bubblicious – spreading the yum one bubble at a time
Ten years ago I went to a wedding where they gave out little bottles of soap bubbles in place of rice or birdseed. When the bride and groom arrived at the reception, we greeted them outside in a shower of bubbles. It was delightful.
I became rather attached to my party favor, and so blew bubbles out the window of my car on the way home when I was stopped at a red light. I did it kind of absently … I just blew and watched as bubbles floated on the breeze. I followed one sparkly bubble over the roof of the car next to me and caught the eye of the man inside. He was grinning from ear to ear … laughing as bubbles swirled around his car.
It was so much fun that I did it the next day. And again and again. I began looking forward to the back-up I’d usually encounter at the tolls I went through en-route to work (back in the olden days before ez-pass, etc.). I loved how people responded to the bubbles. Kids waved. A guy on a Harley honked. Teenaged girls in a Beetle cheered and waved. A man pulled up beside me and called out: “Will you marry me?” (how I responded is another story entirely … perhaps I’ll tell that another time, joy factor peeps …)
One day I arrived at the toll booth and the woman inside waved me on … “He paid for you,” she said, indicating the car that sped on ahead of me. “He said thanks.”
Fast forward 10 years, and I’m still blowing bubbles out my car’s window. I’ve seen cranky faces stuck in 5 mile back-ups turn to smiles; I’ve watched notoriously merge-adverse New York and New Jersey drivers open up and give way with ease; and now I even keep small bottles of bubbles in my car to pass out to the happiest responders when I’m in particularly slow traffic.
Blowing bubbles out of the window of my car has an almost (forgive the pun) effervescent effect on the world. And what an easy and delightful way to make a difference … spreading a little fun and adding my bit to the cosmic joy-factor.
Give it a try; I highly recommend it. 
Happy New Year-Get Busy!?
At this point, we are half way through the first month of the new decade. If we look at the year in 2 week increments, we are approximately 1/26 through the year. Calculating like that is enough to lower your Joy Factor. Looking at it that way has me ask, “what have I got done so far this year?” Before I answer that question, I am going to tell you that where I am and where you are is perfect!
2010 started with us having Mars and Mercury in retrograde. I know this partly because of my theme for this year: Allowing. Part of allowing is asking for help, from seen and unseen sources. Seen sources are my marketing team, bookeeper, assistant, etc. In the unseen arena, I am learning more about the planets and how they support us, or not, in manifesting what we desire. Simply put, when a planet is in retrograde, whatever the energy of that planet is, it is going in the opposite direction. That makes the energy wonky. Mercury rules communication. That is why my computer crashed right around the holidays-joy, joy!
Retrograde also points us to slowing down and being more intentional. That was very challenging for me to be with at the beginning of the year. Easing into 2010 has been very different than the “full steam ahead” energy I have put out there in the past. I cried myself to sleep Monday, January 4th, wondering if I was ever going to get my drive back for the work I am so passionate about. Taking the week off between Christmas and New Years, partnered with a shift in planetary energy, can mess with your groove. I am so thankful that we get a new start each day; Tuesday, I was back in my groove, slowly, yet surely.
The essence of this message is, if you are noticing that even though it is the beginning of the year and you feel like you should be doing more than you are and you are not, be gentle on yourself and ask yourself these questions:
1. Are you focusing your energy on things that you are most passionate about?
2. If you are, where can you acknowledge yourself for what you have done, rather than beating yourself up for what you have not done?
3. What is one thing that you can do today that will move you closer to honoring what you want to create in your life?
As you focus on creating alignment with your theme, intentions or goals for 2010, remember to honor the components that support you in raising your Joy Factor.
What we are speaking to today is a combination of self-care and authenticity. Take care of your needs first and you will be able to express yourself authentically. If that means you need to spend more time marinating on an idea, before you move forward, so be it. Hold the intention that you are going to move forward. Set up the support and accountability you need and tap into that inspired action. It is from this place that you will fall madly in love with the life you lead and manifest all that you desire.
The Joy Factor
Welcome fellow Happiness Pioneers! You've come to the right place if you are looking to raise your Joy Factor. My vision is for everyone to live a life aligned with their passions and full of joy. The intention of this site is to offer you juicy nuggets that will increase your experience of joy and delight. Take a look around, grab something yummy and share the joy.
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