Most of us have a tendency to live life by the seat of our pants.  Instead of acting, we keep reacting.

Joyful Springers calculate.  They have a deliberate purpose or design for their life because they know by having one, they’re more likely to take the actions that will give them the life they want.

When you think about what you want from your days instead of just going through the motions, you’re giving your subconscious mind (which runs most of your life) instructions to create what you want to experience.  Having your subconscious on board makes the ride of your life a lot more joyful.

[Meet Punky.  Helen Gibson sent me this photo of the third Springer who came into her life.  Helen says, "She was quite the math whiz ... as you can see!" Punky passed away in 2007 at the age of 13, but the love and joy she brought to the Gibson family lives on.  Thanks, Punky, for being a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer.]

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We tell and listen to a lot of “stories” in our lives.  We tell them about ourselves (who we are and what’s going on with us) and we hear them about others (from things we read and from people we talk to).  And we can choose what kind of stories we want to tell and hear.

Joyful Springers stick their noses in sparkly stories.  They choose to tell what’s good about themselves and their lives, and they choose to take in only the best of what they read or hear from others.

Whatever stories you’re focusing on are creating your life.  You’re living into the narratives you tell and hear.  So why would you want to tell sad stories, angry stories, or scary stories?  And why would you want to listen to them?  When you choose upbeat stories, you choose an upbeat life.

[As you can see from the photo, Ducky had a great time reading Nancy Lucas's and her Springer, Scout's, story, The Missing Boston Terriers of Smith Street. She also enjoyed having me read to her Nancy and Scout's latest book, A Ghostly Tail.

Ducky says both of Nancy and Scout’s books are clever and cute and funny and especially wonderful because the hero in the books is a Joyful Springer.  She loves the drawings in the books, which Nancy does herself.

I asked Ducky if she had any comments about A Ghostly Tail, and she said, “I’d be upset too if someone told me fluffy was stupid.  I’m excited by the idea of finding pizza on the ground.  I’m going to check the beach daily; maybe I’ll find some too.  I’ve never met any ghosts, but I do get communications from Muggins [Ducky’s predecessor].  She taught me how to roll on dead birds on the beach.  I think the story is fun.  Where else can you read about a ghost wolfhound, palmetto bugs, horrid purses, and a possum named Chisolm?”

Ducky’s review may be a little disjointed, but doesn’t it make you curious about the book?    You can find out more about both of Scout’s books and how to get a copy by clicking on the titles above.  Oh, and Ducky says she things hard copies of the books, which you can get at Amazon.com, would make nice stocking stuffers. And so would some nice smoked pork hide chews. ]

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If you believe the party line, you might think our world is limited and predictable.  But the world is so much more than we’re told it is.

Joyful Springers ferret out magic.  They understand that what we know about our surrounds and experiences is just a fraction of the wonders our universe has for us, and they are always open to seemingly magical and even miraculous unfoldings.

You don’t need a wand to make magic happen in your life.  All you need is a focus on what’s possible and a belief that the amazing and delightful can happen everyday.

[Meet Wilma.  Joan Howe's daughter's ferret clearly has the magical powers of cuteness.  Thanks, Wilma, for being our first ever ferret Joyful Springer Guest Star. ]

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We’re in the habit of mindless observing whatever we happen to see.  But there’s a more productive … and more fun … way of viewing the world.

Joyful Springers look for clues.  They decide what they want in their lives and they consciously look for things that are similar to what they want.

Instead of being a passive watcher in the world, be a seeker of what you want to experience.  When you deliberately set out to see things you desire, like examples of love and health and abundance, you create a force of energy that can, over time, pull more of these things into your world.

[Pringles is back. Joan Howe made the cape that her beloved tri-color Springer, who passed away in 2009, is wearing in this photo.  The hat was specially made from a San Francisco hat store, and the pipe came from a costume shop.  Is Pringles the cutest Sherlock Holmes you've ever seen or what? ]

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Singing group Timbuk 3 sang, “My future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”

Joyful Springers require shades.  They expect wonderful things to come their way.  They see a future that meets all their desires.

