How to Live a Joyful Life – Or Not

Living a joyful life has always been one of my goals.

Are you living a joyful life?  Do you know someone who is?  You’ve seen those people – they absolutely love what they do, they always look like they’re having a good time, in love with life.

The desire to live a joyful life was probably somewhere behind my joining 8 Women Dream.  The wish to recapture riding joy and success was the motivation for my dream to become an accomplished equestrian.

So, how’s all that going for me?

Not well.

I try to live a joyful life; really, I do.

I think to myself: I’m going to savor each day . . .  even though I’m stuck at court dealing with some unreasonable kid.

I tell myself: I’m going to appreciate my family . . .  even when my Dad doesn’t return my “Happy Thanksgiving” call and forgets my kids’ birthdays.

I tell myself: I’m going to enjoy what I’m doing right now . . .  even when Nikki has his ears pinned (in horse language this means, “YOU are PISSING ME OFF!”) and is once again dragging me to the nearest patch of grass.

I tell myself: I will not  let my lack of friends get to me . . . even when I’m clearly excluded by the other mommies, without clear explanation (at least that I can discern).

I tell myself: I will not be overwhelmed and stressed out by my responsibilities . . . even when my house is a mess, I have court every single day, I’m behind on float e-mails, phone calls, and material acquisition, my animals are being trouble,  and my kids are arguing over who gets to pet which part of the dog (he’s a big dog – there’s plenty of petting room for all!!).   I am lucky to have all of those blessings.

I tell myself: I will not let the bone-chilling cold dampen my mood . . . even when I’m walking around my house, in the dark, with a flashlight, trying to remember where all our spigots are (we live on 4 acres)  in order to disconnect the hoses so they don’t freeze (how IS disconnecting the hose going to help with freezing?  I honestly don’t understand that), my fingers and toes are freezing and I’m thinking, “Thank God I don’t live in the Mid-West as I clearly don’t have enough body fat for this sort of task.”

Why, oh why can’t I be joyful?

I’ll get there . . . someday.  And, hopefully, the lesson I have scheduled on Wednesday at 11:00 will help.  Wish me luck!  And warm fingers and toes so I can feel my reins and stirrups.

Oh, and does anyone know any good (and reasonably priced) house / dog / horse sitters?

‘Til next week!

Danelle

(Danelle left 8 Women Dream in March of 2010 and is still working  on her dream is to become an accomplished equestrian)