Today’s card is one of my Zentangles. This is one of my zendalalas (Zentangle in a mandala form). I had so much fun doing this. Now when I come back to it, I love it still.
If this were a Tarot card, it would be the Four of Wands. I see it as a coming together of disparate things creating something of beauty.
Yesterday, Leonie Dawson said this on one of her Instagram photos, “When I really sit with it, I see how my life is an opportunity to experience beautiful places and make art. Beauty is everywhere… We gotta be the sentinels that watch for it, seek it, let it permeate our being.”
Shiver. I felt that statement down to my bones, y’all. Down to my marrow. It felt like one of those Moments From God (reverberating voice). As if the Universe had pulled me to that picture at that time to experience the word of my Deities.
This wasn’t a whisper. It was a clarion call to action. I feel that way about joy. We must watch for it, seek it, let it permeate our beings. Yes, Leonie, yes, yes, yes.
So how will you watch for beauty today? How will you seek joy? Will it come on a bright red bird’s wing? The chocolate-coated smile of a child? A wave from a driver you’ve never met telling you to come ahead? A snail leaving a shimmering silvery trail across your sidewalk? A crumpled up newspaper you pick up and throw away so someone else doesn’t have to do it?
What will you do today to make beauty and joy happen in your world even if only for three minutes? 180 seconds of joy. 180 seconds of beauty.
I know we can do this. I know the JoyPatrolAlert members will spread the word. Grab your 180 seconds. Then share the message with one other person. Tell them to seek joy for 180 seconds then pass it on.
The key here? The trick? The Secret?
Joy accumulates. It piles up. Each tiny piece builds until it crowds out negative thought. We are retraining our brains to seek joy instead of dwell on the bad. Because the bad exists. We are just rewiring our hearts to seek joy, y’all.
Are you with me?
Zendala #31, Arwen Lynch, August 2012
Seek joy,y’all. Pass it on.
Oh, I think I can manage way more than 180 seconds of joy! I meditated for over half an hour this morning, and I’ve spent at least five minutes hugging and kissing my little boy, and a minute at least doing the same for my Dear One 🙂 Does that count as sharing the joy seeking?
Grin, cheater! When you have a precious child like yours, you get joy every time he laughs or smiles. 😀 And yes, that totally counts. Hugs!
🙂 Hugs back atcha!
My 3 minutes of joy today was eating lemon cheesecake – one of the treats I enjoy only on a Saturday, savouring every delicious creamy morsel! 🙂
What a fun thing to do, Susan. I love that you savoured it. 😀 That’s the best way, right?!
I’d say my daughter brought me way more than 180 seconds yesterday 🙂
Rah for children. My stepson lives with me and he brings me joy. He’s 23. LOL
That’s a beautiful quote and a very beautiful Zendala, Arwen. I used to do Doodles and Zentangles myself. Unfortunately job and kid don’t leave me a lot of time anymore but you reminded me I should probably take the time again. I’ve already had a lot more than 180 secs of beauty and joy spending the morning with my son and my unborn daughter (?) kicking around in my belly. 😉
Congrats on the new life, Satu. How amazing to feel that. I was never so blessed so it thrills me to hear about it. 😀
This is such a great idea! 3 minutes of joy. Perhaps cooking or going for a walk or being in silence?
Amy, all of those are great. I love walking and do walking meditations. 😀
I love using numbers to quantify a goal. 180 seconds of joy. One of the joys of my life is seeing a student who has struggled, get it. High school math can be daunting but when the student understands, the joy in their face warms my soul. Thanks for the post and the new number.
Sheila, how awesome is that. I struggled with math but had a great high school math teacher who really cared. She was awesome.
Arwen, Joy today includes giant snowflakes making me feel like I am inside a snow globe!
You’ve inspired me! I love zentangles and haven’t done one in a while. I think it’s time 🙂
Love your Zentangle. I just came across those just recently and have to try my hand at that soon.
My 180 seconds of joy today were spent… 20 minutes meditation, 1/2 hour doing intuitive painting (new class) and listening to my son sing while he was cooking his pancakes for breakfast. 🙂