The future will match your perspective of it.  If you see it as dark and foreboding, it will be.  If you see it flaring into a supernova of delightful experiences, it will be so bright that you’ll need shades. 

[Sidney, Betsy, & Wallis are back.  Their momma, Catherine Jones, sent me this photo with the message, "Here are the girls doing their best to look cool or cute, really both."  Catherine said these North Carolina girls are wearing their signature colors here:  Sidney (red), Betsy (lavender) and Wallis (pink).  And don't they look lovely? ]

If you’d like to hear the song, “My Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades,” check out Ducky’s blip.fm channel.  She’s a dj of upbeat songs!

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How much of your day do you spend trying to control the people around you?  Think about it … and be honest.  Most of us either consciously or unconsciously attempt to get others to do what we want.

Joyful Springers take the wheel.  They don’t bother trying to get others to go in the direction they want.  They take charge of their own lives by putting their energy and focus on themselves.

When you keep your focus on your thought, your opinion, your intuition, and your actions, you have the ultimate control to design a life you want.

[Murphy is back. Lee Linenberg's boy apparently plans on going places. ]

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Slurrrrrrp!  Rarely do you hear this sound except when someone is savoring the pleasure of something yummy.

Joyful Springers slurp often.  They understand that every part of life has yumminess in it, and the best way to remind yourself of that is to go into everything with a “what’s here to slurp?” attitude.

Even the things we dread, even our biggest challenges, even our most emotional moments have something in them to savor.  Getting in the habit of making a little slurp sound now then can remind you to look for the tasty aspects of all of your experiences.

[Nellie's back. Betsy Kiehl's sweetie recently turned two years old, and she's slurping up the fun.  Betsy said Nellie was born in the same month that Betsy's last beloved Springer, Charlie, was born.  So she was born the same month and year that Charlie died.  I often think that our older dogs somehow pave the way for their replacements before they leave.  Betsy says that Nellie has helped ease the heartbreak of losing Charlie.  I know what she means because Ducky has done the same, helping Tim and me through the loss of our Muggins.]

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You’ve heard of drafting in races, right?  By getting directly behind the car or bike or person in front of them, racers lower the resistance they need to to stay in motion.

In daily life, you can do something similar.

Joyful Springers get toted.  They understand that by accepting what is and expecting good things, they get in the flow of universal energy so they get “carried” to what they want more easily.

When you complain or worry or allow annoyance to run your days, you step out of the “drafting zone” in your life.  You push against the flow and make your life much harder than it needs to be.  When you relax and accept and celebrate, you get magically transported into the perfect situations and experiences.

[Little Man is back.  Helen and Rich Gibbons' 7 1/2 pound 16 year old cat knows how to put himself in the position  to make life easier. ]

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Are you waiting for your outer circumstances to suit you before you feel good?  You may wait a long time.

Joyful Springers have a tropical temperament.  They know they don’t need to have the world be a specific way to feel what they want to feel.

If you want to experience the peace and fun that tropical vacations conjure, don’t think you have to take a Caribbean cruise to get what you want.  Just CHOOSE to feel relaxed and happy now.

[Meet Delta.   This sweet five-year old from Monroe, Wisconsin, loves the snow and obviously has a keen fashion sense.   Her momma, Joan Howe, says that last winter, "If she wasn't chasing through it (with a toy) (notice her toy matches her coat), she was rolling in it and coming in the house, completely covered in snow."  I don't usually put snow pictures in the summer, but I thought the outfit screamed "summer."  Thanks, Delta, for being a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer.]

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Woody Allen said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”

You may not be the one in the driver’s seat, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have any control.

Joyful Springers are alert passengers.  They remain in the now of their daily lives, ready to spot opportunities even when circumstances are taking them for a ride.

Take your life journey with your eyes wide open, and even if you’re not at the wheel, you still can create experiences you love.

[Stoney, Stella Luna, and Steeler from Texas are back. These gorgeous Springers LOVE going for rides with their daddy! ]

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