What is the difference between lemons and lemonade? Water and sugar: sweetness. For many Americans, life has been nothing but lemons for a long, long time. The United States has experienced quite a sour decade, and the sting in the back of the throat lingers on and on. The 90s saw a balanced budget, the rise of the Internet, secretaries cashing in multi-million-dollar stock options, and a time of peace. By contrast, the past 10 years were dominated by Bush politics, 9/11, unrelenting wars and a crippling recession that seems never-ending.
Are you looking ahead to the next decade with a bag of lemons in your hands? Millions are out of work, small towns are filled with empty store fronts, most of our retirement accounts are trashed, and our government cannot pass simple legislation without taking it to the Supreme Court. The United States needs to create a new lemonade stand to sell to the world -- and fast. Our nation was able to rise out of the depression by focusing on our ingenuity, inventive gifts, infrastructure and faith.
When life deals you lemons, it is easy to become a "sourpuss" and retreat. Yet, there are those who seem to have bags of sugar in their back pockets, and can whip a batch of lemonade out of a pile or rocks for the world to share. These people are rare gifts. I believe Arianna Huffington is one of these people. I believe our President is one, too.
Linda Joy is another. Feeling depressed? Spend about five minutes with this woman, and she will teach you how to make not only the best lemonade, but inspire the creation of an entire franchise of lemonade stands. Joy is the publisher of Inspired Living Publishing, and author of "A Juicy Joyful Life: Inspiration from Women Who Found the Sweetness in Everyday Life," a collection of stories from everyday folks from Main Street who managed to take adversity and transform it into a gift.
Joy had her share of lemons this year, and had every reason to run under the covers and hide her head. In 2010 her family experienced two tragic deaths, it was no longer feasible to continue her longstanding print magazine, and her husband totaled his truck in a car accident last week before our scheduled interview.
Yet Joy cheerfully tracked me down two days later, said her hubby was OK, and she has to look forward because she is "in the inspiration business." She walks her talk like few I have ever met. This former Entrepreneur of the Year for the state of Massachusetts is no stranger to change. In this same year, Joy reinvented an online magazine called Aspire, started Inspired Living Publishing to offer writers a chance to be published for free, put out her first book, and brought it to bestseller status on Amazon -- in less than nine months, it was the "#1 hot new release" in self-esteem and in spirituality.
"Hey, I'm a former welfare mom who dropped out of high school," said Joy dryly. "Your past does not define you! We can all live a life of joy no matter what comes at you if we release the past, labels and constant negative self talk."
Joy feels passionately that everyone has an important story to tell and is collecting essays for her second book, due out this fall. Stories of overcoming adversity are her specialty - from those who would have never dreamed of seeing their words in print. "We never know how one person's story will impact another," said Joy. "It is what keeps me going."
One of my favorite stories in the book was written by Sue Landis, who had a very successful life as a career business woman in London and decided to take a 180-degree turn in her mid-thirties. Always dreaming of becoming a professional athlete, she explored various options and decided to become a professional polo player -- even though she had never played the game! In one short year, she not only mastered the sport but assembled a top-notch team that won a national championship.
How have you been longing to create a juicy, joyful life? In preparation for the New Year, use this time to open up the cedar trunk of dreams; shake a few out and try them on. Go on -- no one will know! What is your heart's desire? What have you always wanted to create, become, achieve? How does it feel to take a single baby step in the shoes of dreams? Do you still believe in miracles, in magic -- in Santa? When we lose our ability to give ourselves an outrageously tantalizing vision, life becomes dull, stressful and frustrating.
I asked Joy how for recommendations on how to get our cranky, depressed selves into some of this inspirational frame of mind for the coming New Year. Below is her visualization exercise just for the HuffPost community. Come on, let's do this together: make space to talk to your inner wisdom.
First find a quiet place, and light an intention candle. Ask your deepest self, "When I look at 2010 as a successful year, what made is successful?"
After that, follow up with, "When I look at the parts of 2010 that were not as successful, what would I have changed?" Notice your reaction to both questions. The assumption began that 2010 was a successful year -- did it change your retrieval process?
Now, look forward into 2011. Ask yourself the following question: "If I could envision the year I'd like to create, what is the first thing that comes to mind?"
Be sure to pay attention to the very first flicker of an image or voice that arrives in your consciousness, as that is usually a divining rod to the soul, and the answer to follow. Maybe it is an unexpected answer, like more time with the spouse, or learning how to dance.
Once this image has come to mind, thank yourself for the recognition. So often our lives are filled with the "woulds" and "shoulds" of life, so the inner voices of destiny rarely are given the microphone and center stage. Acknowledge whatever vision has come to mind, and let it make you smile!
The final step is about Intention. Ask yourself, "What are two steps that I will commit to take around this thought in the month of January?"
Again, nothing radical; just two simple steps. Close the visualization with words of gratitude for this burgeoning intention, and blow out your candle. That's it!
