We often find what we're looking for.

Sun Flower Car

Sun flowers (joy).

Painted on a car (joy, joy).

Seen on a rainy day (joy, joy, joy).

Ms. Kessel & Mrs. Muecci

Taryn and I walked into the Yankee Doodle Dance at Hough Elementary and were greeted by the 3rd grade teachers wearing glow sticks for glasses.  Brilliant.

Such silliness is not only joyous, it’s divine.

Think about it–how wonderful does it feel to do something completely goofy? Freeing.  Fun.  Joyful.  Brilliant.  Divine.

Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.
–Gilbert K. Chesterton

Groovy Nike High-Tops

Waiting in line at Stumptown with some friends for the weekly coffee/bagel run, I noticed these shoes on a young lady at the counter.  Love them! They’re fun and funky and they make people smile. Wearing shoes like that must increase your cheerfulness a good 10 points.  Has to.

Reminds me of another young lady I saw in downtown Portland wearing some wild socks.

So much fun! And isn’t that what life is for?

Hearts light up the tree on the corner

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and, as you’d expect, hearts are everywhere: in stores, on mugs, on socks, in windows, and even on sleeves.  I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see hearts lighting up a tree on the corner of Kaufman and McLoughlin in Vancouver, Washington.

Sappy as this may sound, I heart hearts!

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?