For the very first time I have been struggling with writing my next post. I do have two full pages of great topics on following your joy that I am so excited for and can barely wait to write about! But this week I had a hard time finding the inspiration to put words together. Really, it’s a quite simple task, but I was making it too complex and got lost in my head.

And then my dear friend, Liv, magically sent this picture of her adorable little angel toddler, Truman (“Tru,” we call him), in his “JOY” outfit…and everything became clear.

First off, Tru is our godson (lucky us!). The last time Bill and I were with their family, we watched in amazement as Tru went about his little world–full of wonder, curiosity, and awe; in full-out exploration of everything in his surroundings. He threw his head back with full-body giggles when the dog did something goofy. He studied his big brother’s every movement and “Star Wars” poses as though he were learning a new trade. He gazed adoringly at his mom and dad with eyes that said “I love you” like nothing else in the world mattered.

Tru inhaled each breath slowly. He was alert and awake to everything around him. He stopped what he was doing to notice the brilliant flames in the fireplace behind the glass. He danced to the music and looked at each one of us in invitation to join in on the fun.

When it comes to following your joy, I, for one, can learn a lot from Tru. Simplicity is key; we are the ones who make life complicated. Following your joy is about laughing, dancing, being awake to your surroundings, and breathing slowly.

Interesting, isn’t it, how we come into the world having all this stuff figured out, and then as adults we struggle to make our joy a priority?

Thanks to sweet little Tru for reminding me to breathe and that life is generally much easier than we make it. Joy is certainly all around us…if we only take the time to notice it and let it in.

I’ve seen other humble teachers in my life who appear in many forms, just when I’m ready for a lesson. For me, they’ve even come in the form of a butterfly, my lovely grandparents, and a school of dolphins.

Who are the teachers in your life?

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