Creating a Happy, Satisfying Life:

Smiling & Self-Love: Gateways to Well-Being & Joy
 

⭐️  To read one of the many positive Book Reviews (Publisher's Weekly) for JOY & THE BUTTERFLY, and find out how to get copies in Ultra Premium Color in either Hardback, Softcover or E-Book, click HERE.

⭐️  To read the interview with me (SSJ) from the Mom's Choice Awards on why I wrote this novelette, how I became a writer, my advice for anyone who wants to write a book, what brings me the most joy in my daily life and more, please click HERE.

⭐️  To read a short description of JOY & THE BUTTERFLY and why it works well for children of all ages and also adults, click HERE.

⭐️  To get a FREE copy of the book's special Creed (Thoughts to Live by Daily — on page 133) for your home or office (available in 3 different versions), click HERE.

 

Life truly is what happens while you are making other plans. Life is going on around you as you plan for the trip or party, worry about meeting deadlines and create an ongoing to do list. I work with so many people who are always looking forward and planning rather than focusing upon the now. For individuals who struggle with anxiety, life is often spent developing crisis plans for every possible situation that could happen. As those minutes and hours of planning go by, the current time can never be recaptured. Those moments are gone.

Making the Ordinary Extraordinary

We live for the big moments in life such as graduations, weddings and births. We struggle with the moments of illness, caregiving and grief. Somewhere in between are the ordinary days. These are the days filled with cleaning the house, running errands and sometimes (but not often enough!) simply being. I went for a period of time where nothing in my life was ordinary. Although my life continues to be busy, it has reached a point where there is more routine than not. For me, there is comfort in the routine of life when there is less transition and everything seems different.

Routine is Health-Enhancing

Have you ever stopped yourself in the middle of an ordinary day to smile and to simply be grateful? The days of a regular routine have a type of magic which often become overlooked by something else on the list of life. This last week, I had a lot of ordinary but each of the ordinary events made me smile and brought happiness and gave me a little bit of extra time to fill my self-love cup.

If you would like more info to help guide you on finding the magic and blessings in ordinary days and so much more, please refer to my Ultra Premium Color, Gold Medal-winning novelette for young at heart adults and kids of all ages … JOY & THE BUTTERFLY: The Magical Garden and my other book UPLIFTED: 12 Minutes to More Joy, Faith Peace Kindness & Vitality.

Smile As You Fill Your Self-Love Cup

While making time to care for yourself can feel daunting or overwhelming, there’s plenty to smile about. This round-up of positive self-care thoughts can help you smile, feel inspired and ready to care for yourself.

 1. Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including yourself;

 2. I’m too busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener; 

 3. I’m staying home today. I have mood poisoning;

 4. Stop shrinking to fit places you’ve outgrown;

 5. If it costs you your peace of mind, you’ve overpaid;

 

 6. Be good to your skin. You’ll wear it every day for the rest of your life;

 7. Be a pineapple: stand tall, wear a crown and be sweet on the inside;

 8. Do more things that make you forget to check your phone;

 9. If speaking kindly to plants helps them grow, imagine what speaking kindly to yourself can do;

10. The secret to getting ahead is getting started. Let’s go;

 

11. I used to just procrastinate, but I got so good, I went pro;

12. You were born to be real, not to be perfect;

13. Be with someone who makes you feel loved;

14. The goal is to be more in love with you than you were yesterday;

15. Talk to yourself like someone you love;

16. Your speed doesn’t matter, forward is forward;

17. If you’re searching for the person to change your life for the better, then take a look in the mirror;

18. In a society that profits from self-doubt, loving yourself is an act of rebellion. Be a rebel;

19. If it makes you happy, it doesn’t have to make sense to everyone else;

20. Watch me thrive! 

For more info to help you elevate your mood, think more positively, be confident and courageous, look for blessings in ordinary days, be vibrantly healthy, thrive in your life and so much more, please refer to my Ultra Premium Color, Gold Medal-winning novelette for kids of all ages and young at heart adults … JOY & THE BUTTERFLY: The Magical Garden.

The yellow quilt image above is one of the myriad resplendent illustrations in JOY & THE BUTTERFLY.

Joy & the Butterfly is more than a book — it is an experience, a conversation and a source of light. It encourages families to read together, to ask meaningful questions, and to grow together. It inspires children to become thoughtful, compassionate individuals and reminds adults that joy is always within their reach.

This novelette is a gift for anyone who longs to feel uplifted, inspired and connected to something greater. And if you believe in angels and want to know how to be more connected to your personal guardian angels, this book is for you!

Whether you’re reading it for the first time or sharing it with someone you love, this book offers a gentle yet powerful message: There is magic all around us — if only we choose to see it!

Be strong and do not give up for your work will be rewarded.
~ 2 Chronicles 15:7

Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up!
~ Galatians 6:9