Did You Find Some Joy Today?

Every day. EVERY day. Do you find JOY somewhere in your life every day?


I can recall days....weeks.....months.....where it seems like the "unfair" or "unkind" elements of life just keep washing over us like the never ending waves of the powerful ocean......and we need to take care not to get caught in the undertow of the waves.....in the negative forces pulling us down. Why is it we can so easily recall the dark times of our lives and have difficulty recalling the constant reminders of joy in our lives?


When I am asked about my journey with breast cancer.....I have to stop and ponder. It is so very easy to recall the multiple surgeries, the testing, the treatments......and on and on. What I have to remind myself however is of the joyful times during that same time and space. Was it bad? Of course it was bad. Was it also good? Of course it was also good!! The good times of cancer involves cherishing the friendships - old and new - of those who helped us endlessly. The good times of cancer involves smiling with every trip to the mailbox that resulted in a get-well-soon card that brightened my day. The good times of cancer involved the patience and care of the doctors and nurses who tended to my needs. The good times of cancer involved the neverending support of family and friends who walked in walks, worked events, and did everything they could to help raise money for a cure. Yes, there are good times ....even in cancer.

The biggest thing that cancer taught me was to look for joy EVERY day. EVERY day I look and find joy somewhere. Are some days harder than others? Of course they are......yet every day I strive to find something. Sometimes the joy is simply from having gotten through the day and looking forward to the dawn of a new day. Sometimes the joy is simply from witnessing the joy of someone else......it makes me smile. Sometimes the joy is from sharing a giggle with a friend. Sometimes the joy is from sitting quietly, alone, drinking in the beauty of our world around us. It doesn't have to be monumental. It doesn't have to be significant. It only needs to be real.

My wish for you is to open your eyes to the real joys that surround us daily. Open your heart to the song of joy that whistles gently through the green leaves of the trees. Open your sense of smell to the soft fragrances of blooming flowers. Open your enjoyment of the sense of touch to the joy of holding the hand of a child.

True joy does exist in our world......every day. We can see it and feel it if we look for it. When you find it, share it with others. Perhaps this will spread the message of beauty, delight.......joy.

What joy did you find in your world today?

Glenna Sanford

Speaker / Author / Life Power Coach

glenna@glennasanford.com

It Started With a Pair of Red Shoes.....Easy Joy!

Ever have one of those weeks when everything seems upside down and difficult to manage? That was this past week......it was one thing after another! A difficult week to find "joy" in my world. The weekend arrived and on the schedule was an event that we had been looking forward to for some time, yet now with the hectic week behind me I was struggling to get "in the groove" for the party......

Knowing that an event will be fun when you get there....and getting yourself there are two different things! Schedules, deadlines, responsibilities......they all wear down your level of energy. I knew I needed something to revive my energy to be able to attend and enjoy the event we had been looking forward to for several weeks.

Frantically, I was rushing through a department store doing some last minute errands and mulling over the evening ahead and how I could possibly get everything done that was on my list. Then I saw them......right in front of me.......in my size!!! On the shelf at the local department store was the most outrageous pair of red patent leather higher-then-high heeled shoes!! The corner of my mouth started to twitch. Slowly I burst into a full grin........and my mind began to play the "what if" game. What if I were to try them on? What if I were to actually consider buying them? What if I bought them and wore them to the party?! Wow!!

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I am one of those "sensible shoes" types of gals......nothing real fancy........shoes that are purposeful and can be worn with numerous outfits and for several years......What was I thinking? RED PATENT LEATHER HIGHER-THEN-HIGH HEELED SHOES? It would be SO out of my comfort zone.......yet SO much sheer, delicious, spectacular FUN!!

That was it!! I tried on those fancy red shoes and they fit!! What fun! What joy! This was easy! Stop!! Wait a minute! Joy! EASY JOY!!! I had risen from my hectic crazy week and could feel myself becoming re-energized for the evening ahead! Easy joy is what I had found! It didn't take expensive spa treatments. It didn't take costly therapy sessions. It didn't take any more than an inexpensive pair of outrageous shoes to snap me back to enjoying the moment!!

From there as the clouds in my mind began to lift I realized what articles of clothing I already had in my closet that I could put with these outrageous shoes.....and what jewelry would be as equally outrageous......and I realized I was walking through the store with a full grin on my face! It all began with a pair of red shoes......