Everyone needs a lemonade maker in their life. Do you have one? Who inspires you to reach higher, live outrageously and shake you out of your recession depression? Be sure to send them words of gratitude, and make this week a juicy one as we close the decade together. Tell me your dreams for 2011 in comment in the box below.
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I look forward to sharing the launch of my new company, Gather Central, on Jan. 1, and offering my "Virtual Cafe" of engaging community conversations with many authors and experts I have had the privilege to meet over the years. No boring lectures here! Expect to receive gifts, share powerful experiences with others around the world and get involved. Your voice matters, and we want to hear your story!
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Danielle Cavallucci: Channel Your Inner Wisdom
How can I be more thrifty?
How can I be more thrifty and green?
How can I be more thrifty and green and spend my money wisely on fair trade items, and only on things I truly need or are deeply pleasing?
How can I be more healthy?
How can I be more healthy by getting around all the misinformation out there?
How can I be more healthy by getting around all the misinformation out there, and make informed choices in the foods I eat and supplements I take?
How can I find the time to make more homecooked meals with local organic fresh produce and free-range meat and poultry?
How can I pay down my debt so I am not contributing a single red cent to the villainous crooks who brought down this once great country?
How can I join with others to take down said villainous crooks?
How can I join with others to improve government and strengthen laws and regulation, so that this never happens to our country again, and those villainous crooks are thrown in jail?
Ask yourself those questions and all the other things fall into place. Any person with dreams needs a strong base to start from. First build the base with those things. Then you can ask yourself if you want to chuck it all and become a Pilates instructor or go to law school or otherwise listen to the "inner voices of destiny."
question(s) should I be asking?"
The visualization is perfect for New Year's day! I will be doing it with a friend and we will support each other in keeping our intention clear for 2011.
Soul Therapy Newsflash: inspirational news, life-affirming posts, interesting links and cool videos: http://www.soul-therapy.com/News.html
Soul Therapy Facebook: spiritual and life-affirming posts and cool videos: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Soul-Therapy/278635488830
Waht made 2010 a great year?? Well last year at this time I realized I was waking up almost every morning day dreaming about speaking in front of groups. I found myself dreaming it so?? Duh! Dream!! So I joined a Toastmaster Club; became their president and now speak quite a lot. Then, found an amazing, no AMAZING thing to speak about in my industry! This just a few weeks ago.
Now look out 2011. Please let me thank you for writing this timely post. I tend to charge straight ahead without intention, without looking for the magic, without joy. Thank you for the reminder.
You DO important work. Peace on ya my friend.
Bill
Naturally you would become the president of toastmasters! Cheers to you!
With such a natural writing and connecting skill, presenting to groups is ideal- and wonderful to hear amazing things are prospering!
2011 will be awesome! Look forward to exploring it together through the weeks.
K
As for your comment on my blog last week, here's an update: I've invited a group over for this Wednesday evening. We will be feasting, burning away the old from this past year, which we are happy to release, and doing your Give Away ritual. Everyone is thrilled with the opportunity. Now, as this is my one and only gathering this year during the holidays, outside of family, I just thought you should know you are making a difference even here on the Island in very real ways.
How I adore you!
Cara
How wonderful to know you are combinging a fire ceremony with a GiveAway. Amazing and powerful!
I am glad you liked the piece. Huff Po has introduced me to so many truly inspiring people, and it "keeps me going" as I know it does for you.
I will be anxious to hear about the synchronistic woven web of stories that appears from your ceremony, and what a wonderful way to bring in the new year.
Love to you!!
kari
Wishing you a very Happy New Year...Filled with happiness, joy and laughter. A lot of laughter!
Blessings, peace and joy your way, Maureen!
Cara
Well thank YOU!
Fanned and Fav'd!
Happy New Year to you as well and look forward to seeing more of you next year!
Kari
Reviewing all that's gone before, offering gratitude to my higher Self for showing me that I am bloody fabulous - a shining star. And I seriously mean that. Every morning on waking something intangibly "big" happens and I realise with the falling off of the dead layers which served their purpose, a new "me" is emerging - whatever that means.
I literally sit in wonder most of the day going through the motions of showering, eating etc. but NO talking in order to be with this "movement" which I do believe will reveal itself completely in 2011.
My dream in 2011 is to love and be loved and cherish those I care about. I'm first on the list. It's such an exquisite feeling to step into my own shoes.
Who inspires me to reach higher - my Self - we became quite friendly this year and have a very fruitful and juicy relationship going now. We don't always agree because sometimes I don't see what's there but that's all good HAHAHA, since I eventually come round to her way of thinking!
Love Joy's visualization exercise - I intend to do it.
Happy new year to you and your brood
You are bloody fabulous and thank you for showing how to make such fine lemonade out of solitary time~ fabulous!
May 2011 be filled with inner and outer love for you and yours!!!!!!!!!
Bless you.
So many lives are like water, seeking the easiest path downhill, finding the lowest point and settling there. That might not be such a problem if people remembered, as Joy reminds us in your article, that "Your past does not define you!", and neither does not necessarily define your future. We all choose not only which path we walk, but also the way we walk it, and why we walk it.
