Joy Flows When You Have The Courage To Align

Dancing Elephants Press Prompt 14/52

Joy is our natural state, yet when we are bogged down with stress and anxiety, we often miss the chance to enjoy everything that brings us so much joy. How often do you walk or even drive by people who look miserable? It is sad to me. Most people are missing out on their lives while living on autopilot.

We work so hard to accumulate things. Meanwhile, we miss out on the pleasure of daily life. Most of us spend the prime of life working to enjoy a few years of retirement when in reality, those are not the years that we feel our very best. We have it all wrong.

“Joy cannot be found in things, it is in our hearts.” ~Nittin Namdeo

I recently sold my house of twenty-two years. The stress of packing and moving darn near killed me. But, I decided to go for my dream and move to the Florida Keys. Things didn’t go exactly as planned — life rarely does. But that is okay. I am here now, and life is moving at a different pace, a slower, more pleasant one. It took about ten days to decompress, allow the stress to fade away, and get back into work/play balance mode — something my dad instilled in me at a young age.

I now have a daily routine. I get up early each morning with my Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy and take him out to the bathroom. Then I feed him, and while he eats, I post my daily inspirational quote and meditate. About thirty minutes later, we head out for our long early morning walk. It is a neat walk because it is generally around the same time each day, and many locals also keep a similar schedule to beat the hot sun later in the morning.

So, we have met humans and dog friends as we have walked. People just ooo and aww over Brutus because Bernese Mountain Dogs are so rare here; plus, puppies are just adorable and bring joy in general. Everyone smiles and says “good morning” as you pass, and most slow down for a short conversation and some puppy loving.

Being surrounded by turquoise water and kissed by the gentle rays of sunshine while receiving a constant ocean breeze provides endless joy. I have yet to cross a person who did not have a smile on their face here. Sure, I still have stress, but it is much easier to cope when I can go outside, listen to the waves wash ashore, and look at the beauty surrounding me.

“Choice is the most powerful tool we have. Everything boils down to choice. We exist in a field of infinite possibilities. Every choice we make shuts an infinite number of doors and opens an infinite number of doors. At any point, we can change the direction of our lives by a simple choice. It is all in our hands, hearts, and minds.” ~Author unknown

Everything in life is a series of choices. But, our true nature is joy. If we align our intentions to be at peace within, we will be joyful more often. I wish you a daily dose of joy in your life. I doubted my decision to move. In fact, I thought perhaps I was either crazy or having a mid-life crisis.

Now that I am here and settled I am certain I made the right decision. Letting go of the accumulation of years of things and purging and having the courage to go for my dreams feels phenomenal. It is something very few people do and I am proud of myself.

I find joy in the simple sounds of the seagulls, and the swaying palm trees. I look forward to each sunrise. I have enjoyed meeting such pleasant people. I have a newfound gratitude for life. Joy is flowing abundantly.

I would like to leave you with another article from Jennifer Dunne who has just an absolutely lovely take on joy. Her heartwarming attitude is sure to melt your heart and add happiness to your day.

Thank you to our editors Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Dr. Preeti Singh, and Annelise Lords for all the behind-the-scenes work and effort you do. ❤️