Share the Joy linky #13
Will you choose JOY today?
The last couple of weeks have been a total whirlwind. We’ve been at The Barn for just over a week now and we’re still unpacking boxes, finding a few things that we need, but mostly unwrapping things that we haven’t touched for years. The brick-a-brack of life.
Why have we held on to them I wonder? Are we scared to throw them away in case we need them on that magical ‘one day’ in the future? Or just too busy rushing around to make a decision one way or the other?
JOY is a decision I’ve been too busy to make every day too.
It’s easy to be happy when things are running smoothly but moving house is stressful people and add to that a teething toddler who’s decided that napping is for wimps and boundaries are most definitely for pushing and you’ve got a recipe for a stressed out mama.
While I’ve been busy ticking tasks off my list, working to make this beautiful house a home for us and placating the Little Man, I’ve forgotten to stop and make a conscious decision to choose joy myself. To reflect on the amazing life I have and to smile even if I don’t have anything to smile about right at that moment (and let’s face it dusting cobwebs isn’t the most happy-making activity if you’re not Snow White!).
So I’m writing this today to remind myself. Because joy doesn’t just happen. We have to choose joy every day.
Right, on to the link up!
Thank you so much to everyone that joined in last week – we had a new record number of link ups! Reading all your joyful posts really brightens my day and I hope that sharing the joy raises your spirits too. (P.S. Head over to the fabulous Karin’s Embrace Happy for more happy-making advice.)
Don’t forget that all genres are welcome here – new posts or old favourites. Posts that might have made you laugh out loud, opened your heart, raised your spirits or just made you smile!
Sharing my joy
Each week, I’ll pick a favorite post and feature it on the following week’s Share the Joy link up (I’ve also made a where you’ll find all my favorites in one place).
Last week the lovely Hannah over at Mums Days shared a post about her visit to Newcastle Castle – such a lovely family day out – but that’s not the only reason why I chose to share it. You’ll have to pop over and have a look yourself at the amazing photos. And she even had a King leaving a comment on the post!
This week I’m sharing the first in a new series of running posts as I countdown to my first half marathon (eeek) including a fab giveaway with RunPhones plus my super easy peasy flaky pastry puffs which you really can whip up in minutes.
Let’s Share the Joy!
1) Link up posts that have brought you JOY – Writing them might have made you laugh out loud, opened your heart, raised your spirits or just made you smile. All genres are welcome, new posts or old favourites and as many links as you like!
2) Link back to me either by including the Share the Joy badge (below) or a text link back to this Share the Joy linky page in your own post.
3) Please comment on one of my posts and a few others. Let’s Share the JOY through commenting as well as through our posts!
Share the Joy will run for a whole week until the following week’s linky is open, so you’ll never be too late. And don’t forget to tweet me the url to your post using the hashtag #sharethejoylinky so I can retweet it.
Feel free to invite your friends to join in – JOY is always better when it’s shared!
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P.S. I hate to ask but if you haven’t already voted in this year’s Brilliance in Blogging Awards I’d really appreciate your vote. I’ve been nominated in the writer category but would love a vote in any of these categories – thank you so much!
You are right, sometimes we do have to choose joy rather than wait and let it come to us. Moving house is very stressful, we did it last year (and the year before!) with a little baby. I think lowering expectations help. There are still things we haven’t unpacked, oops.
Great to link up again x
Brighton Mama @ Our Seaside Baby recently posted…
Sometimes it is good to find the joy in small things too like today being sunny I was able to walk with my pushchair and enjoy some fresh air it was simple but it bought joy
xxx
MamaMuse
Rebecca Slinger recently posted…
I totally agree hon, it’s so easy to get bogged down in the day to day and forget that we can be happy if we choose to. Xx
Caroline (Becoming a SAHM) recently posted…Making time for me – 2 weeks in
That’s so true about the bric a brac of life – we’ve all got some and probably hold onto it for so many reasons too! Sounds like you’re making great progress making your new home, and yes dusting cobwebs can wait I’m sure
thanks for hosting x
Stephanie recently posted…Cycle Routes: March
Love that quote, very true x Thanks for hosting x
Thanks for hosting – it’s great to find new linkys!
We just put a lot of our boxes up in the loft when we moved in, might have been a mistake thinking back because they are all still there 5 years on and the loft is now full! doh! At least you’re getting you’re out of the way upfront!
Suzy Walker-Toye recently posted…Happy #Caturday – Squashed
Thanks so much for hosting this week, Michelle. You are so right in saying that we choose joy, it’s not something that just happens. It’s difficult, like you said, to find joy amidst the day-to-day chaos. But making the effort is half the battle. Hope all is well with the fam and the Barn!
Maria recently posted…
Thanks for hosting
Mummy Fever recently posted…The truth about colonic irrigation
I love that quote – always good to be reminded that joy is a conscious choice and often not an easy one to make – especially in the midst of unpacking boxes with a non-napping teething toddler! Hope this week will be a less stressful one for you. We moved four years ago and still have boxes in the garage that we’ve never unpacked – makes me wonder why we bothered moving them in the first place as clearly we don’t need the contents! Thanks for hosting!
Louise recently posted…From the mouths of babes #14
Another brilliant quote Michelle, and so true. I have a post in draft that I’m trying to finish about books that have changed my life… Hopefully I’ll link it up later xx
Mummy Tries recently posted…An Open Letter to Big Retailers
Thanks honey – it’s really pertinent for me right now! Your post sounds fabulous, I can’t wait to read it xx