Cleanliness may be next to Godliness but it can also be next to driving ourselves crazy.  When we try too hard to keep things perfectly clean and neat, we miss out on a lot of fun.

Joyful Springers accept muddiness.  They care more about joy than they do about having a perfect appearance or surroundings.

Of course it’s great to keep yourself and your places neat and clean, but if you’re sacrificing some big smiles to do so, you might want to welcome a little dirt into your life.

[Nana's back.  This beautiful (yes, even when she's dirty) two-year old lives with her parents, Kevin and Katie Crews in Fort Hood, Tx.]

Share on Facebook

“I’m freaking out,” is a refrain we hear way too often these days.

Joyful Springers chill.  They know the fastest way to “unfreak” is to forget all about whatever upset them and instead do something fun or relaxing.

You can never truly solve a problem from “freak out” mode.  When you’re stressed, you don’t have access to the flow of wisdom that brings solutions.  So when you’re facing a problem, take some time to kick back and find your feel good.  When you do, you’ll be amazed at how easily things cool off and fall into place.

[Jackie is back. This lovely girl moved to Illinois last winter and quickly got the hang of how to "chill." ]

Share on Facebook

In the new year, Joyful Springers resolve to focus on things that make them feel good. They know that what they focus on expands. 

When you look for joy, you find it.

Happy New Year!!

[Ducky loves watching YouTube videos that feature dogs, so that's what she focuses on.  ]

Share on Facebook

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and other parties are great, but why wait for a get-together to have a good time?

Joyful Springers are their own party.  They know how to make every day a celebration.  They do it by combining appreciation with a focus on finding what’s right about the world around them.

As you start this new year, forget typical resolutions that you’ll probably forget about within a few weeks.  Instead, set a simple intention to go through the year in “party mode.”  Celebrate your world everyday with appreciation and the desire to find the good in your life.

May your New Year be filled with pawsitively joyful tail-wags!

[Ruffles is back. Joan Howe says her sweet girl was very brave about balloons.  And obviously, she knew how to be the star of her own party! ]

Share on Facebook

We’re often hesitant to try new things.  But life is about discovery.  So why hang back?

Joyful Springers immerse themselves.  They jump into new things with such joy and exuberant expectation that they bury themselves in the fun of it all.

Don’t deprive yourself of the joy of finding a new passion.  Dive into the new and different.  You’ll be delighted by how good it will make you feel.

[Snickers is back. Darlene Hoffman's great guy knows how to dive in. ]

Share on Facebook

The presents have been opened.  Did you get what you wanted?  Or are you wishing for something else?

Joyful Springers use what they get.  They may have wants that haven’t yet been fulfilled, but in the meantime, they have a ball with whatever they have received from the universe (and from their loved ones).

The truth is you’ll never get everything you want because part of life is generating new desires all the time.  So never lament what you haven’t gotten.  Just have fun with what you did get.  When you do, more will be on its way to you in no time.

[Mattie's back.  Brenda's lovely girl obviously understands how to get the most enjoyment out of what she gets.  ]

Share on Facebook

Is laughter a big part of your life … or not?

Joyful Springers join the jolly clique.  As if Santa was at their backs, they frequently laugh so hard their bellies shake like bowls full of jelly.  They also seek out others who love to laugh, and they share their laughter so easily that they inspire others to laugh.

Laughter has some powerful health benefits:  it boosts immunity, it lowers stress hormones, it can decrease pain, it relaxes your muscles, and it can prevent heart disease.  So give yourself, and others, the gift of some Santa-inspired jolly belly laughs as often as possible.  Life is a lot more fun if you choose ho, ho, ho over oh no, oh no, oh no.

[Pump, Butch, and Jeter are back.  These North Carolina beauties (their momma, Helen, calls them "the 3-pack") are definitely "in" the Santa crowd.  Santa is Helen's and her husband, Rich's, friend, Bill.]

Share on Facebook

What comes up for you when you think of Santa?  Giving?  Love?  Fun?  How about all three?

Joyful Springers santacize to the third power.  They may only don a Santa hat around Christmas, but all year round, they wear an invisible hat that reminds them to be giving, loving, and always ready for fun.

Santa doesn’t have to come around only this time of year.  If you “get your Santa on,” he can hang out with you all year round.  And when he does, every day can seem like Christmas.

[Sweet Pea and Poppy are back, and they have their sister, Daisy, with them.  Daisy is an approximately 10-year old mixed breed.  Their momma, Denise, when she sent me this photo, said, “Poppy's first Christmas is going to be a challenge. She is into everything - she's tried to make a toy out of each thing on this bench. The other two are bored with the whole thing already.”  Well, they may be bored, but they sure are cute! ]

Share on Facebook

We often move through life a little too tentatively, afraid to go all out for fear of failure or rejection.

Joyful Springers get in up to their armpits.  They don’t tippy-toe through life.  They dive in and have fun without worry about what bad things could happen.

Are you holding yourself back from having a tail-wagging good time because you might look silly if you do or you might mess up?  Try letting go of the fears.  Follow your feel-good whims and have a great time.  You can never fail when you’re having fun.  And anyone who rejects a good time isn’t worth hanging around with anyway.

[River is back. Abby's 1 1/2 year old sweet girl discovered snow for the first time last winter, and she loves it!. ]

Share on Facebook

Things on a “to do” list can be chores or they can be an opportunity for play.

Joyful Springers rumple their sheets.   They find a way to make even the most routine tasks, like making a bed, fun.

Sometimes, as the holidays approach, we can get bogged down in the “must dos” of the season.  We began to see the holidays as a tiring burden.  This year, decide you’re going to see the coming holidays as a playground for the best time you’ve had all year … and then take that attitude into next year too.

[Mattie's back. Her momma, Brenda McGee, says that Mattie is a wonderful household helper.  She makes every chore, especially changing the linens, FUN! ]

Share on Facebook