Path to Joy 8: Hobbies
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. – Albert Schweitzer What’s the difference between vocation and avocation? Vocation is a job or career, work that is done to make a living. Avocation is a pastime or hobby, work that is done for pleasure. On this 8th path to joy, here are three similar suggestions: Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life. – Mark TwainChoose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. – ConfuciusIf you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. — Marc Anthony When what these three history-makers must be delayed a bit, Develop Good Habits lists twenty-two reasons why avocations [hobbies] are important, including how hobbies: Relieve stress by taking the mind off of life’s daily demands. Allow breaks from jobs while providing a sense of purpose. Make learning new things fun. Read more Also see this New York Times article on “How to Find a Hobby” [Includes more great reasons why avocations are valuable]. Here are more encouraging words about hobbies, To be happy in life, develop at least four hobbies: one to bring you money, one to keep you healthy, one to bring you joy, and one to bring you peace. ― Stan JacobsToday is life – the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto. ― Dale CarnegieNo hobby should either seek or need rational justification. To wish to do it is reason enough. To find reasons why it is useful or beneficial converts it at once from an avocation into an industry – Aldo Leopoldo In polite society, we call our obsessions hobbies. – Stephen King Succeed and Soar! COMMENT. This Month, Shop Sandra’s Succeed & Soar Art on Throw Pillows As well as tote bags, tee shirts, journals, puzzles, phone cases, ornaments, face masks, towels, blankets, cups, shower curtains, greeting cards and more These pillows add a stylish statement to any room Details: Fabric: 100% spun polyester poplin Reversible, same image printed on both sides A concealed zipper Choice of over 70 background colors Removable insert can be requested Pillow sizes: 14×14, 16×16, 18×18, 20×20, 26×26 and 20×14 Prices from $20 to $50 NOTE: Sometimes art size must be adjusted for whole image to fit. CUSTOMIZE. Use tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Over 60 background colors can be chosen [shades of yellows, blues, greens, grays and more]. Purchase this throw pillow View All Throw Pillows Thanks for shopping!
Path to Joy: 4th of 12 – Friendship
Getting to know and like people and getting people to know and like you are the two top cards in the game of success. – Source Unknown A true friend doesn’t care if you’re broke, when your house is a mess, what you look like, about your past, or if your family is filled with crazies. A friend can go long periods without speaking and conversations pick up where they left off. They have your back when things go very wrong. They keep their promises and make you want to keep yours. A friend neither leads nor follows but walks with you. What does ‘friend’ mean to you? Is having a friend better than being a friend? In October, 1936, Dale Carnegie published How to Win Friends & Influence People, one of the best-selling books of all time. Here are 30 principles which include: Give sincere appreciation. Try honestly to see things from the other persons point of view. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to. For a free copy of How to Win Friends & Influence People, download the whole book. Also check out: How to Get to Know Someone, 13 Powerful Steps How to Be A Good Friend True friendship is rare [and work]. Don’t you agree: Finding one or two in a lifetime is a Path to Joy. ***** This Post’s Featured Art, “Friendship,” a Visual Meditation What do I like best about the picture? The golden path from bottom to top across the picture and the circles. Why do I like these things? The golden path makes me think of the Milky Way, the river across the sky made of millions of stars. The circles represent people, the 360-degree universes of possibilities each person contains. What does this picture teach? Life can be a journey, a yellow brick road, a golden river that touches [and also bypasses] many opportunities. How can these insights lead to joy? I am glad to be reminded that each person contains vast possibilities. Knowing that I could move beyond ‘acquaintance,’ be a friend and receive another’s friendship once in a while brings joy. NOTE: These ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. THE ART: For more information and to purchase, visit Sandra’s Galleries.