JOYmail August 2016

A Legacy of Joy

Just a few weeks ago this world said good-bye to Warren Liang, MD. Warrenâ€™s departure was sudden and untimely â€“ just short of his 65^th birthday.

Warren was gentle, intelligent, loving, and oh so playful. He was a walking, talking lesson in joyful living.

Iâ€™ll share this one story. Always musical, he joined an accordion band after retirement. Warren dressed in the band uniform of lederhosen and a Tyrolean hat and had a blast. He fully embraced his â€œInner Oom-pahâ€. But then, I think he always hadâ€¦ with or without an accordion.

I snapped this photo of Warren in July. He was demonstrating how to play Pokemon Go. Of course, he would know how to play.

Warren has left behind a legacy of joy â€“ to his husband, Fred; to his family; to his students; to his many, many friends.

I mourn his passing and will cherish his memory always. Thank you, Warren, for the love and joy you brought to so many.

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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 the Turtle Step for this month:

Each day we are surrounded by beauty â€“ plants, people, shapes, clouds, spider webs, etc.

Throughout the day, use your cell phone camera to take photos of these sightings. See frost on the lawn â€“ point and click. A chrysanthemum in a planter â€“ click. A stained glass window â€“ click. An artistically arranged salad â€“ click.

Each evening, review the dayâ€™s photos. Use these images to better remember the unique beauty of your day with deep gratitude.

And, you might even want to share some of your photos of beauty with others.

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Joy Find

Imagine my surprise when I checked into the Valley Forge Embassy Suites and was informed that I was the Guest of the Day. As if that recognition wasnâ€™t more than enough, I also received a gift basket full of treats.

An Unexpected Joy!

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A Different Perspective

The world looks different from thousands of feet in the air. Recently, I was a passenger in a Cessna piloted by my brother, Dave. We flew over the Leelanau Peninsula and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

This is country that we have known all of our lives. The Dunes is the largest moving sand dunes in North American. The inland lakes are large. The tree covered hills created by Ice Age glaciers are steep. Yet what seems so big on the ground appears much smaller when viewed from high in the air. â€“ Itâ€™s a different perspective.

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