Happy Monday, folks!
Raise your hand if you can’t believe that it is December 12th already!
Time is FLYING by too quickly!
2023 is right around the corner! That means…time to start making your “new year, new me” resolutions!
Also, welcome to post number 197 from yours truly!
Now accepting ideas for post number 200 since it is going to be another exciting milestone for me!
Post number 100 happened back on October 19, 2020! Seems like forever ago!
Anyhoo, stay tuned because I’m quite confident something fun will be happening!
Well, let’s get on with it.
If I keep sidetracking rather than writing this week’s actual post, you will blink, and it will be 2024!
Tis’ the season to feel joy in our hearts as we live out our lives on the daily.
Let’s take a quick exploration into the definition of joy.
Dictionary.com defines joy as the following:
NOUN
- A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
And during this most wonderful time of the year, it is important more than ever to feel these oh so important moments of happiness.
So, here are a few “joy bombs” of where I got to experience those moments of happiness that brought such joy and smiles to my life that I just had to share with all of you.
- A coworker of mine was in town from North Carolina for the week and we got to share cubicle office space and many laughs. It was a pure delight.
- The smiles and awestruck faces of the young kids who have been showing up to Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s production of Rudolph Jr. Each night, after the show, some of the characters including Rudolph, Hermey, Yukon Cornelius, and Santa come out to take pictures and the smiles and joy on the faces of these kids is just magical. And I can’t help but smile as I watch (and sing along) with the catchy tunes of this nostalgic piece of holiday tradition.
- Seeing Santa Claus riding on the fire truck through the roads of Ephrata that made me instantly feel like a kid again.
- The post-office lady at the Akron Post Office who immediately remembered me as the guy who had the passport envelope debacle a few weeks prior and wished me a very happy holiday.
- The young girls who were in the Post Office excitedly addressing their envelopes to Santa to place in the official North Pole mailbox.
- The family from Elizabethtown who have been trying to find an affirming, inclusive congregation that visited with our faith community on Sunday for worship.
- Enjoying a glass of wine and watching the season 34 finale of The Amazing Race with Marissa.
- Cuddles in the warmth of my blanket while episodes of Supermarket Sweep play in the background.
- Playing music with my Aunt Mary during our faith community’s worship service.
- Handing out hot chocolate outside Will and Mindy’s consignment shop in Manheim (Divine Consign) during First Thursday and having the opportunity to meet and chat with many individuals while also supporting small business.
- Throwing confetti in church as part of the children’s sermon to illustrate the best elements of a party as we await the birth of Jesus which is a definite reason to celebrate!
Where did you get to experience your happy in these past weeks?
Where will you hope to find joy in the weeks ahead?
How can you ensure that you are spreading joy to others around you in the weeks ahead?
Let those joy bombs explode with happiness for ALL.
Sprinkle sunshine always,
JP!
Mr. Sunshine Smiles 