Joy-spotting. What a wonderful practice! Thinking of the tiny gray toad I saw in the grass this morning, such a small scrap of life but perfect and perfectly at home. Thank you, Stephanie. ❤️
What a wonderful visit. Sometimes a toad will hang out our porch. They're such beautiful, interesting creatures. A small scrap of life that moves us. I love that. Big hugs, Susan.
“We leave the lights on for each other so that no one will stumble over hopelessness, and instead recognize joy.” The most reassuring thing I’ve read in ages. Thank you, Stephanie, for leaving on your light. 🌻
I have long lamented the spellcheck, keyboard override of love to live. Gnashing of teeth, grrrr. And stink eye every time. Your piece is a great way to reframe. Thank you. Live=love & vice versa. This is a joy spot for me.
Thank you for this, Stephanie. I too don't feel safe. Instead, I harbor in my home and garden, which is surrounded by fences with bushes and trees. I find an ironic safety at Walmart, of all places, and the yarn store, but even among the knitters there is a rule for no political conversation. They want to be safe too. This morning, I stumbles upon a video of Glen Beck who talked about WWIII happening NOW and it's about all the stuff that equats power: oil, drugs, terrorism, authoritarianism, communism, blahblahblah. I was mezmerized by what he was saying. Turning it off mid-video, it haunted me all day. He opes it won't get worse than it is, but how can it not? I felt like I had drunk poison, but your essay here poked a big hole in that malaise. We are all out there doing our peace-loving, kind work on Substack and in greeting the people around us. Bless you, Stephanie. 💖
I so relate to what you've shared. We are living through a fearful time of suffering, a dark period in our history. And we are also standing up for kindness, goodwill, and caring for one another. Yes, it feels like a battle rages on outside too; but the inner work still calls.
Viktor Frankl in "Man's Search For Meaning" writes about surviving the camps by identifying a purpose to one's life through one of three ways: the completion of tasks, caring for another person, or finding meaning by facing suffering with dignity.
For me, the work is this -- day-to-day chores and tending, and that includes time to journal and write; caring for my family and friends; and facing the suffering of these times with dignity -- i.e. kindness and goodwill. No easy task for any of us. We ride a roller coaster of anger, grief, love and hope. But love and hope being the strongest force.
May we stand strong. Make beauty. Love those around us-- these things we already do and no one can take that away from us. You are in my heart, Sue. Sending you love and goodwill.
Thank you for sharing Frankl's words from the camps. That's quite profound right there, to survive those horrid places and come out with enough will and grist to write a book. Indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword. It's important, as you imply here, to send out words of love and hope rather than anger and grief. Your comment is especially important to me these days as I'm struggling with a piece of writing about the extreme right elements in my town here. I'm watching evil take place in our community discourse, but resistance is also coming forth in voting certain people off the school board and daily encounters with others as I go about my errands. Each conversation, each moment of eye contact, each smile returned is the battlefield of resistance. And each fearful essay that lands in the trash is an effort to keep from spreading the poison. Fear is our nearest enemy. We will come through this if we repel the fear and replace it with love. Thank you for helping me decide to throw the essay in the bin. That's where it belongs. 💖
You might find a lot of courage and strength in the Viktor Frankl book. I re-read it every few years as I find it helpful. Big hugs, my friend. I'm standing with you and grass roots politics, i.e. school boards are good efforts! That's pretty much what I can do here as well.
“This is the backdrop against which we are living our lives.” Yes, and it takes a toll, on our hearts, our nervous systems, our ability to even just be present. Remembering how intrusive and noisy and violent it is helps to recenter the sense of how important it is that we take care of ourselves tenderly. Joy spotting is beautiful antidote.
Love this - it’s my practice - taking in the good (thanks to Rick Hanson) so I’m constantly turning the lamp of my awareness to something wholesome, enriching and absorbing it to make a new neural bridge, or you could think of it as flowers in a garden bed. At the same time that naturally prunes out the weeds. My Joy List has been getting a lot of play these past few years, just to counter all the darkness in these times. I have a poem about this way of being in my upcoming debut poetry collection!
Julie, BIG congratulations on your upcoming debut poetry collection. I love what you shared about joy list getting a lot of play. . . almost like joy is its own soundtrack. Sending you big hugs.