The young cashier looked at the shoes, looked at me, and asked, "Are these shoes for you?" Now I began to giggle....."Yes! Aren't they FUN?" I replied? "Wow", she commented, "My mother would never wear these!" I chuckled......THAT is exactly the reason I WAS going to wear them!!
As I loaded my bags into the car I began to ponder the numerous occasions for "easy joy" we have surrounding us every day.......the family dog who nuzzles up to us looking for a pat, the children rushing from the bus stop to show us their latest artwork from school, the person in front of us in the grocery store that lets us go ahead of them because we have 2 items and they have 2 cart loads of groceries, the soft gentle breeze created when we drive with our windows down, the sun streaming through the clouds spreading rays of light, the friend who calls asking for our advice, the feel of soft grass on our bare feet, the new sparkly earrings that shimmer and shine, the hot cup of tea we're able to sit and sip slowly before starting the dinner routine, the smell of linens after they've been hung to dry outside on a line, the purr of the cat when he rests in our lap..........easy joy.

I realized that easy joy surrounds us every day. Easy joy surrounds us every moment. Yet often times we simply are going too fast to notice. Easy joy can bring a smile to our hearts instantaneously.......yet only if we let it. I realized that the week had been such a week that I had stopped seeing the easy joys of life all around me. I had hardened my heart and mind in the effort to "get it all done". It took a pair of shoes to bring it all back.

Well.....the evening came and I wore those shoes to the party! It was fun! It was silly! It was outrageous!! Every time another woman commented that she LOVED my shoes but thought she could NEVER wear shoes like that, I was certain to reassure and encourage her that she could! She must! She simply had to try it!! Several women actually tried my shoes on and it was spectacular to see them standing there, 4 inches taller, wobbling to keep their balance, and smiling! Smiling at the FUN the shoes encouraged! They started to laugh and giggle! Soon they had a smile from ear to ear! It was magic!!

Perhaps the shoes conjured up past memories of dress-up we all played as children. I'm not sure. I do know however, that as I sat there the next morning with my aching toes in a warm bubbly foot bath to soak the aches and pains away.......I realized that every ache and pain was worth it! While I may not wear these outrageous shoes often, they will sit on my shelf as a reminder of the day I was reminded of the wonderful EASY JOYS that are part of my life and surround me every day!!

Do you have an easy joy reminder in your life?

Glenna Sanford
Speaker / Author / Life Power Coach
glenna@glennasanford.com

Where's the JOY in cancer?

Five years ago, the day before my 33rd birthday, I received the diagnosis of stage 3, infiltrating ductile carcinoma.....a long, fancy, scientific description for "cancer". How could I have breast cancer? I was sure it must be some mistake.........I was healthy! I exercised every day! I ate the right foods! I nursed my children! I did monthly breast exams! How could this be?

It was true however and the journey of cancer began.....

Through a year of surgeries, chemotherapy, losing my hair, genetic testing, reconstructive surgery, and uncountable visits back and forth from hospitals and doctors' offices, many around me focused on the "tragedy" of cancer. I found quickly that looking at what was happening to my body was counter productive to my recovery. All around me, every day, were moments of joy. Friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and even complete strangers helped in so many ways to help our family work through the year. These are the things I chose to focus on.

Cancer opened my eyes to the things in life that truly matter. Cancer caused me to slow down and spend those special moments with my children. Cancer has given me permission to walk past the sink of dirty dishes to sit and read a book with my child.....the dishes would wait. Cancer encouraged me to spend more time in my garden and less time worrying about the house being cleaned to perfection........the dust would still be there to be cleaned whether or not I rushed in from my gardening or if I spent an extra moment enjoying the beauty of the flowers around me. Cancer pushed me to recognize the joy in my life that surrounds me every day.

Our efforts to help fight cancer through various fundraising efforts reinforced the joy of life. Countless individuals joining together to raise awareness and money to find a cure. What could be more positive and joyful than that? We have been overwhelmed by generosity of time, money and spirit. This is what is important in life.....people working with people.....for people......together.

So many people spend their lives searching for their personal joy........don't wait for a daunting diagnosis to force you to recognize what is right in front of you now! It's not about obtaining the dream-house, the car you want, the perfect job......it's about life, living, breathing.......simply being alive to enjoy the beauty of the world around us!

While we may not have a choice as to the diagnosis of cancer and what it does to our bodies, we do have a choice on how to deal with it.......choose to find the good, choose to focus on the positive, choose to continue to recognize the wonders of our world, choose to enjoy the small significant moments, choose.......choose joy.

Glenna Sanford
Speaker / Author / Life Power Coach
glenna@glennasanford.com

Where Do You Find Joy in Your Life?

