Finding Joy In The Everyday

Ah...Joy.  A word that is different for all of us. Some of us love nature, others a good book.  Some just wish for some quiet time, others a paint brush and canvas.  No matter our view of joy, the most important truth is that we must remember to partake in it.  This beautiful journey called life should be enjoyed.  But, what is a sad truth, is that life can create walls, and then those walls easily block joy from bloom.  Why is this?  Are we too stressed, too busy, too depressed, too driven, to sit back and relax? Joy and passion, what makes our soul smile, should always be a priority in life, no matter our age, or our status.  Because, my friends, when your soul is happy, you are happy, healthier.  Oh yes....I said healthier.  And this meetup has explored happy and healthy from many perspectives.  We've hiked, we've biked, heck, we have even roller skated!  We've had many discussions on health including details on sugar, inflammation, and our daily habits.  Why? My friends, what we put in our body and how we treat it on a daily basis, is also a major part of having joy in our life.   
I started this group the day after the sad news of Anthony Bourdain.  This person I had seen as a culturally friendly, open minded, experienced man of the world. He loved to cook, to travel, to meet and talk with people.  I have always tried to travel as he, truly getting to know each place I have the joy of experiencing.  But, what I didn't realize was he was hurting, he was lonely, he had walls up, just like so many of us.  In this age we are more connected than we have ever been in history, but yet we are the most lonely, medicated and depressed.  Why is this?  Well, it's just another reason I wanted to start this group.  So we can talk, share, experience together and feel a sense of community.   
So come join us in realizing the importance of making sure that JOY resides within. It is up to us to make a commitment to it each day. Be us 20 or 70, our bodies and souls long for joy.  When we truly start to make it a priority, we can begin to see all of the wonderful ways in which our bodies, minds and lives are benefited from making sure that we are... Finding Joy In The Everyday.