When you look for joy, you find it.
[Ducky loves watching YouTube videos that feature dogs, so that's what she focuses on. 
]
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. ]
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! ]
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!. ]
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! ]
You can go through the motions. Or you can go all out.
Joyful Springers throw themselves into it. They know that everything is more fun when done with enthusiasm and gusto.
No matter what you’re doing today, do it as if it’s your favorite thing in the world. You’ll be surprised at not only how much more fun you’ll have but how much faster and efficiently you’ll get things done!
[Rudie and Jackie are back. Rudie, about three months old in this photo, is definitely throwing himself into his relationship with his big sister! ]
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.]
A line from Aesop’s fable, Hercules and the Wagoner, “Put your shoulder to the wheel,” has become a sort of unspoken mantra for our society. It has become like a teeny, invisible slave driver sitting on our shoulders, cracking the whip and bellowing, “Work harder. Work harder.”
Well, forget the wheel and that slave driver.
Joyful Springers put their shoulder to the ball. They understand that life isn’t supposed to be a push and a struggle. They know it’s supposed to flow and roll along … kind of like a ball.
Instead of manhandling your way through the day forcing yourself to stick to obligations and agendas, start listening to your inner guidance and what it tells you to do. That guidance will lead you to a balance of work and play that will transform pushing a wheel into having a ball.
[Mollie's back. This mixed breed girl takes her ball playing seriously. She uses it to help bring balance into the busy life of her momma, Donna, who's a life coach teaching people how to create fun and fulfilling lives. ]
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.]
You’ve heard of getting your groove on, right?
Joyful Springers get their bunny on. They know they can get in a hopping great mood just by acting as if they have an ear for only the good stuff in their world.
Getting your bunny on is a attitude of positive expectation and an energetic leap into the best parts of every day. It’s something you can choose to do right now (furry pink ears are optional).
[Mattie is back. Brenda's lovely lady was kind enough to "get her bunny on" and pose for photos on a recent sunny North Carolina day ... even though Mattie knows she doesn't need the ears to hop into great fun. ]
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