It’s great to fit in.  But if we fit too well, what is there for us to discover?

Joyful Springers join a diverse pack.  Because they know that variety helps them be fully themselves, they make sure they have a circle of unique loved ones who all display their own colors.

When you demand that your friends and family be too much like you, you not only miss out on some incredible people, you also retard your own growth.  Unusual people can help you find layers within yourself that will surprise and delight you.

[Pump is back, and she has a whole lot of her friends with her to celebrate her Therapy Dog Graduation party.   Can't you just imagine the challenge of getting all these gorgeous dogs organized for this great picture? ]

Share on Facebook

Albert Einstein said, “The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.”

Joyful Springers play with the sphere.  They never lose their eager enthusiasm to discover all the wonder our world has to offer … so they stay young forever.

Whenever you feel old or worn out, ask yourself what you’ve been giving your attention to.  Have you been seeking out the beauty around you or the ugliness?  Looking for what’s lovely in your world creates youthfulness more effectively than any age-defying formula.

[Nana's back and is obviously having a ball being a perpetual child.  .]

Share on Facebook

Ted W. Engstrom evangelical leader and author said, “We must expect to fail…but fail in a learning posture, determined not to repeat the mistakes, and to maximize the benefits from what is learned in the process.”

Joyful Springers hold a learning posture.  They never slouch with shame.  They sit tall because they know that every failure helps them grow into something bigger and better.

Never cower in defeat.  If you see every mistake and screw-up as a way to be a better you, you’ll keep growing and growing until you’re more than you ever thought you could be.

[Pump, Butch, and Jeter are back, and Jeter is one year old!!   The above photo was taken at Jeter's first birthday party. Happy Birthday, Jeter! The photo below was taken when Jeter first arrived at his new home, at about 4 months old.  Hasn't he grown into a beauty?  So handsome ... but still as cute as he was as a pup! ]

Share on Facebook

In this uncertain world, we are taught, from a young age, to protect ourselves.  We learn to guard our most tender parts, inner and outer, so we’re never exposed, so we’re never hurt.

Joyful Springers belly up.  They understand that the most joyful connections can only be made when they’re willing to be vulnerable and open.

The truth is that no matter how much you attempt to keep yourself safe, you can’t avoid hurts.  And the attempt to hide your sensitive self deprives you of the most precious moments life has to offer.  When you expose your sweet center, you let in the love.

[Snickers is back, and he has his  sister Georgie Girl with him.  These adorable cuddle-buddies from Greensboro, North Carolina, belong to Ed and Darlene Hoffman.  Obviously, two-year old Snickers feels safe in the arms of his "elder," 10-year old Georgie Girl.  Aren't they adorable!!?? ]

Share on Facebook

Author Eric Hoffer wrote, “We have perhaps a natural fear of ends. We would rather be always on the way than arrive. Given the means, we hang on to them and often forget the ends.”

Joyful Springers settle into ends.  They understand that closed doors encourage us to turn and discover the brightness coming through open windows.

If you’re lamenting the end of something in your life — grieving a loss or facing the failure of a relationship or an endeavor — try celebrating it instead.  Remind yourself that every end is the launching pad for an exciting new beginning.

[Meet Tad and Spirit.  Tad, the retriever mix, is Karen Pyle's son's three-year old sweetie (so we think that makes him Rainy's cousin ) , and Spirit, the three-year old German Shepard is Tad's best buddy.  They definitely know how to fill a couch with cuteness ... and settle into ends , don't they? Thanks, Tad and Spirit, for being Guest Stars on The Joyful Springer.]

Share on Facebook

When we get out of alignment with all the truth of who we are, we accomplish but a shadow of what we’re capable of.

Joyful Springers sync themselves with themselves.  They understand that the parts of themselves they show the world and the feelings they have within and the values and desires they hold dear must all line up if they want their lives to be fun and fulfilling.

If you’re feeling overstressed or overanxious, it’s quite possible you’ve splintered yourself.  Take an inventory and ask yourself if all aspects of the outer you and inner you are in harmony with each other.  If they’re not, work to create that alignment, and you’ll find that stress and anxiety will fall away.

