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Columns Cyndee Peters Pocket for your Joy!
Columns Cyndee Peters Pocket for your Joy!
| Pocket for your Joy! |
| Written by Cyndee Peters |
| Sunday, 01 March 2009 20:57 |
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Do you have one? I mean we all have a space or compartment for all the wrongs and injustices that plague us. Hey, some even take time to catalogue and alphabetize it. But what about a place for all the good stuff that happens? Or does it, the good stuff that is, just seem to float right on by, eluding us or even fleeing from us because we take little or no time to savor or appreciate it? Perhaps it’s because we have no place for it? I know what I am talking about because I have, more than one once, misplaced my own joy-pocket. I have had days when all the good and goodness that has come my way is nowhere to be found. Suddenly nothing I have done is worth a hoot. We all have these days. It’s called being human. You go to bed one night, everything is fine and you wake up the next morning on another planet. During the night someone, something has just up and rearranged your entire life. I'm told almost daily, as are most of us, something good about my self. Don’t deny it; sometimes we even say it to ourselves. “U go girl” or “Wow-check it out!” or “All right now”, etc. Yes, they do just pop right out of our own mouths, don’t they? And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It is permitted to pat one’s own self on the back. Yet somehow in those moments, I can’t seem to remember a single good moment or deed. As life-coach/author Iyanla Vanzant so eloquently put it, “my brain has gone to the mall”. How is it then that some days, and for others entire lifetimes, we only hear or adhere to the negative? And not just from others; oh no, sometimes we dish it up and out on ourselves. Why? If I knew the answer to that one I could retire today and watch my bank balance grow. But here’s one thing I do know. You can stop that voice, that behavior at any time, anywhere. It requires just one simple thing. STOP DOING IT! Yep. I know what you’re thinking: “Cyndee is playing Dr. Phil”. Nope! When my three sisters and I we were growing up my mom used to say: “If you can’t find something good to say about somebody, then don’t say anything at all”. By the way, thanks mom---and I will add a few words to her sound advice…that also includes yourself! Even if we’d like to hand that job over to someone else, it is our job and nobody else’s. We are responsible for acquiring and maintaining our own joy, as is having that pocket I was talking about awhile ago. Put those moments that make you feel truly alive in your joy-pocket. The smiles that loved-ones, even perfect strangers have given you. Your own private victories, insights, realizations that nobody but you know about, stuff them down deep. Sunsets that knocked your socks off, the feeling you get when a cool gentle breeze sweeps over your cheeks, gratitude for those who touch your life and put up with you, just the way you are. Those who tell you the truth about yourself (God bless them). Puppies, smiling babies, the smell of freshly-baked bread, your favorite song, whatever it is… grab on to it with both hands and put in your joy-pocket! Need I point out that these treasured memories are right there in your joy-pocket, every minute of every day? When needed all you have to do is reach in and take one out. And who knows maybe the “good stuff” you do, just might very well end up in someone else’s joy-pocket? In closing, let me share something with you I heard someone say more than 25 year ago. It was at my Aunt Flo’s church in Brooklyn, New York. My aunt is the only Baptist in our family of, straight out of the womb, Methodists. My grandmother always lamented over her fall from grace saying it was because they let my aunt move to New York. My Aunt Flo told me it was the only good church within walking distant of her apartment. Anyway…the choir in my aunt’s church rocked, so I loved to go there. On this particular Sunday, the music was amazing but the sermon was not quite up to par so I found myself drifting. But I jerked to attention when Pastor Barnes leaned over the pulpit and delivered these words. “If you don’t watch out some people will steal your joy”! You might want to keep that in mind. Remember: cool is the rule,  Cyndee Peters PS: If you have pocket, I bet you it's too small! Makes Me Happy lyrics: Cyndee Peters music Ida Sandlund DeJaRi Music all rights worldwide Life gives out assignments To one and all each day Ours to keep and treasure Even throw away Sometimes it’s all so easy Still everything has a price That’s just life’s way of giving us A bit of free advice Chorus Baby’s laughter, butterflies Endless stars up in the sky Just to know that someone loves me Keeps me grateful till I die The wind upon face Somebody singing Amazing Grace Renews my strength, gives me hope Makes me happy A million stories out there Choices we have made Some lead us thru the great unknown Others seal our fate Yes at times it’s all so easy There’s really no mystery What’s good is where it’s always been Waiting on you and me Chorus Bridge: We can live we can learn We can even crash and burn Always up to us to find What’s faithful till the end of time Chorus From my latest cd Music for little hearts & those who love them This article is the property of Cyndee Peters AB, Stockholm, Sweden and may not be used or duplicated without the expressed permission of the author. www.cyndeepeters.com Feb.2009
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All the best... / Vivian
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