The Awareness of JOY
“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”
Creating Joy in Costa Rica
For five years, my family and I actively participated in Community Cooperative Nursery School (CCNS).. Our kids were two years old when they began attending. Michael and I took turns co-oping (volunteering) within the classroom, as well as both participating for two years on the Board of Directors.
Teacher Terry on a Nature Hike at CCNS
This was a joyful and fleeting time.
I remember a seasoned mom telling me,“The friends you make here, you will have for the rest of your life.” (The irony being that at my childrens’ school, WE were the ones making friends!) The truth is, the seasoned mom was right; this is precisely what happened. Our kids are now 25 and 22 years old and the friends we made during those days are still our friends today! The underlying truth being Michael and I craved adult friends who were going through similar experiences in raising young children. We were not young parents, but we were new to child rearing and balancing our careers with the constant needs and demands of preschoolers. These new friends became extended family members and assisted us in countless ways we will never forget.
Teacher Terry at CCNS Halloween Science Day
I remember another parent approaching me with, “Mom’s Night Out” or “Play Dates” don’t just automatically happen. She commented that the class our two children shared with hers seemed effortless with social extracurricular activities, but her third and fourth children’s classes had different class experiences and that she didn’t seem as close to those parents.
I remember acknowledging what she said, responding with empathy and clarity, I then stated, “You know, it takes effort to make things happen.” (Although this statement can lend itself to snarky overtones, let me assure you, it was not communicated that way) The overall message was “Taking effort in something and someone is a reflection of their interest in you.” It took effort to create a connectedness between me and the other parents. With that connection, I was able to savor each and every moment of transition inherent in raising children.
She acknowledged my words and positively nodded her head. She immediately understood.
And what they said was true … twenty years later we’re still friends!
“The 3 Laws of Attraction are:
Like Attracts Like. Nature Abhors a Vacuum. The Present is Always Perfect.”
Activities involving adventures bring me joy. I’ve been involved with the Girl Scouts through Abigail from Daisies (age 5) to Ambassadors (age 18); it was the adventures that intrigued us and kept us going. We went rock climbing together, traveled to Kanab to volunteer with the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and even went ice fishing and built an igloo in the dead of winter in zero degree weather.
We found a yoga studio at our halfway point inside the airport in Texas on our way to Costa Rica
On one particular adventure, we traveled to Costa Rica and participated in about 112 different things! No exaggeration, we had an amazing leader! Our main objectives for such a trip always included:
An environment project
A service project
Exploration
La Selva estación biológica
Assisting in a research project at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica
Discovering babies in the Rainforest
The beauty and joy for me was that the girls planned and designed everything!
We participated in a research project and lived at La Selva Estacion Biologica - Biological Station - Una organización para Estudios Tropicales for 4 days.
We prepared projects and provided materials for an art and educational activity and played interactive games with an orphanage.
Our exploration took us zip lining over the rainforest canopy, walking up a volcano and swimming and playing in variations of both fresh and saltwater.
We participated in the five Ayurvedic Elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. Literally.
Climbing a Volcano
We can find health, harmony and joy in our lives by observing and working to balance these elements through Ayurvedic diet, lifestyle, and daily habits/practices.
Discovering, caring for and relocating abandoned kittens
Near the end of our trip, we rescued some kittens, bringing them out of dehydration with eye droppers and finding homes for them. In many ways, it was this random act of kindness that provided the most perfect closure for our experiences.
Bringing school materials for an orphanage in Costa Rica
Meeting new friends, interacting and game playing in an orphanage in Costa Rica
In many respects, it allowed all the lessons and all the teachings to settle in with our scouts. They chose what to listen to and then responded in kind. They followed their hearts - reached out - and responded to living beings who needed them. There is great joy in that.
Playful rainforest headstands in Costa Rica
OMG teens are stressed these days, amiright?
Research indicates that when teens consistently practice mindfulness, it lowers rates of anxiety and depression, and leads to better sleep, stronger relationships, and increased self-awareness, all of which can go a long way toward ameliorating the impact of stress.
Mindfulness for Teens: Getting Them Engaged
If you’re interested in learning about getting “buy-in” from teens, you can check out this article I discovered a while ago that summarizes the research on mindfulness, and highlights some helpful tools and resources for engaging teens in this practice.
Feeling the rain outside of San Juan,Costa Rica
Playing in the rain outside a Butterfly Garden in San Juan