Joy spotting—what a beautiful phrase to label what I seem to do as often as possible. Today, five female deer are at the top of the rise in our backyard. Lying down, some with heads lifted; others with their faces tucked in and ears parallel to the ground, sleeping it seems. My husband and I smiled this morning and acknowledged to each other how wonderful it is to have their frequent visits, bringing us reprieve from the daily news.
With a name for the practice I seem to do unconconsciously to keep my heart open, I look forward to more intentional joy spotting in the days ahead. Yes, live=love!! Thank you Stephanie.🌟💖🌟
Joy-spotting. Stephanie, thank you for these simple words and concept. As a writer I feel I am more regularly attuned to noticing those moments--but perhaps not. There is just too much we let of go because of false pressures. Today I met with my writer friends of a decade. I noticed again how Jessica is the last to comment--and her comments seem to be the wisest. She holds back and really listens. Joy-spotting. On this Christmas holiday while visiting my homeland of Panama two vultures (buitres) landed at the edge of the narrow pool where we swim. They took a few sips of water and waited. This was their lake. We were intruders. Joy-spotting.
I love how tuned in you are, Marlena. You are right, we let go of too much due to false pressures, but we can hang onto small moments of joy that swell big in the heart. Biggest of hugs, my friend.
Last night I went to a candlelight vigil for Renee Good. I often go to political rallies alone, and get caught up in the energy and enjoy connecting with like minded folks. Last night, though, was appropriately solemn, and I stood alone in the dark with my candle, at the end of the line of people. I felt glad to be there, but also felt, well, alone. Close to the end, I decided to move into the middle of the vigil, where people were clustered and talking in groups. I still stood alone, comfortable, but alone. A young Latina woman caught my eye, and gave me what felt like a very intentional warm smile. I smiled back warmly, and that was the end of our interaction. I felt such joy and warmth. It is still with me and I linger over the memory 🥰. Joy finding.
A moment of joy in a sea of sorrow. An exchanged smile, imbued with intentional kindness. Holding a small flame to keep Renee's memory and sacrifice alive. I wish I had been there with you, Margo, alone, but together. May we keep Renee in our hearts and stand up for truth and good. I'm grateful to your for sharing your joy and your peace.
Thank you Stephanie! It feels like my new hobby this year needs to be a bit more of joy spotting. And given I might not have more time for decompression measures, perhaps I'll tie a bit of joy spotting right in, and after, my daily dose of exercise. Spotting that heron on my daily hike never lets me down!
I can watch the news more - or I can go off for my daily hike, say hi to the heron + watch the news just a bit less - or a lot!
Yes, more oxytocin as well this year. Hugs all around :)
The Blue Herron -- they are a majestic and mystic bit of joy, aren't they? My favorite place right now is in nature. Things in the woods have an order to them. They make sense. For me, they bring both joy and some peace. BTW, "Hi" to your Herron friend. I agree, spotting a Herron on your hike, never a let down, always a joy. Big hugs.
Giving it a name gives joy spotting a life. I not only spot it, I create it every chance I can for me and others. It’s the only way we remain strong in the face of such evil.
"She knows that kindness, caring, and compassion are up to her. She gives those gifts"
How often do I take responsibility for my mistakes but stay passive in my response to others? How often do I fail to be responsible for injecting caring into my everyday life?
Dearest Anne, I feel like we are all being asked to become more caring, to learn how to do that for one another. Thank you for underscoring that with your kind comment. Biggest of hugs.
I come from a background that demanded giving responsibility for your own life up to systems and leaders. Taking responsibility for making my own life my own is new and hard. Thank you for the wisdom and encouragement.
Joy-spotting. What a wonderful practice! Thinking of the tiny gray toad I saw in the grass this morning, such a small scrap of life but perfect and perfectly at home. Thank you, Stephanie. ❤️
What a wonderful visit. Sometimes a toad will hang out our porch. They're such beautiful, interesting creatures. A small scrap of life that moves us. I love that. Big hugs, Susan.
“We leave the lights on for each other so that no one will stumble over hopelessness, and instead recognize joy.” The most reassuring thing I’ve read in ages. Thank you, Stephanie, for leaving on your light. 🌻
Rosemary, you and I, across the miles, for at least a decade now, have been leaving the lights on for each other. Thank you.
I have long lamented the spellcheck, keyboard override of love to live. Gnashing of teeth, grrrr. And stink eye every time. Your piece is a great way to reframe. Thank you. Live=love & vice versa. This is a joy spot for me.
