Hi Everyone!

This is a  short article I wrote for Helen Kim’s wonderful new Ezine from “Helen K Presents”.  There are  many more wonderful writers and ideas to check out at her site here: http://www.helenkpresents.com

Meantime HAPPY ENCHANTING HOLIDAYS and I LOVE YOU ALL!

“Walk Like No One is Watching”

by Berrnadette Penotti

Last week in between work calls I took a “spin” around Greenwich Village, NYC with my two pups and my dear pal Elsie. It was so much fun as we window-shopped, caught up, grabbed a smoothie, and strolled the tree-lined streets of my neighborhood.

When I spontaneously said “Its time to “skip, bounce and twirl” for the next five blocks Elsie didn’t miss a beat, she knew I liked to “mix it up” on my walk. Off we went, dancing and swirling in tandem down West 4th Street, Elsie and I laughing and singing out, and the pups yelping in glee along with us.

People were waving at us and laughing with us- or at us- I’m not sure! Probably some thought we were total crazy goofballs.

When I returned to my desk I was refreshed, with roses in my cheeks and a big grin on my face. I felt vibrantly alive and well in the world.

My life is currently full of many moments like this as I’ve discovered following my joy at all turns, is the simplest way to having a great sense of well-being in life. In turn, being full-to-the-brim with well-being brings great gifts including:

1. Resilience and feeling good most days. Even when it’s a bad hair day, or a project didn’t work out, someone didn’t call back etc, it’s no biggie, you know you’ll bounce back.
2. People tend to relax and get a “contact-high” in your company. They look for ways to spend time with you romantically, professionally, socially… your “joie de vivre” is irresistible!
3. Fortuitous events and connections come to you more easily and good things- gifts, money, clients, happy surprises- seem to flow in via synchronicity and serendipity, without you even trying.
4. Health challenges subside and/or improve. Well-being and following our joy induces happy hormones, which boosts the vitality of every system in the body.
5. The knowledge that you are making a positive difference in the world. When steeped in well-being, every interaction in your day becomes a gift to the world. The cashier at the supermarket, the guy you bumped into on the subway, your neighbors, family, pets and loved ones, all catch a happy wave in your presence.

Having a peaceful mind is one of the greatest gifts we can give our planet today.

How did you follow your joy today? What things did you put your attention on, however small, that increased your sense of well-being or aliveness in the world today?

What are the little or big things you nourish yourself with each day? What things increase the joy and well-being quotient in your life?

For instance:

• Do you stop and take quiet time when you are feeling overwhelmed, instead of plowing through?
• Do you have a space/environment that you love to be in, that feels clean and clear and happy to all your senses?
• When the going gets tough do you have a consistent, reliable, inspiring thought system to get you back on track? (ie I have several places I turn to, that never fail to bring me back to equanimity- such as the work of Byron Katie or the great spiritual psychotherapy manual “A Course in Miracles”)
• How are the relationships in your life? Do they make your heart sing or are they draining the life out of you? Find a way to harmony in all your relationships, whether it’s to fully embrace them as is, get creative with bringing back into harmony, or disengage if necessary…
• Are you Loving yourself Unconditionally? This is the speediest and most effective and powerful self-care practice I can think of, as well as holding all those around us in Unconditional Love.

(Note: That doesn’t mean being a doormat, just remembering each one of us is a Magnificent Being, capable of greatness, no matter what the outward behavior)

Consistently follow what makes your heart sing in every big and small moment. This may take practice at first, but soon you’ll notice each joy-filled moment has cascaded you into a happy, contented life.

With thoughts of love and bliss for you,

Berrnadette

http://berrnadettepenotti.com/about

*I’d like to dedicate this to my beloved father Robert, who was a great lover of life and spreader of joy. Though he recently passed from this world, he continues to inspire me, and is giving me a happy wink as I ink this!