 Photo by: Kristen May “Find out where joy resides and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss the joy is to miss all. “ Robert Louis Stevenson As you may or may not know, I have made it my personal mission to seek out more joy this year. Having had more than my fill of grief and sorrow, these past few years, I have proclaimed that 2024 is the “Year of Joy” in my corner of the world. But to truly find joy, you first need to know where to look. You must learn to look in the right places as sometimes trying to find joy without a plan feels like a cruel, never-ending game of hide and seek. In my experience, I have found joy throughout the years in many interesting places, and it is high time that I revisit them. It is truly no secret actually where joy lives. Joy lives on Memory Lane and I would love to take you there with me for a bit! (Incidentally grief and sorrow also reside there, but as mentioned we are totally avoiding THOSE stops on this guided tour just to be clear!)  Hearts of KidsEvery day I have the unique experience of spending my days with 20 eight-year-olds, as an elementary school teacher. To say it is an unpredictable adventure each day would be an understatement indeed. Each morning, we build community in the classroom through our Morning Meeting. It is a wonderful way to start each day and get to know each other better. We love reading all the jokes, answering surveys and watching video clips about becoming a better person each day. My favourite times are when it is just “us” having fun and sharing our hearts together. We love to laugh listening to funny books, watching comical video clips and sharing the latest cool stories that transpired on our weekends. Rapport is built, relationships form and we come to really enjoy each other's company. Not soon after these times of bonding, I often notice the little love notes and handmade pictures trickling in proudly placed on my desk. It is their way of saying thank you for my efforts in making school a fun place to learn and grow. These priceless, little gems and the kids associated with them wiggle their way into my heart bringing me so much joy. Kids are so precious and sincere. How can they not make you smile and bring you joy each day?  The Hearts of Loved Ones Loved ones who keep our joy tanks full can be family or close friends who are our “chosen family.” My life has been blessed to overflow with incredible people in both categories. One amazing friend in the “chosen family” category is our friend, Glen. Glen is a childhood friend of Phil’s that Tyler; Shannon and I have had the pleasure of getting to know recently. Glen is a jovial, comical, sarcastic straight shooter whose hilarious take on life brings everyone to non-stop laughter. Honestly, an afternoon with Glen will brighten your spirits and leave you with a sore stomach from laughing so hard. He is just that funny. A while ago, we were on our way home from a road trip. Our hearts were heavy from the grief we were walking through at the time. Shannon decided to call Glen, put him on speaker phone and asked him to “work his magic.” True to form, he did not disappoint and for over an hour we were in stitches laughing until we cried over the latest, hilarious antics and stories he had to share. With joyous and full hearts, we thanked him sincerely at the end of our call for being that kind of friend that gave us exactly what we needed... a HUGE dose of pure joy! Don’t you love it when people just “get” you? (The pic below of Phil was taken when we were with Glen.)  The Heart of Fun and Favourite ThingsHave you asked yourself recently how much fun has been scheduled into your weekly agenda lately? You know between all the errands, work and family responsibilities, daily stress and bills? Hmmm... probably not much if you were honest. So let's change that this year? What makes your heart sing? What hobbies do you love? What activities help you put the day-to-day grind aside and just simply enjoy yourself. It could be a funny movie, a night out with great friends, a great book, a concert, a Netflix binge, a vacation, an exercise class or a trip to the mall. Life is just too serious at times and incorporating good wholesome, fun into your life is just what you need to get that joy meter rising. Make a conscious effort to get things on the calendar that you can look forward to. Pencil them in and commit to them so they will actually happen. Consider these activities appointments you make with yourself. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Joy will be there, and you will be better for it.  Photo by Renáta-Adrienn on Unsplash The Heart of the Father  True joy is found in knowing our Heavenly Father in a personal and relational way. He is the author of true joy. He alone has the power to take our mess and turn it into our positive message of joy to the world. He delights in us, and the Bible says in Zephaniah 3:17 He actually rejoices over us with singing. That is how much joy we bring Him. There is so much joy and peace in knowing our sins are forgiven and we have a forever friend in Him. It is truly unexplainable. So, maybe you are like me and a quest for more joy this year is also on your “To Do” list. I hope my little trip around the places where joy abides has been of assistance to you. Going forward, my challenge I propose to you is to find where joy lives for YOU. Search long and hard and don't ever give up! When you find those places or place, knock on the door with enthusiasm, and when that door opens invite yourself in, ask to have the coffee put on and say with all your heart, “Hope you have some time, because I am here for a nice, long stay!” Until next time wishing you joy in the journey, Dana John 16:20 ~ Your sorrow will be turned to joy. Little Lesson Learned: Joy is worth searching for. Don’t give up until you find it! Copyright © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. Tags: life lessons, joy, happiness, self improvement, spiritual guidance, growth mindset, encouragement, Christian blog, life advice, Christian blogger, spiritual growth, grief and loss, grief counseling, bereavement help, life skillsAuthorDana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, social worker, blogger, author, motivational speaker and recording artist. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much-needed encouragement. She lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working in the classroom or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books.  For Part 2 in the Joy Series Click here.
