Hooray for Hollywood!

Isn't it funny, how at certain times we just operate on automatic? We get up, we get dressed, we get in the car, we drive to our destinations....  Many times, we have the same routine day in and day out.
We live on auto-pilot.

One of the reasons I started this joy journey was to shake things up in my life....to take notice and appreciate life. Finding the joy or "joy moment" in each day, would take me off cruise control, at least once, daily.

I was definitely on auto pilot this morning during my hour and a half drive to work in bumper to bumper traffic.  I was listening to the radio, running "to do" lists, work stuff, and heaven knows what else, through my head when I looked up and saw the Hollywood sign, sitting brightly, ahead in the distance.

I couldn't recall seeing it during my drive before.  It might have been due to the L.A. smog or it could have been due to my 'routine fog', but there it was this morning, as plain as day, poking out of the hills.
It made me smile.

It brought back the reasons for my initial desire to move here. I wanted to work in television and live in Los Angeles... Hollywood... where dreams are made... and crushed... but let's not go there. LOL.

Seeing that iconic sign reminded me that I'm a lucky girl.  I live in sunny California and I have a freelance job that allows me to work on a variety of Hollywood television shows.  That was just a dream way back when... and here I am.

I might not be living all of my dreams (yet!), but I am living one of them.

Remembering that, was my "joy moment" today.  It's a Hollywood fairy-tale come true.  LOL.

Stay tuned. :-)

The Journey for Joy

My joy journey is truly a roller coaster, as is life.   The reality is that sometimes with the stress and craziness of life, it's hard to take a breath, much less find the joy in each day.

Sometimes, when I've had a particularly crazy day and nothing seems to be going right, I say to myself... "What's the joy going to be in this day?  'Cause, I don't see it."

That's when I remind myself that's the sole purpose of this journey.... to find it... each and every day.

The joy moments are my realization and appreciation for a particular moment that has brought me happiness, joy, peace or contentment. It may happen naturally through the course of a day, or I may have to discover it. 

Sometimes it's an hour in the day, other times, it really is just a moment.  Sometimes it surrounds events I've planned, other times, it's totally unexpected.  And on those wonderful rare occasions, it's just a natural state of being... those are the best ones.

Joy for me today was taking stock of my journey so far, and feeling proud that I've actually stayed on track... each and every day.  It's shocking really.  It's easy to say you're going to do something but doing it is another matter.  At least that's been my M.O. Yet, here I am, almost three months in.

It's crazy!  It's amazing!  It's joyful.

Stay tuned  :-)

Coming up...

My joy journey continues as we move into a new month. So far, so good. I've definitely been socializing more, have taken in several new events and have noticed my mood has been more upbeat.  I think I might be on to something, My dear Watson.

I just finished setting up a few after work events for this week. It looks like it will be a busy one.

I'm attending a play with one buddy, going to a birthday celebration for another one and checking out a gospel brunch with another friend on the weekend.  Not to mention a few work-out classes and a voice-over session are scheduled for this week, as well.  Whew, just writing it all down has tired me out. 

I don't usually have this many events during the week, but I'm looking forward to getting together with friends I haven't seen in a long time and enjoying fun activities with them.

I will definitely pace myself, because passing out during my "hunt for happy" does nothing for the cause. LOL.

Just kidding!  I'm excited and ready for what's ahead.

Stay tuned. :-)