We often find what we're looking for.

Magical magic wands

My daughter and I each have magic wands. I bought them for us because these particular wands make a neat sound and have a flashing light on the tip when you push the little button. They’re so much fun to play with!

I thought it would be even more magical if we decorated our wands. Giddy with excitement,  Taryn and I pulled out all the colored Sharpies we could find and began prepping our creation station.  We drew drafts on paper first, then took pen to wand.

Taryn’s has vines and flowers and poka dots. Which is as playful and bold as she is.

My design is intended to remind me, with or without magic, that everything is possible.  Especially if I believe it is.

Row houses on Glisan

One of my new year’s resolutions is to “be awake to beauty and aware of magnificence.”

On an errand for work, I happened upon on opportunity to fulfill that resolution: this fabulous set of row houses, painted in vibrant colors.  I drove around the block twice looking for a place to pull over and take a photo.

Even on a gray, rainy Portland day, these houses popped from the obvious pride and care with which they were painted. I took a few photos and just stood for several minutes soaking in the beauty.  A passer-by seeing me with camera in hand commented, “I work across the street and see people taking pictures of those houses all the time.”

It’s no wonder these houses bring joy to so many.  The collective display is truly magnificent.  Vibrant, happy colors applied in such detailed and caring fashion. It makes me smile.  And apparently many others.

Looking for a good laugh? Check out this happy happy baby and you’ll find yourself giggling in no time.

Kudos to my friend Kristin for introducing this little bit o joy to me.

Doubt your doubts -Joe Batten

Typically I prefer to relate to things in positive terms rather than negative ones, but this quote by Joe Batten speaks to me.

Here’s what dictionary.com says about the definition of doubt:

1. to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
2. to distrust.
3. to fear; be apprehensive about.

Many new thought leaders tell us that thoughts are things, and with our thoughts we create our world. They also tell us that every good thing is available to us at every moment–unless we, ourselves, disallow it.

How many good things, I wonder, have I not allowed into my life because I hesitated to believe they were possible for me.

Next time I shun a compliment or shy away from an opportunity due to that little doubting voice in my head I’ll take Joe’s advice and doubt my doubts, rather than doubting myself.

365Awesome.com

One fine fall day, after getting a little hyped up on caffeine, eating bagels, finding pennies in the street and discussing really cool things, Kristin Flickinger and I came up with the brilliant (and totally awesome) idea to start 365 Awesome! Then we asked our dear friend, Celia Wheeler to join in the fun and since January 1 we’ve been cataloging awesome people, places, organizations and more–daily.

In roughly 200 words or less each and every day we give you a quick hit of awesomeness.  For instance:

• There’s a light and portable hydro pack that turns contaminated water into clean and flavored drinking water–bunches are going to Haiti right now
• A young genius from India has invented a SixthSense device that could change everything
• There’s a really cool organization in Idaho that offers food twice a week to “anyone who is hungry, without question”
• The stain removing power of ordinary ice cubes
• One of the nation’s first socially responsible mortgage brokers
• and more…

So, if you’d like to add a little juice to your day check out 365Awesome!, where we serve up awesomeness daily.

Awesome.  Totally.

Joy Tattoo

As I was talking to a new co-worker today, I spied a tattoo on her wrist.  Not just any tattoo–a joy tattoo.

And not only is it a joy tattoo, it’s a pretty, swirly, joy tattoo.

Gotta admit, I was slightly envious.

Maybe it’s a phase I’m going through. I’ve been feeling the desire to surround myself with positive words and affirmations. I put up colorful squares in my office affirming ‘yes’, ‘love your life’, ‘joy’, ‘begin’.  I’ve got a pendant declaring ’settle for more’, and one that says ‘divine’. I’ve got a simple, silver band I can hardly stand to take off my finger that reminds me ‘everything is possible’.  And when I saw Tab’s tattoo today I just got giddy. She has a friend (or is it a sister?) with a tattoo that says ‘believe’ in the same writing.  Wow. How cool is that?

One of my friends thinks it’s a bit much–me with the positive word fixation.  But to be perfectly honest, it makes me feel better. Every time I read one of the cards or pieces of jewelry saying yes to joy and possibility, those positive thoughts reverberate in my mind. The more I see / read /feel it, the more I like it and the more I crave it.

Hello, my name is Michele Larsen and I’m a joy addict. I habitually smile and laugh. And I even squeal with delight on occasion. If you come near me you’re likely to get hugged.

Seriously.

Hugs, anyone?

Flower bud, by Hagit

The new year always gets me thinking about creating new possibilities, starting fresh and thinking big.  I began preparing a couple days before the end of the year — cleaning out a few things, packing up old files and storing them, gathering items to give to Goodwill.

This is the first time I’ve seen the surface of my desk in months and months. I actually put away clothes from the basket that I’ve been adding to and pulling from for at least 6 weeks. And the little purple duffel bag I took to the beach back in August finally got emptied and off my bedroom floor. As I look around at the open spaces I’ve created I feel like the ground has been cleared for a fresh new crop of goodness to rise up into my life. I think I may even be breathing deeper.

Pondering this once-a-year motivation, it occurs to me that I could look at each and ever day the same way.  Every morning, after all, is a fresh start, a new opportunity to begin again and make the choices that support my life goals.

Happy new year!  And happy new day!

Bus shelter in Vancouver, WA

Peace is in the air.  Or at least it seems to be.  I keep seeing signs of it everywhere.

A house in our neighborhood has a big peace sign on the lawn made with Christmas lights, a notice for the Let’s Think Peace art show came across Twitter from YES Magazine, and today I saw this bus shelter painted for peace.  These are just the highlights–I’ve seen peace sign rings, bumper stickers, t-shirts…

It’s kind of nice, the way the concept of being kind to each other seems to be top of mind.  It reminds me a little of a targeted ad campaign the way it shows up around every corner, but in a good way.  Which gives me a great idea: what if some wonderful foundation (anyone out there know Bill or Melinda Gates?) spent a few million on an ad campaign promoting peace and kindness across the nation?

I can see it now.  A billboard simply stating, “Be Kind”, a newspaper ad in the life section with smiling children of different races hugging or holding hands, Facebook ads asking, “How many times have you said I Love You today?”, the Google homepage with peace signs in the o’s, radio stations running 15- and 30-second spots with a kind warm voice reading a variety of quotations on peace, love and happiness, TV commercials with slide shows of joyous images.

Wouldn’t that be grand?

What might happen if we suddenly became bombarded with messages of kindness and hope, rather than fear and despair?  Would creating top of mind awareness for peace and kindness result in 5 more friendly acts per person per day? Or 2? Or 10? And what would the ripple effect of that be?  Less crime? More community?  It’s difficult to know for sure.  But I sure would like to find out.

Happy, peaceful holidays to you all.

Love the moment

Love the moment,
and the energy of that moment
will spread beyond all boundaries.

-Corita Kent

Waitress Lynn Willard, MSNBC video

Here’s a great story from MSNBC that came across my inbox via Ode Magazine’s daily email, And Now For The Good News.  It’s a wonderful story about paying kindness forward that began when one couple at Aramingo Diner in Philadelphia payed their tab and another table’s tab in the spirit of the season.