A good joy-spot for me too! Like you, I usually growl when I mess up the letters -- but now it makes sense! Live = Love. Big hugs, Michele.
So very wonderful! Thank you!
Thanks for being here, Jill. That is so very wonderful, too.
The pleasure is mine! Always a wonderful read from you! Cheers!
Thank you for this, Stephanie. I too don't feel safe. Instead, I harbor in my home and garden, which is surrounded by fences with bushes and trees. I find an ironic safety at Walmart, of all places, and the yarn store, but even among the knitters there is a rule for no political conversation. They want to be safe too. This morning, I stumbles upon a video of Glen Beck who talked about WWIII happening NOW and it's about all the stuff that equats power: oil, drugs, terrorism, authoritarianism, communism, blahblahblah. I was mezmerized by what he was saying. Turning it off mid-video, it haunted me all day. He opes it won't get worse than it is, but how can it not? I felt like I had drunk poison, but your essay here poked a big hole in that malaise. We are all out there doing our peace-loving, kind work on Substack and in greeting the people around us. Bless you, Stephanie. 💖
I so relate to what you've shared. We are living through a fearful time of suffering, a dark period in our history. And we are also standing up for kindness, goodwill, and caring for one another. Yes, it feels like a battle rages on outside too; but the inner work still calls.
Viktor Frankl in "Man's Search For Meaning" writes about surviving the camps by identifying a purpose to one's life through one of three ways: the completion of tasks, caring for another person, or finding meaning by facing suffering with dignity.
For me, the work is this -- day-to-day chores and tending, and that includes time to journal and write; caring for my family and friends; and facing the suffering of these times with dignity -- i.e. kindness and goodwill. No easy task for any of us. We ride a roller coaster of anger, grief, love and hope. But love and hope being the strongest force.
May we stand strong. Make beauty. Love those around us-- these things we already do and no one can take that away from us. You are in my heart, Sue. Sending you love and goodwill.
Thank you for sharing Frankl's words from the camps. That's quite profound right there, to survive those horrid places and come out with enough will and grist to write a book. Indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword. It's important, as you imply here, to send out words of love and hope rather than anger and grief. Your comment is especially important to me these days as I'm struggling with a piece of writing about the extreme right elements in my town here. I'm watching evil take place in our community discourse, but resistance is also coming forth in voting certain people off the school board and daily encounters with others as I go about my errands. Each conversation, each moment of eye contact, each smile returned is the battlefield of resistance. And each fearful essay that lands in the trash is an effort to keep from spreading the poison. Fear is our nearest enemy. We will come through this if we repel the fear and replace it with love. Thank you for helping me decide to throw the essay in the bin. That's where it belongs. 💖
You might find a lot of courage and strength in the Viktor Frankl book. I re-read it every few years as I find it helpful. Big hugs, my friend. I'm standing with you and grass roots politics, i.e. school boards are good efforts! That's pretty much what I can do here as well.
Local is where it gets real.
Amen to that.
Live =Love.
Practice Kindness.
Joy Spotting.
What a wealth of positive intentionality. Thank you for these beautiful lessons to start this year’s curriculum of living & loving 🙏🏼🥰
May we walk in beauty and kindness and share those qualities wherever and however we can. Biggest of hugs and so much goodwill, Lyssa.
“This is the backdrop against which we are living our lives.” Yes, and it takes a toll, on our hearts, our nervous systems, our ability to even just be present. Remembering how intrusive and noisy and violent it is helps to recenter the sense of how important it is that we take care of ourselves tenderly. Joy spotting is beautiful antidote.
Joy-spotting stuck me that way too, Barbara. A little antidote to the noise and chaos. Thank you for being here. Big hugs.
“Live = Love, is our work,”
for and IN joy/pain-full world.
Some typos = teachers.
You poetic lines bring a smile and most especially "some typos = teachers." Big hugs my friend.
Love this - it’s my practice - taking in the good (thanks to Rick Hanson) so I’m constantly turning the lamp of my awareness to something wholesome, enriching and absorbing it to make a new neural bridge, or you could think of it as flowers in a garden bed. At the same time that naturally prunes out the weeds. My Joy List has been getting a lot of play these past few years, just to counter all the darkness in these times. I have a poem about this way of being in my upcoming debut poetry collection!
