JOYmail April 2016

Nature Calls

April brings daffodils and warmer sunshine. The snow melts and plants sprout.

I love getting out and smelling the earthy freshness of spring.

After a winter of stuffy, indoor heated air, I always feel invigorated by the clean fresh spring air.

Recently I read a Washington Post article that asserted yet another benefit to living around nature. The Post reported that a Harvard study concluded that people who reside in greener areas live longer.

Yep â€“ thatâ€™s right â€¦ Lots of trees â€“ good for health; lots of asphalt â€“ not so good.
This does make sense:

Green spaces tend to have less air pollution.
Green spaces such as parks provide opportunities for folks to get outside, exercise and engage with others.
Clean air, exercise and positive social engagement all support good physical health.
And thatâ€™s not all - contact with nature calms and relaxes.Stress reduction can positively impact longevity.

All good reasons to get up, get out and get with the trees and the clean air. Happy Spring!

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Mark Your Calendars!

Up North Retreat: September 16 â€“ 18
Details to follow in the May Joymail.

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Turtle Steps to More Joy

Living with more joy is about small steps. Turtles steadily achieve their goals one small step at a time. Small steps can lead to big results. You are invited to make small changes one month at a time, one turtle step at a time. The journey is about living with more joy.

Here is this monthâ€™ s Turtle Step:

Gratitude supports joy. Expressing your appreciation is a form of gratitude.

Take a moment to think about the special people in your life.
Make a list of these people â€“ you might have 5 names, you might have 35 names. There is no perfect number.
Then over the next month, communicate your appreciation to each person on your list. This communication can be via a handwritten note, an email, a text, a phone call or even a face to face conversation.
Let these special folks know how you feel about them. This message can be as general as â€œIâ€™m glad that you are in my lifeâ€ to as specific as â€œI will never forget how much you helped me when â€¦.â€

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Joy Find

Joyful Reader Chuck shared his beautiful photo of the sun setting into the Pacific. He truly captured the peace and tranquility of this moment.

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Your Personal Oasis

I recently had the opportunity to visit Palm Springs, California. Itâ€™s a Mecca for golfers and a lovely place to soak up the sun â€“ especially when the North is under a couple feet of snow. Essentially, itâ€™s an manicured oasis surrounded by desert and mountains. Not too shabby.