Island of Misfit Joys

Book excerpt: Island of Misfit Joys contains stories of inspiration, making mistakes, finding happiness as well as bringing to light anecdotes of deliberate and unexpected kindness. Many times these random encounters have elements of untapped joy, everyday life, vulnerability, and our reactions. Ravi Zacharias stated, "None of us escapes life without some ecstasy and heartache." When you see a baby jumping for joy, splashing water during a bath, or smiling from a hug you just gave them, we rarely question their excitement and enjoy the moment of their ebullient happiness. Not everything fits together perfectly. Sometimes a misfit experience turns into an unexpected joy! As adults, I find that we often feel guilty, (or are made to feel guilty) if we express our own joy. God has given each of us so many gifts, so that we can choose to build each other up, to keep these gifts latent, or to bring people to their knees with unkind words. I hope your day is a happy one. Brené Brown reminds us, "Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change." This book is also about what I observe, react to, and reflect on-often in complete awe. I also hope this helps you to see that there is much good in the world. We just have to look around us, and we have the power to make positive, impactful changes in our immediate surroundings and in bigger circles, too. What actions do you take when no one is looking? Alison McGhee said, "Every moment of every day you can bring people down or you can lift them up-you, one small person-by the energy you project. We choose what we want our lives to mean, and what we want to leave behind. We have the power to write our own stories. Remember that." It is in this spirit that these stories of inspiration are shared. I feel a bit overwhelmed by people who express that I am "positive." Someone asked me "What are you on?" I just realize that I have so much time left, people are generally good, some will not like you no matter what you do, and life is just one big sitcom, so laugh a little or laugh a lot. Also, I have faced my own mortality a few times, and I am continuing to see that many times you and I are, metaphorically speaking, given a bundle of Christmas lights to untangle. You unravel the lights, plug them into some good power source, and voila, you have some magic before your eyes. Or, you have a new source of power that you just plugged into, and the lights suddenly short out. Now, you have to find a new way to see the lights again. I also have witnessed enough horrible and miraculous life experiences that made me strongly consider focusing more on the miraculous, yet everyday experiences and how we can work toward achieving happiness, even if what you thought might happen did not fit. Often what we did not see fitting in our own lives often brings us unintended joy!