One of my favorite new "little books" is Finding Joy: 75 Ways to Free Your Spirit and Dance with Life.  It was published by Hallmark Books in 1999 and what makes it a gem to read are the simple, but powerful ideas the author shares.  We live two blocks from a used books store and almost every week I do what my wife calls a walkthroughvisit at the end of one of our evening exercise walks.  It has to be fast for I am usually pretty sweaty and she’s not too happy that I’ve stopped in the book store again.

All of us need to concentrate more on discovering the power of joy and the author, Charlotte Kasl, who is a psychologist, healer and Quaker, writes from the heart.  Listen to the first paragraph….

“Joy has the power to open our hearts, remove fear, instill hope, and foster healing.  Joy leads us to wisdom because it connects us to all we are – our mind, heart, power and spirit.  Joy stimulates our immune system, increases our energy, and gives us mental clarity.  It helps heighten our level of consciousness so we can more readily tap our inner wisdom.  Instead of agonizing over decisions, we become more able to simply listen within and know what to do.”
   

Today, still feeling my head cold, I reminded myself to be alert for the joy that would discover me today – and it did in unexpected ways.     

MaryBeth and I just came back from a great trip to Brazil where we participated in the South American Wellness Conference with my boss Dr. Georgia Thomas.  We had a wonderful time sharing our wellness experience and gaining new wellness ideas from our Brazilian friends.  MaryBeth and I immediately came down with a cold and today its got me making an effort to heal.

Giving time to heal is hard for some of us where slowing down is not a natural state.  But since my prostate cancer diagnosis last year I have a much stronger connection between my body-mind-soul and practice listening better to my "whole needs".  Today you will find me resting, reading, drinking lots of water and echinacea hot tea. 

How do I practice listening better to my whole needs?  Throughout my day I look for short spaces of time where I can re-ground myself to me.  It might be noticing a special shaped cloud as I wait at a red light on my scooter or holding one of the rocks I've collected from trips over the years scattered throughout my office.  What I have learned is that it does not take long, but it takes a focus or mindfulness on what's inside of me. 

Be Well
billbaun