Where is your joy? What do you find joyful? Is your life filled with joy?

These are not trick questions. These are questions we all should be able to answer quickly and with confidence!! We all become so busy and frenetic in our lives that often we forget to recognize what makes us smile, what makes our hearts full, what makes us truly joyful!

When is the last time you noticed the sun shining through the clouds? When is the last time you stopped and picked a dandelion? When is the last time you rode in your car with the windows down and the wind blowing through the open windows and tossing your hair wildly around your face? When is the last time you hugged a child, held the hand of an elderly person, tried to catch a bubble floating through the air from a bubble wand being waved through the air? Little things.....little moments.....big results....big "joy".

Recently I had one of those days where it was difficult to find the "joy" in things happening around me. A friend was in the hospital, I had learned of another whose mother had just been diagnosed with cancer, a work project had gone awry, an unexpected bill (a very large one) appeared in my mailbox, anticipated travel plans needed to be canceled......every have one of those days?

In the midst of the chaos of the day I stopped to pick up my youngest child.....of course I was late....... she climbed into the car and I (with forced cheer in my voice) asked her "How was your day?" With a click of her seat belt buckle she sighed and said, "Mom, my day was great! I got picked to read in science class, the teacher asked me to help with a special project, I played tag on the playground with three of my best friends, the hot lunch today was yummy, AND I got all of my spelling words right!"

Wow! Her statement went through me like a lightening bolt.....of course!! All of these little things in my daughter's day are what made her feel like the day was great! The simple things throughout her day put a smile on her face and made the day "great"! Where were my "great" things of the day? Had I even considered them? Had I even considered the numerous things that made my day beautiful and fulfilled? The co-worker who held the door for me as I walked into the building, the hand-written thank-you note received from a friend, the fresh hot coffee in the breakroom, the soft rain falling on the new flowers outside the window, the anticipation of a long walk with the family dog when I got home, reading a book with my children before bedtime, feeling their warm hugs as they were tucked into their beds.......these are truly the things that were making my day "great" and I had let them go by unnoticed, unappreciated, unrecognized.

The everyday small things in life are truly our "joys". If we spend all of our time searching for the big joys we miss the ones that really add up. Where do you find joy in your life? Do you see it every day? Remember the little things.....remember the little things that truly matter....and you will have a joyful life!


Glenna Sanford
Speaker/Author/Life Power Coach
glenna@glennasanford.com

Joy is One Choice Away

Why is it that we prolong our true enjoyment of life until we "get the house, job, car, lifestyle" we think we want and deserve? Why is it we do not enjoy right here and now.....our every day lives....regardless of what we have or don't have around us?

I have friends who are so sad with the state of their lives....they think they have either done the wrong things, are in the wrong jobs, live in the wrong state, don't have the things in their lives that they think will make them happy......they are so close to true joy and they don't even realize it.

JOY is but one choice away. We must CHOOSE to find joy in our lives. JOY may be a very hard choice, but it is still one choice away. We CHOOSE to live a certain way. We CHOOSE to associate with certain people. We CHOOSE to perpetuate certain habits. We can also CHOOSE to find JOY in our lives and enjoy the very essence of being alive.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 years ago I had a choice. I could choose to think my life was over or I could choose to believe the rest of my life was just beginning. I could choose to overlook the pleasure of my 2 and 6 year olds because of the disease, or I could choose to cherish every moment with them and plan for their futures. I could choose to curl up in my bedrooom and ignore the world, or I could choose to embrace the very essence of being alive. My choice was to LIVE. My choice was to find JOY in my surroundings. My choice was to stive for a future.

No, chemotherapy is not fun. No, multiple surgeries is not fun. No, losing your hair is not fun. No, thinking that cancer could return at any moment is not fun. All of those things however are moments in time.....they do not define who we are and what we will become. I am not a cancer patient first....I am an individual first ..... just one who happened to have cancer. We cannot live our lives sucumbing to our fears......we must live our lives focused on keeping JOY front and center.

Where do you find your everyday JOY in your life? Have you made choices in your life to make JOY your focus? What does JOY mean to you?

Here is a challenge for you......the next time you are faced with an obstacle that makes you sad, mad, upset, remorseful, fearful......stop and ask yourself...."What is the one choice I could make in this situation that would turn it to a situation of joy?" It's not an impossible question. It's a question that can turn your life around.


Glenna Sanford
Speaker/Author/Life Power Coach
glenna@glennasanford.com