Synapsis fire, eyes shine, dimples appear, joy spreads.

Frosting shots at Cupcake Jones

Never, until today, have I heard of frosting shots.  All I can say is, “WOW.”

Today is Treat Tuesday and our trio of treat seekers went to Cupcake Jones.  Had I any idea how delectable the frosting is on their cupcakes I would have had a shot of frosting. Alas, life is a journey and we learn as we live.  Which is to say I ordered a cupcake.  Mocha Almond Fudge.

The cupcake was pretty tasty, but the frosting was the real treat and I found myself eating it first, leaving a quarter of the cake behind entirely.

There’s a life lesson here.

Some treats are better than others. Some days are better than others. Some parts of the treat are better than others.  Some moments in the day are better than others. It’s perfectly ok to eat the frosting and leave the cake. Savor the best moments of the day and let go of the rest.

Holding on to moments, events, conversations (or cake) of the day that displease you puts unnecessary junk (calories) in your brain (on your hips) that does not serve you.

So what I’m really saying here is that everything I need to know about life I learned from a cupcake. You know, that kind of works for me.

“DailyGood is an inspiring quote, a related good-news story, and a simple action — delivered to your inbox for free by volunteers every day. Just a ripple a day, simply to spread the good.”

I love it.  Saturday’s good-news story starts out like this:

Bren Bataclan’s cheerful cartoon creatures have been exhibited in some high places: at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, in Logan International Airport and even on a Girl Scout patch.

But lately he’s been leaving his artwork outside unemployment offices and closed-down retail stores across the country bearing the note: “Everything is Going to Be Alright – This Painting is Yours to Take.”

Savor more; fix less. Laugh more; cry less. Anticipate positively more; anticapte negatively less. Nothing is more important than that you feel good. Just practice that and watch what happens.

- Esther Hicks

There was a time when I would have thought this to be a very selfish way to live. Now I know that this is actually a very generous way to live.

How much more do we give when we’re happy, rather than sad?  When we are happy and feeling good we listen more, help more, love more, laugh more and smile more–all of which benefits others as well as ourselves.  We do the world a great service by being joyful in it.

Spicy, dark drinking chocolate

Sitting on a park bench reading the underlined passages in my copy of Ask And It Is Given, I was reminded of the power of feeling good. “There is no greater gift you can give than your own happiness.”

Esther and Jerry go on to say that when we are happy, everyone around us benefits (which is now scientifically proven by Fowler and Christakis).

I don’t know about you, but when I think happiness, chocolate is almost sure to follow. This is an opportune time to practice seizing the moment.

In the interest of happiness and the greater good for all, I quickly texted my two chocolate-loving co-workers and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves sitting at Cacao.

Cacao is a heavenly place.  It’s nirvana smack-dab in the middle of Portland, Oregon. And we three, sipping, savoring our drinkable chocolate were elevated to levels of joy untold.  The spicy dark chocolate with a touch of cayenne is my favorite.  I pledge my undying love to it.

We were all so thrilled with ourselves and the liquid loveliness before us that we decided we should do something fabulous every single week. Tuesdays are a good day for fabulousness, we decided. “Treat Tuesdays,” affirmed Kristin. And so it is.

From now until forever we are celebrating Treat Tuesdays with something marvelous. I highly recommend you join us.

Tall red grass

Coming in to work this morning I noticed, maybe for the first time, a planter full of tall red grass encircled by bright yellow marigolds.

The sky is now blue and the air warm, but this morning was grey and crisp and a cool wind tossed the air back and forth like a kitten with a ball. It was a brief and refreshing reminder that fall is on its way.

In the breezy early hours the tall, red, wheat-like grass danced around so elegantly it called for an audience. It’s Monday, however, and most urbanites are hurrying off to begin their work week, too busy too stop and watch the long lean leaves sway to a silent song.

 I was unusually early this morning, and in no hurry at all. So the red grass had an adoring audience of one. As I stood admiring the beauty and grace before me I felt so fortunate. I quietly thanked the plants for their loveliness, the city planner for the container, the landscaper for the combination of colors and heights, and coordinated set of circumstances that brought me to that moment in time.

 Life truly is grand.

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Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

- Dr. Howard Thurman

Reminds me of that song: “what the world…needs now…is love…sweet love”.  Classic.

Coming alive.  Love.  Same, same.

Building Sand Castles

Watching my children work together to build a sand castle this weekend filled me with such hope.  Focused on a joint vision, the dynamics between them reflected partnership and a near divine level of giving–both to each other and the project at hand.

Where often there is competition between them, magic bubbled up so iridescent and shiny I felt I could reach out and touch it.

If this wonderful mix of creation and love can be felt from two children working together to build a castle made of sand, imagine the mountains that can be moved when hundreds or thousands of passionate people join their hands, heads and hearts.  What a world we could build if we collectively focused on everything we want to create (healthy and educated people, clean water and air, nutritious food, abundance and joy) instead of all the things we want to avoid (crime, disease, pollution, lack, pain and suffering).

What a world, indeed.

So, what do you say?  Shall we get some brightly colored buckets and a few shovels and get to work?

Joy Quote

Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.   – Erma Bombeck

It’s Friday.  Not that that should matter so much if we’re living in the moment; but for those of us who are still climbing the slippery slopes of enlightenment it serves as a reminder.

Say it with me joyous people: Today I will enjoy each and every moment.  Especially the ones that involve chocolate.

When I’ve needed nudging, this site has served as a reminder of my commitment to purposely look for and feel the joy that is available at every moment.  It’s my touchstone.

Today, and everyday, I am grateful for this gift I have given myself.

Happy birthday.  …And many more.