Muses and Mutterings of a Fiery Redhead: Joy

Muses and Mutterings of a Fiery Redhead: Joy: "joy [dʒɔɪ] n 1. a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment2. something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness3. an outwa..."

Joy

joy [dʒɔɪ]

n

1. a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment

2. something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness

3. an outward show of pleasure or delight; rejoicing

4. Brit informal success; satisfaction I went to the bank for a loan, but got no joy

vb

1. (intr) to feel joy

2. (tr) Obsolete to make joyful; gladden

This is the feeling I had today dancing with a wonderful group of ladies.  I'm a total Middle Eastern Dance junkie and dance every moment I get (which is hard to do with 3 kiddos).  Our dance troupe, The Raqettes, are a group of women of different ages, sizes, walks of life and dance styles.  We practice diligently and even though there may be tension working with a group of women some days, I can always count on some of the members to bring happiness and joy to the troupe.  I feel fortunate to have many of these women in my life.  Honestly it's much easier to work with a group of men though.....lol!!  I'm just not sure how well men can belly dance though!!

It's so important to do that one thing in your life that brings pure joy.  I found a quote this is sort of appropriate for me personally and I will leave it with you.

"When you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath your feet." - Stanislaus Lec

The ugly green word

Why is it so incredibly difficult for some people to be happy for another person's achievements?  I think it mostly stems down to the ugly green word called Jealousy.  My parents did a wonderful job raising us to praise others for what they have achieved and I'm so incredibly grateful for that.  I feel so sad for the people out there who don't know how to praise as they walk around with their jealousy goggles on.  I think it would be a miserable way to live ones life quite frankly.  Jealousy is all consuming and very toxic.

Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value.  Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you.  There is only one alternative - self-value.  If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved.  You will always think it's a mistake or luck.  Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within.  Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences.  Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security.  Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them.  ~Jennifer James

I found this quote and I think Jennifer James summed it up really well!  As I watch my beautiful 11 year old daughter grow up before me I have already witnessed jealousy towards her from some of her peers.  I remember all too well what that was like growing up.   Jealous people will try and pull you down and make you feel lousy about yourself or what you have accomplished and if you don't watch out they can be successful.  I choose to stay away from those types now and I feel sorry for them because as all their energy is sucked up from jealousy I choose to put mine into praising others.

Happiness!

"The summit of happiness is reached when a person is ready to be what he is."  Desidirius Erasmus

I'm a total quote junkie and even have a "quote a day" gadget on my homepage.  I have been pondering happiness quite a bit this past year.  When I stumbled upon this quote today it truly summed it up for me.  We are always on this great quest for happiness in our lives.  I often wonder why?  I have met so many people this past year who for whatever reason were not happy.  I would have to include myself in that pot of people for a while myself.  I think overall when one is not happy it's because we are becoming self absorbed and self centered.  Think about it, a happy person is more often than not, a very giving person with no strings attached.

  

An unhappy person is a pessimistic person who has the "woe is me" and "my life sucks attitude" and they look for other people and things to blame.  Well I say enough of that!!  We are in full control of our own happiness.  I just think of my cousin Terry who is awaiting a kidney transplant and he has to be one of the most optimistic people I know.  He doesn't have a job, has a beautiful wife and 3 great kids and through it all he still has his sense of humor.  He does not have the "woe is me" attitude but quite the opposite.  So what has become of his optimism?  People are taking care of him and they have given of themselves to him just like he has for the past 40 something years to them.  Optimistic and happy people tend to draw people to them like giant magnets.

My New Year's resolution (well one of the many...lol) is to make sure I'm being optimistic and that starts by choosing to be around optimistic people. It all starts by living in the moment and not worrying about the past or the future. Just by starting to look at what we all have instead of what we don't have is a huge step to being happy and content.  I'm very grateful for what I have in my life:  excellent family, wonderful friends dotted around the world, 3 beautiful (and busy) daughters, a great house and an awesome husband who puts up with a lot from this fiery redhead.  We all should try and be happy with who we are instead of trying to be something else.

Cheers....here's to happiness for 2011.

I finally did it! :)

After a few years of people pestering me to have a blog I finally succumbed.  Let's see how this all spans out.  I will either have people laughing or crying on any given day I'm sure!!  I always have so much in my brain that it needs to be verbalized.  Wait a minute, that comes with the territory of being a woman.  It's my god given right to talk the hind leg off a donkey.  I am now able to type it instead.  My husband will be very grateful.