I am becoming a member of the STUBBORN OPTIMIST CLUB today and I am going to actively campaign to sign up my friends and family! Plus I am going to share this Brad Montague pearl of wisdom..."My guess it that the happiest people in the world aren’t doing something extraordinary or impossible. They’re just doing less of what makes the rest of us so tired." Here's to Global Joy!
This came on a morning where I said "lemons/lemonade" and my friend thanked me for the reminder. Thank you for expanding on that, and reminding us that the joy is always there, just waiting for acknowledgement.
You're so right. For many of us, the world is still a beautiful place. We just have to stop, notice it and share those precious moments and things with others. Thank you for this reminder.
Ha! Yes, after visiting so many other parts of the world recently it did give me a little itch to move! But … it also reaffirmed just how much power we all have to make whenever we are a little brighter
Yes to being joyful, even considering all the facts! Joy/good mood brings more joy. This post came to me right after watching a short (yes, while scrolling !) about joy being just as contagious as a bad/sad mood...very inspirational !
It's almost like watching kids get killed by gun violence or taken by ICE impacts happiness.
I don't disagree with you that we should all do our part in making the world a better place but the violence seen in our society today is a constant reminder that we are all unsafe.
Also the 'betting practices' that have infiltrated our culture is greatly harming our children.
I'm generally a half glass happy person almost ridiculously so. But I'm tired of the glossing over of the horrific violence happening to people around us.
Let us also all work to remove gambling and violence from our worlds. And to support caregivers young and old.
Georgia, I really appreciate you sharing this. You’re very right. There are horrific things happening in the world that absolutely affect how safe and supported people of any age feel. Please know I in now way aim to gloss over those realities or invite others to pretend they aren’t so. What I am trying to explore and learn how to do and have been trying to do with my writing (ever so clumsily) is figure out how to help us carry life even when those things are true.
And I do agree with you - something deeply connected to making this life more livable is caring for caregivers, supporting the creation of safer environments and reducing harm in every way we can.
Grateful for your heart for people and showing up in the ways you do.
So good, Brad. I live in a very small town, and community is everything here. I need to be more deliberate about being a part of it.
Thanks friend. Yes! I live in a small town also and it is a true education in how much we impact each other daily!
I am becoming a member of the STUBBORN OPTIMIST CLUB today and I am going to actively campaign to sign up my friends and family! Plus I am going to share this Brad Montague pearl of wisdom..."My guess it that the happiest people in the world aren’t doing something extraordinary or impossible. They’re just doing less of what makes the rest of us so tired." Here's to Global Joy!
Simplicity beckons.
Brad, thank you for always giving us things to really think about!
That means a lot, Marc. Thank you.
This came on a morning where I said "lemons/lemonade" and my friend thanked me for the reminder. Thank you for expanding on that, and reminding us that the joy is always there, just waiting for acknowledgement.
A true stubborn optimist! So happy this found you and even more happy you’re living this out right where you are
You're so right. For many of us, the world is still a beautiful place. We just have to stop, notice it and share those precious moments and things with others. Thank you for this reminder.
I love this, Brad. What confirmation to keep pressing on for the things that truly matter.
Thank you. Yes, we can create a better world for each other!
This is a great read Brad, and so reassuring that we don't have to move countries or continents!
Ha! Yes, after visiting so many other parts of the world recently it did give me a little itch to move! But … it also reaffirmed just how much power we all have to make whenever we are a little brighter
Thank you for sharing your stubborn optimism
"Maybe, instead of chasing happiness our work is to start creating spaces for it to thrive.
Spaces for each other to thrive.
Spaces where there’s enough space to pause and notice joy showing up in small, ordinary moments."
we’ve optimized for everything except ease
oh yes someone said the j word
Yes to being joyful, even considering all the facts! Joy/good mood brings more joy. This post came to me right after watching a short (yes, while scrolling !) about joy being just as contagious as a bad/sad mood...very inspirational !
Another contributing factor is ultra processed food. Dr. Mark Hyman's Food Fix speaks of this tragedy.
It's almost like watching kids get killed by gun violence or taken by ICE impacts happiness.
I don't disagree with you that we should all do our part in making the world a better place but the violence seen in our society today is a constant reminder that we are all unsafe.
Also the 'betting practices' that have infiltrated our culture is greatly harming our children.
I'm generally a half glass happy person almost ridiculously so. But I'm tired of the glossing over of the horrific violence happening to people around us.
Let us also all work to remove gambling and violence from our worlds. And to support caregivers young and old.
Georgia, I really appreciate you sharing this. You’re very right. There are horrific things happening in the world that absolutely affect how safe and supported people of any age feel. Please know I in now way aim to gloss over those realities or invite others to pretend they aren’t so. What I am trying to explore and learn how to do and have been trying to do with my writing (ever so clumsily) is figure out how to help us carry life even when those things are true.
And I do agree with you - something deeply connected to making this life more livable is caring for caregivers, supporting the creation of safer environments and reducing harm in every way we can.
Grateful for your heart for people and showing up in the ways you do.