The joy of joy

Scatter joy.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every week, every day, has its ups and downs, but I've noticed a great deal of emphasis on joy in many of the blogs I've been reading this week.

Jan at awake is good wrote a post this week entitled "Writing yourself home" where she's asking her readers to join her in beginning a joy journal to help document the little joys in every day. Now, I've tried keeping journals, but have never been successful at it. The closest I've come is this blog.

But as I read her description of a joy journal, I realized I could do this. In fact, I try to do it here as often as possible. I can keep a journal of things, big and small, that have brought me joy on any given day. Some days it may be something very small, but every day there is something that gives me joy. A picture, a quote, a thought, hearing an old song. If you'd like to join in, or just follow along, simply click on the links in the paragraph above. Jan's blog is filled with insight, wise words and soothing images. I know Jan would love to hear your thoughts!

Silke at Metamorphosis is spreading joy, too. In a post this week she's showing her appreciation by having a giveaway (winners will be announced early next week). She a relatively new blogger who just recently discovered that she's a talented mixed media artist! To thank all the people who have supported her in this new journey, she'll be giving away two 5 x 7 archival quality prints of two of her favorite paintings. You should visit her beautiful blog, which is scattered with recipes, her art and lovely photos of her beloved Savannah, Georgia and native Germany. I know she'd love to meet you!

Here are some quotes I found today that gave me joy:

. . . joy and sorrow are inseparable. . .
together they come
and when one sits alone with you. . .
remember
that the other is asleep upon your bed.
~ Kahlil Gibran

We could never learn to be brave
and patient
if there were only joy in the world.
~ Helen Keller

Grief can take care of itself,
but to get the full value of joy
you must have somebody to divide it with.
~ Mark Twain

Find a place inside where there's joy,
and the joy will burn out the pain.
~ Joseph Campbell

We need Joy as we need air
We need Love as we need water
We need each other as we need the earth we share
~ Maya Angelou

Joy is not in things,
it is in us.
~ Richard Wagner

. . . keep knocking,
and the Joy inside will eventually open a window
and look to see who's there.
~ Rumi

One cannot consent to creep
when one has an impulse to soar.
~ Helen Keller