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 Photo by Stefan Lehner on Unsplash “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” Paulo Coclho Saturday mornings around my house for years for my husband Phil and I have consisted of sleeping in, enjoying several cups of coffee and having “catch up” conversation as he and I work opposite shifts. Besides this much-needed and fun routine, our favourite activity is watching renovation shows like Zombie House Flippers, Fixer Upper and Property Brothers together. We absolutely LOVE these shows! It never ceases to amaze me the potential these creative geniuses see in the most run down, disgusting, and often downright creepy properties. They take them on with gusto and through a lot of elbow grease, patience and ingenuity turn them into absolute masterpieces of real estate, that are truly unrecognizable! The old homes are no more, and the new, modern, beautiful versions are here to stay! It is so inspiring and exciting to see what the finished products become, and I have so much respect for those who see potential in what others would deem write-offs or absolute garbage. Getting an upgrade is very exciting, no matter what area of your life it may be in. Ever since I was a child, I have been a HUGE Donny and Marie Osmond fan. A proud member of their fan club, I was overjoyed to tell anyone that would listen that I was totally obsessed with them and of course “a little bit country or a little bit rock and roll" as well, depending on the day. Friday nights were a very big deal in the Lear home as we were glued to our black and white TV set watching the Ice Angels perform, and Donny and Marie doing their crazy skits and wonderful songs. Every time I would feel so sad as the closing song would begin. I could not WAIT until next week. With no YouTube, streaming services or VCRs back then, it seemed like an eternity between shows. As an adult I made it my mission to ONE DAY see them live. My first attempt was when Phil and I went to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Detroit. Practicing and memorizing every song for months, we were so, so pumped! Imagine our disappointment when we arrived to learn that my main man Donny, had ruptured his vocal cords and was replaced by his understudy. How dare he? Just joking, but I am sure you feel my pain. Last Christmas, our family was going through a lengthy and difficult time supporting my father-in-law when he was in hospice, dying from brain and lung cancer. He lingered for quite some time, and it was very emotionally difficult and heart breaking for all of us. During that sad time, I became aware that Marie Osmond was scheduled to perform at Caesars Windsor. Immediately I wanted to go and asked my daughter, Shannon, if she would accompany me. When the time came, however, I was unsure if we should go though as we had been camped around my father-in-law’s bedside in vigil. After some soul searching, I knew my father-in-law, a HUGE Osmond fan himself, would have wanted me to go. So, we went.  Arriving at the Colosseum seating, we kept climbing higher and higher. My daughter said ““No offense Mom, but we truly have THE worst seats in the house.” I reassured her that it was not about the “seats but the experience.” As we were proceeding to our nosebleed spots a friendly gentleman approached us and asked us where we were sitting. As I showed him, he said “I am Marie Osmond’s stage manager, and I am pleased to offer you two front row seats.” Shocked, I hugged him, practically knocking him off his feet, blubbering as I told him how much his kind gesture meant to me. He appeared a bit taken aback by my exuberance, but I didn’t care. My childhood dream was coming true in front row style! I couldn’t believe it! The concert was amazing! I could practically shake Marie’s hand and I felt so grateful for the front row seats that we got that night, not to mention that the title of her album featured was “Unexpected.” This was very unexpected indeed! I couldn’t help thanking God for the major upgrade we got at that concert. We were so broken and discouraged that evening and He saw to it that we were handpicked for that perk and some much-needed encouragement. Wow!   God has given me so many upgrades as I walk with Him daily and seek to know Him better. In fact, we serve a God who specializes in "major upgrades." The Bible tells us in Isaiah 61:3 that He gives us beauty for ashes, joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Talk about upgrades! We come to Him broken and He makes us beautiful. We come to Him grieving and He gives us joy we can’t contain. Do you see a pattern here? It is incredible, and what a beautiful exchange. So many people want to work on self-improvement. There are countless books, podcasts and celebrities dominating the internet trying to offer their best advice. While their intentions are good and suggestions often valid, true transformation can only come through Christ. He takes us as-is and transforms us through His redeeming love. Just like the delipidated, old property when God steps in we become something new and incredibly beautiful to behold. If you do not know of Christ’s transforming power, it is available to all who ask. Believe me, I am no one special. I am simply a sinner saved by grace. I am someone who just took God at His word and pursued this offer of an upgraded life with the promise of the ultimate upgrade of Heaven one day as my home. I encourage you to do the same my friend. If you do, you will experience change like you have never known. As always, I am available at [email protected] should you want to continue this conversation or receive prayer. Well, that’s all for now and in true Donny and Marie style I leave you with this heartfelt wish: “May tomorrow be a perfect day. May you find love and laughter along the way. May God keep you in His tender care, ‘til He brings us together again! Good night, everybody” (Donny and Marie’s closing song) Until next time, Dana Isaiah 61: 3 ~ He will bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Little Lesson Learned: God is the author of true and lasting transformations. Copyright © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. Tags: life lessons, Donny and Marie Osmond, upgrades, renovations, self improvement, spiritual guidance, growth mindset, encouragement, Christian blog, life advice, Christian blogger, spiritual growthAuthorDana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, social worker, blogger, author, motivational speaker and recording artist. