Welcome to Holland and the happiness pocket

Seven of us joined an open invitation for Marta's birthday lunch at Casey's Place off Sprague and Evergreen in the Spokane Valley. The location has been dubbed by some "the Relief Society Pub" because "if Relief Society had a pub this is what it would be like."  I have only been there twice, each time to celebrate a birthday. Each time most customers appear to be women at tables or in booths sharing friendship and soup/salad. Maddie quickly learned not to ask a question unless she wanted an answer, and that sisters almost always have advise on what makes a good life. "Life is not looking at a screen all day."  For some, "a good life" is waking up at 6 am, reading scriptures, saying prayers, making breakfast and washing dishes, and doing a load of laundry by 8 am. Others describe a good life as sleeping well after sunrise and socializing before settling into a necessary chore or good book.  Some set a daily goal to work on developing a talent.  And Maddie received some advise on how to not feel alone in your own apartment. 

Following the luncheon, I listened the Lisa Show on BYU radio episode "Finding joy when life is hard. which introduced me to a story/poem named Welcome To Holland — Emily Perl Kingsley  The podcast emphasized that life's challenges are not deviations in life, rather they are the plan.  Life was never designed to walk a straight line. During life's challenges recognize and lean into your resources. Five loaves and two fishes may be all we have sometimes, but the Lord will magnify our efforts to be sufficient for the need.  Ask Him.

Make space for little moments of joy and offer generous expectations of yourself. At times we need to adjust our expectations. Joy is not Pollyanna excessive cheerfulness.  It is meaningful, sometimes reverential, and a charitable respite from the mundane or difficulties of life. Practice seeking joy.  Sometimes it is found in the association you have with others, sometimes it is a small pleasure such a noticing a flower bloom or hearing a child's laugh. Joy can and will change shape as you go through life.  Collect these moments of joy and tuck them into your pocket of happiness to carry you through challenges and trials.

The podcast message paired nicely with the talk Bro. John Hunt gave in sacrament meeting yesterday about focusing on Christ.  That which we seek grows. If we are looking with fear or sadness, we will find it in abundance.  If we look for blessings, we will find them in abundance.  Look of the miracles in your life, make note of them, and you will experience more of them.