Today the incredible Jamie Ridler starts us off on our journey through The Next Chapter, with 'The Joy Diet', by Martha Beck.
To sign up, find the 'class schedule', if you will, and all the other cool things, like Jamie's intro vlog post, click the name of the book above and you will shoot right over there.
Now, hopefully, this book will not 'disappear' on me the way "Wreck This Journal' did. No, it has not returned to me. I don't remember burying it or throwing it away either...but ya never know...
This is my waving hello post to everyone.
I don't really know what to expect out of this journey. I do know I am very happy to be participating w Jamie and the rest of the group. I love these people...I'd say ladies, but we do have guys pop in now and then. :-)
I am in one of those shifting places in my life right now.
My boyfriend and I are in the midst of looking for a house together, because his house simply does not have enough room for my bookcases. Very important things, bookcases.
I am still opening and expanding my business.
I am still pushing forward with my writing.
My other art is stop and go at the moment--hey! I finished knitting the Venus de Merino last night (and I need to work on my soft doll sculpting techniques, but my dd loves that doll and I think she turned out rather nice--pics are forth coming).
I have a HUGE box of sock yarn sitting on my bed, while I await the arrival of my shipment of sock knitting books. I really had no idea it would be THAT much yarn...even though I'm the one who ordered it. I should be good on yarn for a bit, knock on wood.
The wrecking balm arrived today too and I used the first application to get rid of the one tattoo I don't like--which will eradicate the worst Teacher I ever had in my life -- well, she does rank right up there-- and an entire era of my life I'd much rather forget. Not all of it, because good did come from it. I still have my best friend and I do have my daughter to show for that time period.
My friend Kerry told me the other day that I am in nesting mode. I think it is more than that. But at least that makes me feel good about things.
So, what is the Joy Diet going to do for me? What's it going to do with me?
I can honestly say I hope it teaches me to learn what to do with being happy.
This is truly the happiest period in my life this lifetime. Yes, there are things that could still use work, but overall--I am so very happy. And I don't know how to deal with that.
I can deal w miserable. I can deal w unhappy. Life's storms are so much easier to navigate. You can always make it through the storm somehow. You batten down the hatches and you hold on. No one ever taught me how to be happy. No one ever showed me what it was like. No one ever showed me how to just be normal and content with all things.
In my current relationship I am so utterly blissed out because here is a man who gets me--someone I can talk to--someone who will let me shut down and go silent for a day because he knows I will talk to him at some point, even if he has to hold me down and pick on me til I do--someone who will let me babble about any and everything and still listen--someone I can honestly see myself living with and loving for the rest of my days. Every day will not be perfect and hunky dory, nor would I expect it to be. But there is the level baseline joy that we have when we are together that makes everything possible. It's that basic everything is so good vibe that underlines our lives right now, that, that is what I do not know what to do with. I am too used to waiting for the next hazard, the next tragedy, the next mishap...something somewhere....then I find out just how very much my best friend --and now partner-- and I really are alike--how sympatico our goals and the way we look at things and the things we want and the things we believe in.....there is a gigantic space difference between being best friends for years and being lovers--even with us, who were roommates for how long? There are places we never really went as friends, even as innocent at they are. We never talked about how we both want to green up our homes to make them more eco friendly and efficient. We never talked about how much we both love gardening....or talked in depth about riding motorcycles...never really delved deeply into our pasts, our relations, family interactions....any of that....and it is almost a whole new world between us. Every time we talk these days there is at least one ah ha moment where we click in places we never thought to talk about when we were merely friends. It's more than chemistry. It's more than just needing someone. This is the real deal. It's solid.
That scares me to death. And him too. With our pasts? lol
We both need to learn HOW to react to being happy.
So I guess that is why I am here. I am here to learn how to just sit back and enjoy being happy, without worrying about what comes next, or what shoe will drop, or what havoc is coming around the corner.
Plus, I can't think of a better group to do it w either.
Thanks for listening.
