Musing on Joy…
A beautiful, yellow swallowtail butterfly stopped by my deck to commune with the flowers today. At first, I thought of grabbing my phone for a picture, but then I decided to breathe and be in the moment. The brilliant yellow was so vivid against the red and pink blooms. Floating gracefully from one flower to the next. I imagined myself seeing and feeling the experience from the butterfly perspective. I was aware of the warmth of the sun and the freedom of flight. The flowers welcomed the interaction. It was a celebration of the flowers and nectar. It was a light and joyful experience.
That feeling felt all-inclusive and magnetic to me. It was flowing so freely between the butterfly and the flowers in balance with nature’s order. The feeling was distinctly joyful and aligned me with my own awareness of being fully present in the moment.
I’m glad I resisted the urge to capture the moment in a photo. If I had been fumbling to get my phone and struggling and capture the perfect shot, I would have missed the moment to experience the joyfulness of connecting and imagining the celebration of presence between the butterfly and the flowers.
Without the photo/video element, I get to recreate the experience as I’m recalling and sharing the story right now. It would be an added bonus if I were sitting around a table sharing this with you in real life, because it might inspire you to recall some joyful energy of your own that you want to share and celebrate.
We all need a little bit more sharing and celebration. Let yourself sink into the joyful bits and fully experience the moment. Most importantly, share the little things with your friends and family. It’s not a waste of time to share joy and make connections, especially when you didn’t capture the perfect shot.
Stay curious, lean in for more joy with your animal friends. As always, hit reply and share a joyful exchange that you have experienced…or better yet, go share it with a friend in real life.
Spirit animal: Hummingbird
Consider the hummingbird as a power animal when you want to release bitterness and resentment and turn your attention to resilience, joyfulness and infinite possibilities.
These small and mighty fliers beat their wings in a figure 8 pattern symbolic of infinity. They fly thousands of miles in migratory patterns and take time for rest and recovery. Hummingbirds sleep in a state near-hibernation state so they don’t waste a single bit of energy.
Hummingbird invites us to be heart centered and see flashes of wonder in the world. Find joy in all the possibilities. Lean in and smell the flowers.
Business highlights…
1. The book will be 6 chapters about how our animal friends teach us about the basics for a good life. Things like presence and practice that I’m learning from my horse partner Chip. Not always easy lessons. Each chapter is a nod to an entire book I have on each topic. I’ll be excited to share other stories (with permission) as each topic unfolds into it’s own book with layers of learning and experiences.
2. The small group on Kindness inspired me. The next group will be on Saturday, September 13, from 9 am to noon. The topic is Resilience. We will gather onsite, here in Lebanon, Ohio. Registration includes materials and refreshments. Investment is $137 per person, limited to 4 participants. Here is a link to register: Sign Me Up! If you have a group of 4 who would like to gather and experience equine assisted learning, ask me about the discount for a custom group.
Check out this great local event!
Toby & Moby’s Doggie Scramble at the
Tri-County Golf Ranch on Sunday, September 21.
meet some adoptable dogs looking for new homes.
Personal notes…
*It’s amazing what I can learn in 10 minutes a day. After completing the July daily watercolor challenge, I’m inspired to consider what else I can level up with a short burst of focused time on a daily basis.
*The first batch of tomato sauce is in jars and am looking forward to a second harvest.
*I’m so grateful for the team of professionals including traditional medicine vets, acupuncture vet, chiropractor, and magnawave/bodywork practitioners that keep my animals in good health.
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