Our friend Paul is both a bird watcher and nature photographer. I take delight in these images offering icons of spring.

“I think that the fluidity of Joy’s approach springs from her dedication to the truth of each person each moment, and from her finely-tuned ability to sense each client’s wholeness and whatever may be blocking that wholeness. The wide variety of ways she works is drawn out; seemingly evoked from her attunement to the leading edge of each client’s growth process. It’s a lovely, subtle ability that facilitates much movement and personal development.

“As a licensed certified social worker who has been in clinical practice in Arkansas for over 20 years, I can attest that what Joy does is innately and appropriately therapeutic without even vaguely approximating psychotherapy or massage therapy. I can think of a half dozen or so other seasoned clinicians like myself who would agree with this and who have referred patients to her, as I have.”

Geoff Oelsner, LCSW

Fayetteville, AR

Ice Photos taken January 26, 2009.

 Tracks by Gregg St.

Ben in middle of the road by Greg Street’ one lane bridge

Bench at Wilson Park

Our front Yard

Castle at Wilson Park

Trees on Skyline Drive

Lasting impressions: the green glow and my body’s disconcerted response from the transformer boxes popping…feeling simultaneously magical and catastrophic qualities…to quote my husband, “The cold makes me want to ‘migrate or hibernate’”…. the sounds of snapping trees that started about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday and lasted for hours…migrating to Common Grounds to get warm, eat hot food and charge my cell phone like so many others and catching the frenzied buzz of adults not at work…carry in logs, feed fire, carry in more logs, feed fire, carry in more logs, grateful for a fire place…appreciating my ingenuity boiling eggs and cooking sausage on my fireplace rim…my meditation with the trees and feeling calmly reassured…and still feeling my own grief…catching my fear rising with the sounds of tree limbs falling on the roof above….shattering glass sounds as the ice gave way to the rising temperatures….keeping it in perspective and realizing this is not Katrina…grief and empathy for the families of local high school boys killed in a fire…grateful to live in a caring community…..walking the neighborhood with my son and camera…recognizing my centering response was to view my surroundings with the viewpoint of awe and beauty.

Be Present

The best gift we
can give loved ones.

I had a dream last week of having a conversation with the Dali Llama. At one point he asked me, “what is the most important work you can do?” My first response was “I don’t know.” That made me nervous, and I thought I’d better come up with another answer. So I used the inclusive “and”. I started listing several ways I can serve humankind. I can do “this” and “this” and “this”…etc. He looked at me and said, “You’re thinking too much. Be Present.” At first I thought he meant I was thinking too much and needed to be present to find my answer, then as he was looking at me earnestly, I realized he meant the most important work I can do is to BE PRESENT.  How easily we forget. When I woke up, I remembered the e-mail I sent out last year with my holiday tips and figured the “Be present” reminder is useful for all of us wanting to be mindful.

Joy’s Holiday Tips

Choose pleasure over perfection.

When guests come over and we fret over having the table set just right or worry that they will see the cobweb we missed while cleaning, we remove ourselves from genuine connection. Give yourself permission to be imperfect, laugh at yourself, and know what your loved ones truly want is your attention.

Receiving with openness is as important as giving.

When an unexpected gift comes our way from a coworker or acquaintance, we don’t need to fall into guilt for not having a gift for them. Instead, choose presence as your gift in return and let yourself accept their thoughtfulness for you and open to the gratitude of being seen and appreciated. Accepting the gift offers connection and true celebration.

Keep it simple.

Gracious warmth shows through when we make eye contact and smile.

Stay nourished.

Stabilize mood swings with ample protein, additional acidophilus, and your Vitamin B’s. Remember the airplane drill: put your oxygen mask on first before tending to others. In the same way, especially during the holidays, tend to and nourish yourself on all levels.

Be Present

Your full presence is more appreciated than you realize. It is a wonderful gift to offer loved ones

“This woman offers (is) an amazing dynamic blend to help anyone along their path to heal. Joy is truly the perfect name for her. I think of her as my body worker, energy healer and psychologist. Receiving from this practitioner is releasing, peaceful and brings my spirit into a strong sense of freedom. I have left each session heart filled and excited, with new releases and understandings from my body, my mind and my heart. Each time I have walked away with tools to continue the work. As a cranial sacral therapist I can feel tissue unwinding and energy blocks releasing. Along with this Joy helps me connect with family memories, ancient memories, old emotional patterns and new healing paradigms of understanding. As an occupational therapist I am grateful for this powerful blend of therapy Joy offers. I find myself saying WOW a lot. Joy has a massive peaceful heart and amazing tenderness. She is a true healer.”

Patty Miller

Occupational Therapist
Little Rock, AR