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much-needed encouragement. She lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working in the classroom or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books..  Click here for blog: Everybody Know Dat!
 Photo by Peter Conlan on Unsplash ~ “Dream big. Work Hard. Stay focused and surround yourself with good people who believe in you and want more out of life. “ ~ Unknown  As an elementary teacher, I have implemented for a few years now a favorite holiday tradition where in class we make stockings for the holiday season. As not everyone celebrates Christmas, they were deemed “kindness stockings.” Filled with compliments from the classmates and small treats from me, the infectious excitement fills the air! Never underestimate the power and value of a paper bag stocking, a few well-chosen dollar store trinkets and validation statements on paper slips to a group of kids. It truly brought so much joy to their hearts and mine and that “best day ever” vibe that I wish I could bottle. Smiling, I thought, wouldn’t it be amazing if all days were so joyful and could be this exciting? Clearly, we all have our ups and downs, which is perfectly normal. As we begin a new year, I find myself taking inventory of what I want my life to look like moving forward. What do I want more of? What do I want less of? Who do I want to be twelve months from now, other than simply twelve months older? In the Little Mermaid story, Ariel does some soul searching and takes inventory of her own. At first glance, one may perceive that Ariel leads a very full and interesting life under the sea. Yet, despite the “gadgets and gizmos aplenty,” she lacks true fulfillment. As she does some deep reflecting, she determines she wants more than this watery world, day after day. I am sure we have all experienced that discontentment and frustration at times with our day-to-day realities. In a podcast I was listening to this week, it was stated that frustration is wonderful. Seriously? The reason being is it stirs something within us when we are discontented with the status quo that is our lives. Frustration serves as a catalyst within us and, as our little mermaid friend, it motivates us to want something different and more for ourselves. In my last blog called Don’t Lose the Victory, I shared about the need to always look for the good and not let the lows of life keep you down. I am believing for such great things for 2024 for you and me. I want so much more than the everyday grind that life can be. This week with my kiddos at work we had a lesson on what is your “one word” for the new year that you want to manifest more of in your life? A difficult choice indeed. On my short list was gratitude, good health, positivity, laughter and spiritual growth, but one that stood out for me personally, was joy. Here is why joy was at the top of my list.   MORE JOY PLEASE My life has been riddled with grief and loss so heavily these past few years, it has changed me and gutted me to the core. I am not the same person I was before, but that is ok. Through the dark times, God has brought beauty from the ashes as His word says. It has brought a new sensitivity to those around me and an even deeper compassion for those grieving. It has also brought a greater appreciation for the people that I love and the gift of life I have been given. Not to sound cliche everyone, but life is truly precious, and I intend to live it to the fullest to the best of my ability. This year I am pursuing joy and joy I am coming after you hard! I can choose joy every day, despite what comes my way. Joy is not dependent on my circumstances, as happiness is a choice. A little formula I learned in Sunday school says how to have true joy. It stands for Jesus first, Others second and You last. Helping others and spreading positivity brings me so much encouragement. It helps me get the focus off me. Love God and love people continue to be my life goal this year. So, what are you believing for in 2024? What do you want more of in 2024? Dream big my friend! We are in it together and I am here for you. Feel free to reach out to me at dana.romualdi@gmail.com and I can agree with you in prayer for your heart’s desire for this new year! Until next time, Dana Ephesians 3:20 NCV ~ God can do much, much more than anything we ask or imagine. Little Lesson Learned: Wanting positive change is a beautiful thing. Copyright © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All rights reserved. Tags: happy new year, perseverance, mental health, positive attitude, growth mindset, mental health support, goal setting, faith building, encouragement, christian blogAuthorDana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, social worker, blogger, author, motivational speaker and recording artist. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much needed encouragement. She lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books.
