Every Day Has Its Joy

Have you noticed smiles are hard to find these days?

The days are filled with bad economic news, depressing housing numbers and hopeless faces in the crowd. When the phone rings it's either someone hawking something you don't need, or someone wanting payment for something you needed but could not afford. Ahh, life can be an uphill and seemingly unending trek some years.

So I've decided to become a joy counter. yep, my job involves solving other peoples' problems day in and day out. Sometimes I lose track of the joy in my own life. So come with me on today's joy counting tally:
I slept in an extra hour. Sometimes you need to honor the need for more sleep. Mission accomplished.

I received a compliment for a job well done by one of my most exacting clients (and the promise of future business).

I received a call from my son and shared his excitement about an upcoming move in his life. Isn't one of life's greatest gifts watching our children's lives unfold?

I received an unexpected box of candy from an appreciative business associate. I decided to honor my sweet tooth too. It was so good I'll have to walk an extra mile in the morning.

I received a lunch invitation from an old friend who is in town for a few days. I'm looking forward to a leisurely Friday afternoon lunch with a true foodie. I'm sure the food and company will be memorable.

I was the recipient of an random act of kindness: a pedestrian watched as I paralleled parked and made hand signals as I maneuvered into a very tight space. OK, I was a little suspicious at first, it's LA and we have our share of characters to avoid. Upon exiting my car I thanked him, and he told me I had a screw in my tire--he heard the thumping sound as I was parking. The tire is patched and back on the car thanks to the kindness of a stranger. Thanks to him I won't be stranded on the freeways of LA waiting for a tow truck.

Isn't it better to focus on the joy of each day instead of the worries and troubles? They will show up, but we don't need to devote our days to them. I know there was a lightness in my being and a smile on my lips as I recalled the joys of this individual day.

There is joy in the journey along with the flat tires and other occasional bumps in the road.