“You can’t resist puddles, Mama.” He’s right.  I really can’t.  I see them and I have to jump in them.  I blame my youngest sister.  She is my puddle-jumping instigator.  We would go out after Summer storms, walk around the worms, and go puddle hunting.  I love the way the light bounces off of the water, the thrill of the splash, and all the giggles.  It’s still one of my favorite things to do, and I know I have her to thank.  She inspires the joy of puddle jumping for me and now for my son too.

Who inspires joy in your life?

I like to think of joy instigators as Joy Buddies – the folks who give us perspective, practice positive storytelling, and connect us with a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives. 

Being a Joy Buddy is a Joy Seed Practice.  Connection starts with a pause, valuing the person, creating safe space to share thoughts and feelings with authenticity and vulnerability, and encouraging our journeys with resilience and joy. 

This week two of my coworkers were Joy Buddies for me, insisting that I sign out from my email this weekend, and take a break.  They recognize that I am in need of rest and gave me a list of joy-filled ideas of things to do in lieu of email.  Here are some of their recommendations: Go for a photography playdate. Take myself out for lunch. Visit a library. Pick strawberries.

I signed out of my work email (even on my phone!) and went for a long walk around a lake.  The lake was too big to jump in, but as I hung my feet over the edge, I recognized that the walk was also a practice of being my own Joy Buddy.  I took a photo of my shoes and sent it to a friend – hoping it planted a Joy Seed in her day.  It reminded me of the puddle jumping shoes in the photo above and made me smile.

I encourage you to notice the Joy Buddies around you today.  Notice where you are being a Joy Buddy to yourself and others.  Noticing is part of the Joy Seed practice. 

Sharing gratitude can be an extension of the practice.  Maybe write someone a note of gratitude for being a Joy Buddy in your life.  Maybe send a text with a link to this post and a simple “Thinking of You.”  Maybe share a photo of a Joy Buddy on the Joy Work Facebook page.  However this idea of Joy Buddies meets you, I hope you extend yourself kindness and notice ways you are being a Joy Buddy to yourself today, and I thank you for being a Joy Buddy to me and this adventure with Joy Work, LLC! 

Journey on, Joy Buddies!