Always Looking, and Always Finding Those Little Moments of Joy-#29

The March Slice of Life Challenge is hosted by Stacey and Ruth at their blog,

Two Writing Teachers.

          I have had a challenging eleven days.  I have hope and I look for the rainbow, but I admit it hasn’t been easy.  I know that there are others of you who are in the midst of your own life challenges, some perhaps little, some life changing.  I just thought it would be nice to share one more thing I do when the going is tough.  In addition to gathering all the support I can find, and finding positive things in my life as often as possible, I read quotes.  They make me think in new ways.  Rather than miring myself in a deep, blue funk (is that an old, old saying?) I read quotes.  I have one of those flip things that are something like ‘one a day’ quotes that someone gave me a long time ago, and of course I can go online.  There are only two more days in the challenge, and weary though we are, everyone wants to find that final bit of strength to carry through.  Ruth and Stacey have given a quote for inspiration nearly every day, like this recent one:  “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow. ” ― Mary Anne Radmacher

            Here are the quotes I found that speak to me right now.  I begin with part of the poem Thumbprint, by Eve Merriam in which she says “And out of my blood and my brain/I make my own interior weather,/my own sun and rain.”

                My granddaughter Imogene is not Imogene Joy, but she should be.  She continues to be the nicest and sweetest baby one could have (see posts here and here).  She is in awe of her crazy busy older sister and we continue to wonder what Imogene will be like, by the summer, as a one year old.

How could we not take joy from her?

She is already contemplative!

           Here are some other quotes, to inspire, to make you chuckle, to see that you can choose JOY instead of that other way: 

              My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate.   – Thornton Wilder

               Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.   – Robert Brault

               You had the power all along my dear.   – Glinda the Good Witch.

                Know that joy is rarer, more difficult, and more beautiful than sadness.  Once you      

                make this all-important discovery, you must embrace joy as a moral obligation.   –                  

                               Andre Gide

                Never miss an opportunity to see anything that is beautiful.   – Janet Hobson

Finally, Laughter is the best medicine!  Best wishes everyone!

              I am woman!  I am invincible!  I am pooped!  anonymous