On occasion, Ingrid has a contest and asks us to answer a question by e-mail based on a theme in her newsletter, and then she randomly picks out a winner who she then sends a bundle of her products.
I won this newsletter's contest! I received her "Tending Joy" gift bundle in today's snail mail. What a wonderful, joyful surprise!
Here is a picture of the sumptuously wrapped package Ingrid sent before I opened the paper to view the contents:
Here are all the charming gifts I received:
It was filled with lovely scented "India Temple" incense, a gorgeously wrapped "joy deck" of inspirational cards, a handmade blank card, a "Prayer Of St Francis" miniature accordion prayer box, abound "Happiness" quote book, a hand-bound "Joy" book of quotations, and a "Joy Box" filled with 101 little happy affirmative statement papers! I felt so overwhelmed by Ingrid's generosity! I know she is truly a person who brings joy to all who know her, and I am so thankful to be one of her subscribers and customers.
In her newsletter, Ingrid told us a mantra that helps her to keep on track to be part of the full graciousness of the present moment when her life gets hectic is this: Listen ~ Admire ~ Give Thanks & Bless, and she asked us to share with her what our favorite slogan, or mantra, or simple practice for tending joy was.
I answered:"The mantra that I've been using for years and years is: 'Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much' This saying has become so popular these days that it has almost become a cliche, but it still helps to keep me on track towards keeping JOY in my heart. It reminds me to be kind and treat myself kindly, to laugh and not take things so seriously, and to cherish those I love, and to express that love everyday.
In fact, see a version of this motto every day on my kitchen wall:
What is your favorite motto? What keeps the joy in your heart? What is your simple practice for tending joy?
What a great package you received and what a lovely mantra you have.
ReplyDeleteI have posted on my desk a set of principles by which I endeavor to live:
"Three hightest causes of the upright human: Honor, Duty, Truth."
"Three manifestations of humanity: Civility, Generosity, Hospitality."
"Three things from which never to be moved: One's God, One's Oaths, the Truth."
Those are all very sincere and stalwart values, Junie, and I like how "truth" is a central theme. Thank you for sharing with me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. Yours is beautiful and I'll be a regular reader.
ReplyDeleteThe only motto I try to live by is
Do not worry about things that you cannot control.
Being creative gives me a lot of joy. Making a unique card for someone, knitting, leaving a love poem on the fridge for my husband.
I'm trying to teach myself to draw and so far haven't produced anything I would show to anyone, but it still brings me joy.