What does a trash can have to do with joy?

Every artist's studio has some place to put scraps and trash.  On a trip to my local hardware store I found the perfect place for my trash - a mini version of a garbage can! I love it. It made me smile the moment I saw it. Joy! It is so much fun to have in my art space.

The trash can has been a part of my professional voice for many years. I saw so many people who had experienced deep pain, hurt, embarrassment and even abuse who had defined themselves by that pain inflicted on them by others. 

That pain lived in their hearts and minds. Often it ruled everything in their lives. The loveliness and strength, the gifts and talents of these people were often hidden by the scars of past pain. I have been there. You may have been there too.

For a time pain and hurt serves as a helpful reminder to a person of the dangers that often exist in the world of relationships. What once served a good purpose grows until it becomes the cause of pain itself. Enter the trash can. 

In therapy, in coaching and yes, even in your daily planner, the trash can becomes a way to intentionally choose to discard pain so that joy may take its place. For many years I have encouraged my clients to thank the pain for serving to help keep them safe. Then choose to discard the pain and choose to replace it with a new joy.

In the Midori style inserts I have created for my planner, a small sketch of a trash can is always there in the weekly sections. On it I write the negatives that I am choosing to discard that day or week. Then I write the plan I have to look for joy to replace that old pain.

What needs to be intentionally discarded in your week? How will you plan 4 joy? 

Not a Chiropractor

I had a wonderful phone call this week that brought a 'laugh out loud' moment into my day. Laughing - that really full body laugh - is a great source of joy. Let me share this crazy moment.

I spent nearly 20 years as a private practice counselor licensed to practice in Ohio. I closed my practice at the end of 2013. Now I spend my time doing some private life coaching and enjoying the creative part of my life.

The call came from a past client who had been trying to locate me and was excited to find me on the Internet. When she called I could hear hesitancy in her voice. The hesitancy was generated by the Internet. After chatting for a while, she told me how she found me. Google gave her several listings for me. The site she found had gotten two things correct - my name and my phone number. Everything else was wrong. Hilariously wrong.

I decided that I would do the same search she had done. Oh my! I am listed as a chiropractor. No, I don't think so. I really like my chiropractor (http://www.myclevelandchiropractor.com). Dr. Nicholas Cambouris is wonderful. But I have never had a desire to do what he does.

I am also listed as running a business management firm. Oh no! That would be a really bad idea. I enjoyed having my own counseling business but managing businesses for other people - not so much!

I laughed out loud as I read my business descriptions on the Internet. Most were so very wrong. I had a choice to make as I read. I could be annoyed that so much was published erroneously or I could take the moment of joy that a good laugh gave me. Who knows, maybe an Internet search for your name might give you a moment of unexpected laughter!

Enjoy a good laugh when you can. It can bring a moment of joy into your day.