Last updated on July 27th, 2014 at 10:19 pm
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 . . . Â 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)

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