I’ve been divorced for a decade.
Since then, I’ve been given relationships with dear men – Ben, Bob, Ron – who love me, adventure with me and teach me about presence, nature and more. We travel and stay in to watch Netflix. We eat out and cook favorites. We shell walnuts and hike trails.
Last year upon returning from a healing, replenishing journey to Kauai, I receive a heart-stabbing card from Michael, who reaches out through the post office.
I reflect that Michael has been on the edges of my life for a few years.
We weekly greet one another before services at Unity of the Blue Ridge in Mills River, North Carolina and he’d invited me as the author on the last night where folks gathered to study my first book, Go In Joy! An Alphabetical Adventure.
In time, we decide to lean into one another, to see what our relationship might offer.
We swiftly learn…
Joy!
Laughter!
Kites!
Road trips!
Oh, my.
After six months of pure delight, ease and flow, Michael says one morning, Joy, while this has been wonderful, what will we create together?
Wow.
I place my hand on my heart.
What a beautiful question.
Yes!
What will we create together?
We bat ideas back and forth, and move on.
Life enters….
…until the morning after Illuminate, the Psychic Arts and Healing Expo in Flat Rock, NC.
I have an idea…Michael names an idea…and I exclaim, We’ll need a bigger booth!
We juggle new ideas for our next event, the ‘Tis the Season Holiday Fair in Fletcher, NC at the AG Center, which is in three weeks; I write the organizers to request a double booth.
That week in the local paper, I notice used, bi-fold doors, calling Michael to ask if we can use them.
Sure, he says.
We pick them up…he strips, paints and creates stands for them in the unattached garage here, as I tag, make signs and make lists of all we need to bring to the show.
We’re in flow.
We’re on a deadline.
We cancel a trip.
We hire a helper to load and unload us, and Michael borrows his Mom’s car.
We create a beautiful, peaceful, radiant double booth, offering my books and joyful wares with a living-room-like reading corner that’s pictured above.
We create sweetness, peace and welcome.
We offer love, light and finger puppets to children.
I read rhymes to those who pause and invite me to do so from Designed to SHINE! Read Aloud Rhymes for Any Size Heart.
We smile.
We shine.
We ring up books and wares.
And…the owner of Asheville Emporium stops by Saturday and then Sunday, inviting me to bring my books and wares into her store.
Hooray!
Thanksgiving?
We barely notice, since we are BUSY preparing a new display.
We install it in downtown Asheville on Black Friday.
Whew!
Creating together is exciting, enlivening and a bit exhausting, dear Michael.
And I’m GRATEFUL to create with you, anytime, anywhere!
Thank you.
Are you creating alone or in concert with another?
Is it time for you to collaborate?
Might you give up a habit to open your time?
Creation awaits our presence.
Let me know what you’ve created or what you dream of creating.
Do you sometimes feel bogged down with life?
Could you use a reminder that your deepest longing is to heal into the soulful person you are created to be?
Would you like to evolve into a version of yourself filled with peace and joy?
You’ve Absolutely come to the RIGHT PLACE. Joy on Your Shoulders ™ inspires joy through a humbling, joy-filled presence and offerings! May the words, images, and products here guide you to connect within and without, so you overflow with joy to pass along.
Life is short...belonging to our unique lives deeply matters.
