52 Ways to Joy - Picture Happy

This past weekend we attended a barbecue at the marina where I work during the week. Good food, music and a perfect day. Before we left I pulled out my cell phone and asked a friend to snap a quick picture of me and the hubby.

How often do we rush through a great day expecting to remember the happy moments for a long time to come?

How often do we sit and reflect on those days gone by?

Recently I was organizing some of the photos on my computer that I haven't looked at in years, backing them up on CDs and deleting duplicates...took me hours.  It took me hours because I found myself lost in the memories of days gone by. Silly kid faces, embarrassing moments and family holidays.

This week my advice for finding joy is probably right in your hand or close by. Snap a few photos on your phone of a loved one, a friend, an inspiring view.

Keep the memory for another day.

I wish you joy on the roads you travel this week my friends!

52 Ways to Joy ~ Musical Memories

Welcome to another week of celebrating the small moments of joy!

Since I started this series a month ago, I've been keeping a list of possible choices that will ultimately make up all 52 ways.

Looking over the list this week, I found myself drawn to the idea of music.

Musical Memories.

Does a certain song bring back memories of your childhood? A memory of High School? Or can a simple song on your iPod just make you feel good? Music can have such power over our feelings, it's amazing isn't it?

I know for me, there are some songs that immediately take me to a place and time in the past - some memories so vivid I still get warm and fuzzy feelings for those few minutes.

This week as I hear songs that tug at my memories and give me moments of joy, I write them down and I've been making a "joy" playlist. So from now on, I know when I'm out for a walk or need a few minutes to revive my spirit - I've got a go-to mix on my iPod!

One of the songs on my "Joy" playlist? Every Breath You Take by The Police because it's immediately puts me in a car with a boyfriend out on one of our first dates. I can feel the leather of the seats, smell the cologne he was wearing and remember the little butterflies in my belly. Yes, I married the guy, which makes the memory that much sweeter.

Do you have a "feel-good" playlist or a go to song to cheer you up? Click to tweet!

Wishing you joy this week, wherever your travels take you!

 

 *52 Ways to Joy is a weekly post to celebrate the simple ways to bring joy into your life and those around you. It's about the small moments that makes memories and give us all a sense of contentment in the crazy world we live in. If you're joining me here for the first time, by clicking on the label  "52WTJ" you can read the previous posts!

Memories can't be stolen

Finger Print by www.sxc.hu

This week my house was robbed, by someone in our neighborhood, a teenager my kids know.


(That she was in my house in the first place disgusts me enough, but she came to the door seeking someone to talk to and I raised my kids to be compassionate and help those in need.)

As much as I wanted to believe that the CSI team would show up and dust my jewelry box and dresser for prints, or maybe bring in a dog to sniff out her scent...this is a small, routine theft, so apparently my little crime scene doesn't warrant all the bells and whistles. LOL. Okay, fine. I get it. My few pieces of jewelry don't amount to much when there are bigger problems out there in the world for the police to deal with.

I have to be content with the knowledge that justice works itself out, that karma catches up with people and face the fact that sometimes things just happen that we can't control.

Two of the five pieces stolen have extreme sentimental value to me - monetarily, neither one was worth much. But the one ring, given to me on my sixteenth birthday by my parents - held over 30 years of memories for me. Memories of the day I got it caught in my high school locker, the ring is deformed to this day from that incident. Memories of the day in college it got caught while I was prying the spare key from under the hood of my old car and the stone popped out of it's setting. I found the stone, had it fixed...but the one bent prong was never the same.

So, while my jewelry is gone, stolen and probably already sold for some quick cash for a drug deal, I am trying to remember how fortunate I really am. My kids aren't thieves or drug addicts stealing from friends and neighbors for their next fix. I was fortunate that anything of real monetary value was locked up safe and sound. And most of all, I'm fortunate she came in peacefully and decided to help herself to a few necklaces and rings - she didn't come in armed, no one was hurt.

In the end, no thief can steal the memories of the ring I no longer have. No one can steal something embedded in your heart.

Have a great weekend making some memories!