Click here for 2 more blogs all about JOY!
 “Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future” Robert H. Schuller Happy New Year everyone! As I write this blog, we are well into 2024 and I truly hope your year is off to a fantastic start! As we welcome a new year, we also must say goodbye to the old year. So how should we describe the previous year we have just come through? What adjectives would seem appropriate? I guess it depends on who you ask. Did we thrive or survive or were we somewhere in between? The answers are often quite diverse. For some, 2023 brought amazing times, unforgettable moments and more blessings than their hearts could possibly contain. If that is you, congratulations! I am so incredibly happy for you! For others however, 2023 brought heartache, pain and feelings of loss that few can imagine. I fall into the latter category, and I am not a real fan of 2022 either, as my family experienced loss on a whole new level, with the loss of my precious mom. Life is like that sometimes. We can all have such different life experiences. We are all given the same twelve months on the calendar, yet the ways those days roll out are clearly not the same. My mom was my mentor, prayer partner and best friend. She was such a positive ray of sunshine. No wonder we called her our Sunshine girl and she had more “You are My Sunshine” products in her house than should be allowed! Everyone who knew her loved her and she truly brought light to the darkness wherever she went. Mom had a beautiful way of seeing the bright side in the most stressful and difficult situations. Many times, when tough times came my way, she would say her famous expression: “Don’t lose the victory!” But what does that exactly mean and what can we glean from this clever quote? Let's unpack it a bit.  When hard times come, it is so easy to get caught up in the negativity of it all and accept defeat without even looking and believing for the better. This is especially true if your heartaches and struggles have been lengthy. I hear you. I see you. I am right there with you. I challenge you however, despite the type of 2023 you have had, to still look to 2024 with hope and positive expectations. Life can be hard, but it is still beautiful. Don't lose the victory. Challenging times can leave us with the most wonderful tools to help others. Hope is what keeps us believing for better times and gives us a reason to get up each morning. If your life is filled with pain and struggle right now, you are not alone. I have been there and walked that road, but I must remind you that don’t you dare for one minute believe this is all there is for you. The rest of your beautiful story is still unwritten. Don't lose the victory or hope. The Bible says in John 10:10 ~ I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. Life is a journey with many unexpected ups and downs, but we were never meant to just exist. We were meant for so much more. We were meant to be victorious despite what life throws us. In our own strength it can feel impossible. It is difficult to feel and act like a winner at times, but when we partner with the almighty God, all things are truly possible. We can be on the winning side despite what our circumstances tell us.   In my hardest days my mom would say “There are better days ahead.” As cliche as that might sound, I would cling to those words and found them to be true time and time again in my life. I challenge you, this year no matter what type of things life has brought your way recently, to look to this new year with hope and as a fresh and exciting new season of your life. Look for all the good that life has to offer because the good is still there. As Mom would say "There are better days ahead for you too" and I am truly excited to see what lies ahead for both of us! Until next time, Dana Jeremiah 29: 11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Little Lesson Learned: Bad times do not equal a bad life. Life is still good no matter what may come our way. Don’t lose hope. Copyright © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All rights reserved. Tags: happy new year, perseverance, mental health, positive attitude, growth mindset, mental health support, goal setting, faith building, encouragement, christian blog AuthorDana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, social worker, blogger, author, motivational speaker and recording artist. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much needed encouragement. She lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books. |
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