Oprah Asked Me
“What brings you joy?”
Okay, so she asked a million others, too. Here’s what I wrote because I thought the topic was blog-worthy (and I’m also not sure anyone else will see it otherwise.) 🙂
The biggest joy I experience in life is connection with other people. Whether it’s my writing that affects change or watching a movie that alters my inner landscape, pulling open the tethers of each other’s hearts is a source of great inspiration for me. I find it in Nature, in the arts, and in those around me. We were placed on this Earth to help each other tap into our collective greatness. Living life to the fullest means remembering what we are here for. I strive to do that every day. ~Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World
What brings you joy? I’d love to know (and Oprah would, too, so once you’ve told me, pop over to her site to tell her as well!).
4 Comments
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Gary Ellenbolt
January 18, 2010 at 12:19 pmOne nice problem that I have is that’s such a tough question–I’m truly in a joyous existence right now, and I know no one’s looking for a novel here. But–among my greatest joys is that of being an American. Here’s a kid from a 270-acre farm in southwest Wisconsin, able to go as far as his talent and ambition can take him. I can get up early in the morning and get paid to do something I love. I can pray for my family right in the middle of Wal-Mart. I can earn two college degrees and have a fairly-recognizable name, and have the same rights and obligations as the guy who cleans the floors in our building, who deserves every bit of the respect and dignity I can show him, or I can shut up and do it.
I’m reminded of the theme from a short-lived 1980’s TV show, “What a Country!” A perfect way to sum up my blessings–
I wanna be an American
I wanna live here to stay
I wanna be an American
I wanna say what I’ve got to say
I wanna be an American
In the land of the free
I wanna be an American–it’s right for me
powerofslow
January 18, 2010 at 12:44 pmAmen to that, Gary! I was pining for America today after encountering a particularly abrupt German gas station attendant. I was trying to be polite. She was not. I couldn’t help but feel the missing compassion for the fellow man in that moment.
Hugs to you!
Bernadette Noll
January 21, 2010 at 10:01 pmWhat brings me joy? Family, friends, hammocks, swimming in the ocean and lakes and rivers, hiking on a sunny day, hiking on a drizzly day, walking, napping, reading, riding my bike, carrot cake, oranges, snooze alarms, laughing, dancing, talking, listening, and just living every day in as mindful and connected a way as I can! Thanks for asking Christina! Hope all is well.
powerofslow
January 22, 2010 at 11:34 amI had to think of you as I did my spinning class today at the gym. What a joyful comment, Bernadette! May you have a most lovely and frolick-filled weekend!