The Joy of Small Things

I posted a question on my Facebook Page yesterday asking what had happened to make the day special.  I was very sad that not one person appears to have considered Wednesday special in any way whatsoever! 

Let's consider this for a moment... the average adult has around 60,000 separate thoughts in a 24 hour period.  These thoughts might be about the past or the future, or maybe concerning what is going on in the present moment - but did you know that approximately 85% of those thoughts will be the same thoughts we had yesterday, and the same thoughts we will have tomorrow?  It seems that the human brain has an habitual pattern of endlessly repeating the same thoughts, over and over again, with very little original thought.  No wonder we don't think our days are special!

Now... consider that all-important 15%.  What happened yesterday that was different, that caused you to think differently... see something differently... feel something good?  Maybe it was a smile from a stranger; somebody who let you out of a side junction when you had been waiting for ages; a nice comment from a friend or colleague; a cuddle with your dog - or even just that somebody made you a cup of tea when you really needed one!  Special things don't have to be huge or momentous; sometimes it's just the little things that make a difference to the day.

So come on, folks - what really did happen to make your Wednesday special...?

Joy is wherever you choose to find it

So apparently this is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. I'm not terribly sure who decided that was the case, but I am a firm believer that joy is wherever you choose to find it. Where do you choose to put your focus today?

Teachings of Dog - No.4

Daisy is our youngest member of staff. At just turned two, she is endearingly barmy, with a lightness of foot that always brings to mind a floating dandelion seed. Sometimes, when she is running, she will make a flying leap into the air, seemingly for no other reason than sheer joy of living.

I had to take her to the vet's on Wednesday for her annual injection; a procedure to which she took grave exception, nobly demonstrated when she was volubly sick all over the consulting table. I expected that when we arrived home she would be a bit quiet, but no - apart from a tendency to demand more cuddles, she was her own, tiny dancing self again.

Daisy's teachings:

• Live in the moment.
• Dance whenever you have the opportunity.
• Forgive all and bear no grudges.
• When you feel like you want a cuddle - ask.

Teachings of Dog - No.3

Theo the schnauzer has to be one of the most ebulliently joyful creatures with whom it has been my pleasure to share my life. His sheer boundless enthusiasm and wanton curiosity for just about anything in his universe is a lesson in itself. He'll be gratefully appreciative of any gift you care to give him (even if you personally wouldn't consider it a treat - raw potato or spinach accidentally dropped will be happily accepted) and gives in return his abundant happiness and pleasure in your company. He also knows everything there is to know about relaxation and makes the best relaxing noises I've ever heard... his favourite place to be is cuddled up on the sofa with as many of his friends (human and canine) as will fit.

Theo's teachings:

• Be grateful for everything you receive. Everything.
• Show your friends how much you appreciate being with them.
• Learn how to relax...
• Joy is an attitude of mind - it comes from within.
• Enthusiasm and curiosity make your world an amazing place to live.