Julie, BIG congratulations on your upcoming debut poetry collection. I love what you shared about joy list getting a lot of play. . . almost like joy is its own soundtrack. Sending you big hugs.
Joy spotting—what a beautiful phrase to label what I seem to do as often as possible. Today, five female deer are at the top of the rise in our backyard. Lying down, some with heads lifted; others with their faces tucked in and ears parallel to the ground, sleeping it seems. My husband and I smiled this morning and acknowledged to each other how wonderful it is to have their frequent visits, bringing us reprieve from the daily news.
With a name for the practice I seem to do unconconsciously to keep my heart open, I look forward to more intentional joy spotting in the days ahead. Yes, live=love!! Thank you Stephanie.🌟💖🌟
Deer are such gentle creatures! They make for great guests. May 2026 bring you oodles of joy-spotting. Biggest of hugs.
Joy-spotting. Stephanie, thank you for these simple words and concept. As a writer I feel I am more regularly attuned to noticing those moments--but perhaps not. There is just too much we let of go because of false pressures. Today I met with my writer friends of a decade. I noticed again how Jessica is the last to comment--and her comments seem to be the wisest. She holds back and really listens. Joy-spotting. On this Christmas holiday while visiting my homeland of Panama two vultures (buitres) landed at the edge of the narrow pool where we swim. They took a few sips of water and waited. This was their lake. We were intruders. Joy-spotting.
I love how tuned in you are, Marlena. You are right, we let go of too much due to false pressures, but we can hang onto small moments of joy that swell big in the heart. Biggest of hugs, my friend.
Last night I went to a candlelight vigil for Renee Good. I often go to political rallies alone, and get caught up in the energy and enjoy connecting with like minded folks. Last night, though, was appropriately solemn, and I stood alone in the dark with my candle, at the end of the line of people. I felt glad to be there, but also felt, well, alone. Close to the end, I decided to move into the middle of the vigil, where people were clustered and talking in groups. I still stood alone, comfortable, but alone. A young Latina woman caught my eye, and gave me what felt like a very intentional warm smile. I smiled back warmly, and that was the end of our interaction. I felt such joy and warmth. It is still with me and I linger over the memory 🥰. Joy finding.
A moment of joy in a sea of sorrow. An exchanged smile, imbued with intentional kindness. Holding a small flame to keep Renee's memory and sacrifice alive. I wish I had been there with you, Margo, alone, but together. May we keep Renee in our hearts and stand up for truth and good. I'm grateful to your for sharing your joy and your peace.
Thank you Stephanie! It feels like my new hobby this year needs to be a bit more of joy spotting. And given I might not have more time for decompression measures, perhaps I'll tie a bit of joy spotting right in, and after, my daily dose of exercise. Spotting that heron on my daily hike never lets me down!
I can watch the news more - or I can go off for my daily hike, say hi to the heron + watch the news just a bit less - or a lot!
Yes, more oxytocin as well this year. Hugs all around :)
The Blue Herron -- they are a majestic and mystic bit of joy, aren't they? My favorite place right now is in nature. Things in the woods have an order to them. They make sense. For me, they bring both joy and some peace. BTW, "Hi" to your Herron friend. I agree, spotting a Herron on your hike, never a let down, always a joy. Big hugs.
Giving it a name gives joy spotting a life. I not only spot it, I create it every chance I can for me and others. It’s the only way we remain strong in the face of such evil.
The world needs joy-spotters like us, Karen! Hold the goodness close. Sending you love and goodwill.
"She knows that kindness, caring, and compassion are up to her. She gives those gifts"
How often do I take responsibility for my mistakes but stay passive in my response to others? How often do I fail to be responsible for injecting caring into my everyday life?
Dearest Anne, I feel like we are all being asked to become more caring, to learn how to do that for one another. Thank you for underscoring that with your kind comment. Biggest of hugs.
I come from a background that demanded giving responsibility for your own life up to systems and leaders. Taking responsibility for making my own life my own is new and hard. Thank you for the wisdom and encouragement.
May we continue to learn and become better at caring for self and others. You are in my heart.
This may be my favorite piece from you ever! Joy Spotting. I love it! Thank you!
And . . .you're already and expert at joy-spotting -- Love you sweet niece. You are always and forever in my heart. Big hugs.