How will you scatter your joy today?

My new bible

Recently I started reading a book that was given to me shortly after my first son was born – that was nearly 12 years ago.  The book is Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  At the time, I felt like my life was simple enough so I placed the book on a shelf somewhere where it became part of my ever-growing library.

This past Christmas, when things were crazy, when life seemed more complicated than ever, I remembered that book and wondered what ever happened to it. Every magazine article that I had been reading at that time always seemed to be pointing to simplicity and living a clutter-free life. I took it as a sign.

Warner went up in the attic in search of my book and descended the stairs with the pink, hardback that would soon become my bible. Now I begin each morning by reading that day’s meditation. It’s funny how most of the readings seem unbelievably fitting for what is going on in my life that day.

On the entry for January 25,  Breathnach uses a term that is so playful and profound I had to share it here with you. She tells us to “scatter joy”. I immediately got the image of a farmer scattering feed for his chickens in order to sustain them, keep them healthy and well fed. And just like that farmer, I think we need to scatter feed, in this case, joy for everyone around us to feed off of. We are also the chickens running over to the farmer anticipating the food, anticipating the joy and the feeling of fullness it will give us.

By scattering our joy we not only create a sense of peace and well-being for those around us, but we receive the same feeling as a by product. What you give you get back in return.

So take a moment before you head out today and consider how you will scatter your joy.

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Too many choices

photo credit: jc.westbrook

Sometimes simple is better.

Lately I have been overwhelmed by the decisions that I have to make on a daily basis. When did everyday choices become such a burden?

I was in the grocery store the other day because I wanted to get some apples. Simple enough one would think.

When I got to the produce section I was reminded that we no longer live in a world ruled by simplicity. Golden Delicious. Granny Smith. Pink Lady. Gala. Red Delicious. Even something called a Grapple – a cross between an apple and a grape. Flummoxed by the variety of apples, I couldn’t make a decision.

I wondered if Eve had been faced with so many choices, would she have opted for a banana instead? I decided to keep it simple and chose a Washington Red – a classic among apples.

Later that same day I went online looking for a pot roast recipe. Easier said than done. I was bombarded by thousands of recipes for pot roasts, each one complete with reviews. I spent half an hour going from one recipe to another thinking that maybe the next one would be better. By the time I settled on one (and it just so happened it was the very first one I had looked at) it was too late to cook. So I decided to go the quick and easy route – fast food.

I chose my numbered meal, happy to have everything already figured out for me. But I wasn’t done yet. Small, medium or large? Fries, onion rings or apples? Ranch, honey mustard or BBQ? Sweet tea or coke? I wasn’t even hungry anymore.

When I got home I settled in with my computer,ready to relax a bit, in search of some specific something or other. I found a relevant site and then that site had a link to another site. And then that site had a link, and so on and so on. And, well, you get the picture. I had a hard time remembering exactly what I started looking for so I just called it a night.

I love that we live in a world of possibilities. But sometimes I do long for a time when we had fewer choices and life was simpler. Maybe then we could appreciate what we do have instead of constantly searching for the next best thing.

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Acceptance – It is what it is and what it should be

photo credit: SDCDeaCerte

I have learned that when I surrender to the reality of a particular situation – when I don’t continue to resist, but accept – a softening in my soul occurs. Suddenly I am able to open up and receive all the goodness and abundance available to me because acceptance brings with it so much relief and release.  – Sarah Ban Breathnach, from Simple Abundance

I’m on a personal journey these days – a journey to the center of myself and my bible is the book Simple Abundance.  And lately I have learned that acceptance is not the passive dance of giving up and letting someone or something else lead that I once imagined, but rather a very active tango of push and pull that results in a pretty amazing, dynamic performance.

Many times in my life I have gotten stuck in the toxic rut of regret and fear. But as I get older I see that there is nothing to be gained from this and everything to be lost.  I’m learning that those negative emotions do nothing but attract more of the same and I’m ready to break that debilitating cycle.

I’ve decided that I am going to accept things rather than fight them. I’m going to project positive rather than attract negative.  I’m going to live rather than exist.

In the past few weeks I’ve practiced this new attitude of mine and I am amazed at the difference it has already made in my life.  I feel happier.  I think it’s the idea that I don’t have to micromanage my life and try to control the big picture anymore.  That’s a lot of pressure.

I am happy to have found some help along the way in books that have fallen into my hands at the right time with the right message.  And some pretty amazing people have been there to ease my transition and help me along. None of these things happened by chance. The time was right.

If you want to join me on my journey, check out some of my resources and let me know what you think.  You might just uncover something in the process – the authentic you.

Simple Abundance Online – a website dedicated to topics such as gratitude, self-acceptance and harmony

Simple Abundance – the book – 366 essays on topics such as gratitude, self-acceptance and harmony

Unfinished Business – James Van Praagh – what the dead can teach us about life

Easier Than You Think – Richard Carlson – 39 small, simple adjustments for making positive changes in all aspects of your life

Neat Mom – Teaching you ways to keep life simple – a great blog about finding ways to simplify your life

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