SPEAKING JOYFULLY
Fire! Wish I’d Looked at the Instruction Book
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com I was living on my own in a one-bedroom apartment and acting grown-up. I’ve never really enjoyed cooking – although I’ve certainly embraced eating,...
What Happens to Broken, Battered, Barnacled Shells?
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com The shell’s beauty and design captured my attention - a work of art laying on the sandy white beach. Almost as big as my hand, the perfectly-shaped scallop with ridges of orange and white...
When Waves Hit Hard
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com When gently rolling in, the waves tickle the grainy sand with white foam as if fingers dancing on a keyboard. The thing about waves is – sometimes we’re caught off guard...
Heart-shaped Messages for Me – and You!
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Remember when we were young and used to exchange Valentines with our classmates? Sometimes we even shared those little boxes of heart-shaped sweetness that carried stamped messages on them. Today, around 8...
Heart Tugs to Chew On
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Did you know that some 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold in the United States for Valentine's Day? Have you ever squished, or maybe sampled, one of the goodies inside only to find it...
Are You Ghosting God?
Are You Ghosting God? ©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com When you hear the term “ghosting,” what does it mean to you? Dressing up for Halloween? Someone writing a book for someone more popular or prominent? When I first heard the term “ghosting” in its newest form, it...
Is Gratitude on the Table with the Turkey?
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com On Thanksgiving, most Americans will get full on a feast of food. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and that infamous green bean casserole are some of the favorites that will fill plates and stomachs. Pumpkin, apple and cherry...
Civility Starts with Two Words – Thank You
©Joy Dunlaphttps://joydunlap.com Society is rampant with a lack of civility and common courtesy these days. We can take action to help change that. What if we share a heartfelt “Thank You†today with everyone we encounter...
It’s Always “Trick or Treat” Time!
by Joy Dunlap - https://joydunlap.com Going door to door in my suburban neighborhood to “Trick or Treat†was a moving party – candy, laughter and friends found along the way. Putting on a costume and seeing other...
Where’s Your Happy Place?
Where is your “Happy Place?†When you think “Happy Place†do you think of your toes sinking in the sand while hearing the roar of the waves? Do you envision the sky painting a picture of...