SPEAKING JOYFULLY
22 Ways to Shake Off Sameness
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com “It’s Groundhog Day all over again,” said a friend about experiencing sameness when asked about her weekend. Her reference to the popular Bill Murray movie has a ring of understanding for many mired in monotony. Breakfast....
Gutter Life or Good Life?
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com “Thump.” The loud noise in the sunroom sounded as if a branch or a bird slammed into a window, or a mechanical device turned on, but as it happened again and again, the squirrel became the suspect. A couple of weeks prior, a...
My Friend Faced Fear and Cancer with Faith and Bravery
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com My friend's story is one of bravery and belief. Yes, it's a story about how she dealt with cancer, but it's more than that. It's about facing fear, relying on faith and holding onto hope in a time of uncertainty. In 2018, I wrote...
SOS Sighted – Rescue Inbound
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com The SOS by three mariners stuck on a tiny island caught the attention of a US Air Force pilot and crew searching for the lost boaters. This recent good news story about a successful search and rescue brought smiles to people around...
Is a Child (and Adult) Delight Diminishing?
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Like twinkling stars, fireflies light up night skies in backyards, woods, and fields creating a world of enchantment. Flashes of light in the wooded area behind our house a few weeks ago both excited and soothed me. Just as comfort...
What Scars Show Us
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com The scar awakened memories. Yet, rarely do I think of it these days. Perhaps an ache from exercise, a twinge from how I slept, or a stumble drew my attention back to the light-colored mark across my kneecap. Staring at the scar took...
How to Bloom Well in Life
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com A blooming flower garden can brighten even dark days. While I delight in the daisies, roses and colorful annuals that grow in my yard, in reality, my expertise is limited. What then has helped my garden flourish? Interestingly...
15 More Ways to Enjoy Christmas in July
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com The spirit of Christmas, the truth of Christmas, and the joy of Christmas can be experienced every day. Last year, the post I wrote called 12 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in July caught the attention of many and still continues to...
Stuck In Between?
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Stuck in between? Sounds like a mammogram, right? Uncomfortable. Painful. Worrisome. Rarely are “in-betweens” in life satisfying. In fact, they’re often emotional minefields we can’t wait to escape. Right now, some of us are...
Snake Encounter Stirs Watchful Walking
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com While walking on a peaceful trail this week, I came close to stepping on a snake. A poisonous one. That unexpected sighting brought me to a full stop! Only a few steps further…and I would have inadvertently put my foot right on its...