beach Donuts for a birthday donut  the coffee shop for a cuppa Joe, and saw no green cars.  Suddenly I realized something.  

I was driving a green vehicle.  Haaaaaa - another zinger, Universe, funny...

Then I pulled into the parking lot of the place and there it was, my first green vehicle!  And it was exactly like the one I was driving - green Ford Ranger pick-up truck.  Now I'm LMFAO because the universe apparently really DOES have a sense of humor!

Ok - so I grab 2 donuts a cup of coffee and get in my green Ford Ranger pick-up truck and start to back out of the parking space.  And I'm like - OK, gotta look for those green cars!  Then I'm thinking, "Wow - tomorrow's assignment may be tough.  Yellow butterflies?  First of all - I usually see a ton of them in July and August but not typically in June."  

But I was ok, because it didn't necessarily have to be live butterflies.  It could be on a piece of stationary, on a paper cup, a picture on a poster - just had to be a yellow butterfly.  So all this yellow butterfly self talk is happening as I back out of the parking space.  I put the truck in DRIVE and as I'm heading out of the lot, I glance over to the storefront next to the coffee shop.

REALLY?

SOMETIMES - NO NEED TO CATCH; NO NEED TO CHASE!

 This morning, on my friend Aileen's Facebook page, I saw a photo of a bouquet of Lily of the Valley.  Instant JOY!  My mother's favorite spring flower.  When I moved into my new house, she brought me some plants from her patch and every year I am filled with JOY when their fragrant tiny bells bloom.

After seeing Aileen's beautiful bouquet - as soon as I had a free second - I ran up to my parent's homestead - now their estate - and started picking as many blooms as I could.  I knew this was the last year I would be privileged to do this so I wanted every single one.  I planned to come back in a few weeks to dig more up but for now, I needed this last bouquet.  

The patch is about 4 feet x 2 feet and I was very intent on making a big vase full.  Suddenly, this came into focus.  It was the weirdest thing.  I had been in the patch for a good 5 minutes and never saw it.  I swear, it just "appeared".

How cool is THAT???  It's a Red Tailed Hawk feather.  I'm thinking it's a wee gift from my Mama...

BTW - can someone please explain to me why my family can't THROW THESE AWAY??????  Is there an arts and crafts project looming that I don't know about?  EVERY WEEK?  Just askin'...

Just another day here at JOY central.

Remember - you gotta...