The Choice of Joy: Day 15, The Feeling

I have been writing about things, events and people who trigger in me a feeling of Joy. 

The triggers help.  And I intend to continue watching for those triggers and documenting them.  But today, my trigger seems to be thinking… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 14, Julia

Today my choice of Joy comes from looking at a photograph of my granddaughter Julia.  She is six years old.  I have two grandsons too, but today is for thinking of Julia.  She, her brother and parents live a half a continent… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 13, A Little Gift

I love giving gifts.  It is simply fun to think about the recipient, consider the best article for a fit with that person, make the purchase and sometimes even do the wrapping, making a pretty bow to finish off.

There… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 12, An Elephant Tear

I could not have been more than six when the traveling petting zoo came to town.  There were goats, calves and sheep, but the star attraction was the elephant.  Of course.  In the rural community few children had not encountered the… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 11, Uncertainty

Last night I watched a wonderful little film, “Dean Spanley” directed by Toa Fraser.  One of the oft-repeated lines in the film was:

Only the closed minded are certain.

I like that. I shall allow it to be at least… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 10, Saturdays

What is it about Saturdays that taps into feelings of Joy?

For much of my life, Monday through Friday, I have been on a schedule imposed from outside myself.  I was either a student, and had to follow the schedule of my… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 9, Good

I woke up this morning wanting to hug the world!

Where did that feeling come from?  Why did it happen?  Did I have some dopamine surge this morning?  Nope, not dopamine, that substance is more associated with anticipated reward. … Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 8, Sara!  Sara!

Today my choice of Joy is remembering my cousin Sara.  It is a bittersweet Joy.

Sara is dead.  Like an annual estimated 43,999 other Americans, she died from lack of health insurance leading to lack of health care access.  That’s abou… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 7, Chinese Jade

Today I am dusting the tabletops in my living room, not well, just flitting my feather duster over the surfaces.  A more conscientious housekeeper would cringe at my method of dust removal. 

I do my best… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 6

I choose Joy today that The Duchess is still with me.  The Duchess is my nearest and dearest companion, a German Shepherd mix canine, a rescue from running loose and homeless on Mulholland Dr. in Los Angeles. 

We… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 5

Today is Martin Luther King Day.

I grew up in Jena, Louisiana.  Yes, Jena, home of the “Jena Six.” 

In 2007, I was one of the first four whites to march in the local Martin… Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 4

Sunday.  Church day.  I still dress in “Sunday best,” even though church clothes have become more liberal.  Some wear jeans and t-shirts to church on Sunday now.  It is a cultural shift that I do not easily accept. … Read full post »

The Choice of Joy: Day 3

Not really in the mood to choose Joy today.   Not in a bad mood, just seems so much trouble.  Joy takes energy.  Joy requires effort.  Or so it seems today. 

I go in my kitchen to fix my… Read full post »

In the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, Joy is variously defined as “’the emotion evoked by well-being, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: Delight’; ‘the expression of exhibition of such emotion: Gaiety’; ‘a state of happiness or f… Read full post »

About twenty-five years ago, I was just finished with the end of an eighteen-year marriage.  The divorce consumed me with bitterness and self-pity. 

One day I was on one of my tirades about how terrible life was, and my sixteen-year-old son managed to interrupt me. 

"You know, Mom,"… Read full post »

There has been considerable controversy among media pundits as to whether vitriolic political discourse contributed to the Tuscon disaster. Some believe it so, others point to the mental instability of Loughner as the cause.   I submit that it is not an either/or.  It is both. 

W… Read full post »

SUMMER OCTAVES

                                                              poem © 2010 Susan Ory Powers

Summer’s heat prick… Read full post »

Re: The Gulf Oil Disaster

Limited Visions: There’s Plenty to Go Around

First:
Eleven human lives were lost.  There must be justice for these deaths.

Second:
There is no way to predict the environmental impact of this disaster on the ecology of the Gulf waters. After careful wildlife manag… Read full post »

So why is “populism” denigrated in media?   Language is divisive.  To have the word “good” we must also have an opposite, “bad” or "evil."  Paul in I Corinthians 13 in defining love (or charity, depending on your translation) explains more what/… Read full post »

Please read: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/opinion/11wed1.html

This is but one more situation that reflects the weakened moral values of our country.

While other countries adopted universal health care because it was the right and moral thing to do, this belief has had little mention in our natio… Read full post »

I strongly urge readers to this link:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2009/10/bill_moyers_michael_winship_in.html

Moyers traces the ties of Sen. Baucus and his staff to the private insurance industry.  Toward the end of this video, Moyers states: "Today, none dare call it treason. So why… Read full post »

Response to article at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcus-buckingham/whats-happening-to-womens_b_289511.html

Huffington Post, by Marcus Buckingham, 9/17/09

"What's Happening to Women's Happiness"

Big subject and not one for which I welcome a male telling me how to alter.

First, the stud… Read full post »

Notes on an American Fourth:

Well, Independence day has passed.  Sabrina (my canine companion)  and I celebrated with the Johnson family, Pat Johnson, et al, out in the country in the Fellowship community.  
    Fellowship is about 3 miles outside of Jena, Louisiana, with… Read full post »