[Ducky is in perfect sync with all parts of herself, especially the Beach Ducky part!   By the way, you'll notice she's still wearing her brace on the beach, but it's just a precaution.  She appears to be fully healed, running like the wind after sandpipers and playing with friendly dogs when we encounter them.  The brace, which she wears just on her walks, is probably just "Momma's security blanket" now; but Ducky doesn't seem to mind wearing it.  ]

Share on Facebook

Swedish former football manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, said, ““The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.”  So true.  And we know, we can “Get High” to get rid of fear.   But how do we deal with fear that just won’t go away?

Joyful Springers walk through the yellow.  Of course they experience fear, but they don’t let that fear stop them; they keep going even when they’re feeling “yellow.”

You can’t always get rid of your fear, but even if you can’t, it doesn’t have to dictate your actions.  You have a choice.  You can feel fear and use it as an excuse to give up.  Or you can feel fear and take it along with you as you keep on going toward the success you want.

[Poppy is back. Her momma, Denise, said the daffodils didn't last long this Spring because of the heat, but Poppy, who blooms brighter than the flowers around her , obviously enjoyed them while they lasted.]

Share on Facebook

What can we do when we’re scared out of our wits?

Joyful Springers get high.  Instead of getting bogged down by dwelling on their fears, they do whatever it takes to lift their spirits.

The worst thing you can do when you’re scared is to think about your fear, talk about your fear, and “what if” your fear into worse and worse scenarios.  Fear is like a beast that grows when it’s fed, and the way to feed it is to give it attention.  Instead of feeding your fears, starve them by finding something fun that lifts your mood.  Fun is poison to fear beasts. 

[Meet "the cat Mattie chased."  When Mattie and her momma, Brenda, visit Brenda’s parents, Mattie considers their yard her territory.  And Mattie is not a fan of cats.  So when a cat, as Brenda puts it “made the mistake” of entering Mattie’s territory, Mattie zoomed out at what Brenda calls “bullet speed.”  The terrified cat dashed up the nearest tree and stayed there until long after Mattie went back inside Brenda’s parents’ house.  Brenda assures us that in the encounter, “no one was hurt (unless you count the cat’s PTSD).”    And Mattie was “very proud.”  Brenda says, “I tried to tell her that the cat was very pretty with her same coloring.  She still did not like him!”   Even though we don’t know its name and even though it may not be so much a Joyful Springer” as an “alarmed springer,” I thought since the cat did have lovely Springer coloring, it had a right to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer. ]

Share on Facebook

Everybody wants to drink in the joy of winning.  But we can’t all win at the same time.

Joyful Springers wait their turn.  They know the nectar of success flows endlessly, and if they’re willing to gracefully celebrate others’ triumphs, their moments of achievement will pour forth.

The most surefire ways to delay your own glorious moments are to resent others’ victories or rail against the unfairness that others are getting things you haven’t gotten.  When you genuinely rejoice in everyone’s pinnacle experiences, the glory you want will gush into your life.

[Meet Shiloh and Dakota.  These beautiful girls from New Bern, North Carolina are Mattie's e-friends.    Dakota is a three-year old Australian Shepherd, and Shiloh is a four-month old Border Collie that their momma, Teresa, and her husband, got from the paradise of Shadewood Farm in Virginia.  Teresa says, “They had a rocky start establishing boundaries, etc. but are now joined at the hip and as you can see do everything together.  Dakota is very protective of little sis and supervises her every activity.  She has actually done more of the puppy training than either my husband or me.”  Obviously, Dakota has done a fine job of showing Shiloh how to wait her turn.  Thanks, Shiloh and Dakota, for being Guest Stars on The Joyful Springer! ]

Share on Facebook

We want to do it all by ourselves … to prove we can or to just to be sure we’re not a burden to others.  But sometimes we need help.

Joyful Springers forklift in weak moments.  They understand it’s smart to seek out the power boost of “machinery,” be it another person or some helping equipment or object, whenever they aren’t making the progress they want on their own.

If you’re feeling bogged down in your efforts to achieve something, don’t lament your weakness.  Rev it up.  Look around you.  Someone you know or something you own or can buy could give you the oomph you need to do the heavy lifting that will create a break through.

[Rainy's back. Have you ever seen such a beautiful forklift driver?  Rainy helps out at her parents', The Pyleks', door and moulding business, Centerpointe Millwork in Portland Oregon. As her momma, Karen, says, "When you're short-handed everyone has to pitch in!"  ]

Share on Facebook