The controversial, yet successful coach, Bob Knight, said about winning, "Most have the will to win, but few have the will to prepare to win." Your advice and that you included from Joy comprise a great starting point for preparation to win... winning in my mind is finding and pursuing my passion with all the intention and joy available, because for me, the trip is what is really important; what you become along the way is the real prize.
I will make 2011 a winning year, by walking the path of my passion in the way I know serves my purpose and my intention. Your article made me focus on and question my past year's efforts.... my standards are high;I am not all that pleased. I don't want to feel that way next year... I won't!
Thanks for the nudge...
Lawson Meadows
Thanks for the note!
Remember the first part of the exercise was to reflect on this past year and notice what WAS successful! Tempting our psyche with sweet instead of sour works wonders!
I do know that you are an amazing member of the Huff Po community, as I recognize your comments on may of our bloggers pages- this is a gift to me- and to so many others!
Don't kick yourself too hard! :) High standards serve to nudge not overwhelm!
Thanks so much and I am sure 2011 will be great!
Thanks for the kind comment. I did look at the good, there were many - family together, participating in Huffpost, getting some of the volumes of books read for research, and others - but my passion was not pursued as I would like, partly because of a move from one town to another, partly because of my joy in participation in the blog world, both very positive; there were a couple of distractions too.
My comment reflected what I considered a "let down" in that arena. I was not happy about it at the time; I am not happy in retrospect. That is the jist of my discontent... along with an ever-expanding bald spot. :-) ... and don't worry, i'm too old to Kick anything too hard, besides I may be the most optimistic person in town.
You are right that high stardards should "nudge not overwhelm!", but they also establish and a degree of acceptable effort, and that is part of my resolve for the new year.
Thanks again, and have a fine and fruitful new year!
Lawson
Anyway, have a great 2011...
Thank you. What you said about the way things were is accurate and sensitive to the changes in the fabric of our culture. To "choose new paths" is a daily, often a moment-to-moment activity for each of us.
With a bow to Dickens: "now" is the best of times and the worst of times, the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness. Each of us have more options and opportunity, and if managed correctly, our decisions will transform a potentially trapped life into one of passion and fulfillment; if managed poorly, the potentials don't matter, and the arch of ambition withers.
To me, the "certain comfort" you spoke of equates to the comfort of a caged bird: protected, fed, paper changed... yet trapped in its circumstance, unable to fly to its potential.
So you are correct about the dynamic affecting more than vocations. It does affect the rest of our lives... for the rest of our lives... unless we choose wisely.
Thanks again, and "back at you" on achieving your goals in 2011!
Lawson
In life we learn to take the sweet along with the sour and bitter, Perhaps temper it with a pinch of salt.
There are great learning experiences in life's unhappy moments and greater gain when we learn to accept reality. Life at any moment is a great learning experience that is, when the student is ready of course.
:)
thank you!
Peace on earth!
ED and DEB are supreme Lemonade Makers!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
you make me smile each and every week and I am indepted to your friendship, support and love.
I had some rare VT powder over Christmas that was juicy and joyful for me! Yippee!!!!
love
k
powwwderrrrr
I just had bumps not too bad - all in fun!
He descibed a life lived with passion and joy.
My own passion has always been the sport of motocross - I began racing in 1971 and it was the joy of my life. And I still love it - but I've lost the spirit to really try to do my best at it. I'm very old for that kind of thing now (I'll be 56 in April), and that's been my excuse for just going out and riding around.
This year, I'm going to do my best - not necessarily to go faster, because that involves very foolish risk for a guy my age - but to work out corners and jumps and ruts the way Rick Wright worked out those three chords. I want to find the passion and joy that I had in that sport when I was young.
Rick Wright died a couple of years ago, and I wonder if his spirit still takes joy playing those three chords. I hope so.
I am speechless.What an amazing story!
I am sure Rick Wright's spirit plays on- as it clearly inspires you - and you are still a "Young Man!" Life begins in the 50's these days!
It warms my heart to hear of your plans to find renewed joy in motocross- and refashion it to suit where you area today. Thank you so much. I know your story will inspire others- and I may use some of it next week when I plan to write about "epiphanies."
Fondly,
Kari
Living life with passion and joy... What a concept! I was impressed with your commitment to work on your "corners, jumps and ruts" with patient determination, consistent persistence in 2011. Maintain your focus, and you will build your confidence and ability in the same way Rick Wright built his.
By the way, 56... not all that old!
Lawson Meadows
Funny thing, my business partner and I were on the phone working on Christmas Eve (wrong on so many levels!) and she described her family as "on the edge of an abyss" of emotions and stress. When we spoke again today, she said when they all finally got out the door to the 4pm mass, and got settled down to the service- everyone calmed down and Christmas really began.
My family was not religious, but we loved going to the candle-lit holiday service as it truly created the ambience, sound and meaning of the season. I agree, this type of gathering is much more meaningful than a party - regardless of faith, those special moments of bringing the family together from afar is precious indeed.
Thank you!