Finding joy in my blog. Thank you my friends.

 

After Breakfast

Black marker on bond paper

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

I was once told by an art blog adviser never to talk
about joy because it's too corny. It might have been good
advice -- when? Five years ago? I'm not sure, but it
doesn't hold up now.  Those of us who have come through
the first couple of years of the pandemic alive, who are 

not in an area of severe flooding, or famine, or wild
hurricane damage, are well aware of the importance of
joy, and how hard it is to find. I'm sharing a post I wrote
on the subject in 2017.  It made me happy to find it today on
another hard day, and the drawing of one of my all time
favourite sources of joy -- a beautiful hotel room service

breakfast with my sweetheart.

"Joy (or happiness if you like) is most potent in the

heart of hard times.  When you lift your eyes up 

out of sorrow and look around, it's there waiting 

for you.  I think perhaps it's the force of nature

saying -- "Look! Look at me! I'm always here 

to make you happy."  

These are harsh times in many ways.  The news

is brutal.  Anxiety is rocketing, and instead of

crawling back under the covers, joy beckons us

to keep going, call a friend, and make our

voices heard, donate, volunteer and join

a vast joyous choir across this beautiful planet. 

What do you do to express your joy?  Do you paint, 

write letters to friends (or politicians), spend time 

with family, or go for a walk?  I'd love to hear your ideas."

What do I do? I come here and spend time with you. I 
call a dear friend or two, and I settle into read a book,
and dream big. 

Have figuring-out-the-joy day.