Category Archives: Joy

Helping us laugh again

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Researchers say that children laugh around four hundred times a day, whereas adults, on average, only laugh fifteen times a day. Why is this? Do we stop laughing because we are old, or do we get old because we stop … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheerfulness, Faith, Joy, Laughter | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Nothing is as bad as it seems when you’ve known something worse.

Posted on December 18, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old Jewish story about a man In Budapest who goes to the rabbi and complains, ‘Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?’ The rabbi answers, ‘Take your goat into … Continue reading →

Posted in Contentment, Happiness, Joy, Living Life | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Wisdom, knowledge, and joy

Posted on October 8, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Daniel Gilbert of Harvard University did a survey of one hundred university lecturers both before and after they found out if they had received tenure in their positions. They all expected to be quite happy if they got tenure and … Continue reading →

Posted in career, Futility, Gift of God, Happiness, Joy, Success, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Live, love and laugh

Posted on October 6, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

When Norman Cousins was diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease, he released himself from hospital and decided to treat himself. Aware of the harmful effects that negative emotions can have on the body Cousins prescribed his own treatment, consisting … Continue reading →

Posted in Joy, Laughter, Life, Life's journey, love, Positive Thoughts, Strength | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Give me back my songs

Posted on September 11, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The French have a story about a wealthy man who spent his days counting his gold. Next door was a poor cobbler who spent his days singing as he repaired shoes. The joyful singing irritated the rich man, so he … Continue reading →

Posted in Joy, Life, Life's journey, Materialism, Misery, Money, Music of life, Possessions, Sleeplessness, wealth, Worry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The joy of the Lord is my strength

Posted on September 8, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Dr Trisha MacNair, in her book The Long Life Equation – one hundred factors that can add or subtract years from your life, says that the choices we make now often have enormous consequences in later life. Drawing on hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, God, Joy, Life, Life's journey, Strength | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Virus Called Peace

Posted on March 24, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

I once received an email warning me of the spread of a virus called “Inner Peace.” It told me to be alert for symptoms that could pose a serious threat to my usual stable condition of conflict. These symptoms include: … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Kindness, Appreciation, Attitude, Awareness, Compassion, Contentment, Faith, Forgiveness, Generous spirit, Grace, Happiness, Healing, hope and love, inner peace, Inspirational, Jesus, Joy, Knowing God, love, Mercy, Personal Growth, Seeing Jesus, Spirituality, thankfulness, Transformation, Unselfishness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Joy is in the Journey

Posted on February 14, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Frank Lloyd Wright, as a small boy, went for a walk across a snow-covered field with his serious, no-nonsense uncle. When they reached the far side, his uncle pointed to his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Appreciation, Attitude, Awareness, direction, Inspiration, Journey, Joy, Life's journey, Living Life, satisfaction, Spiritual Insight, wealth, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Where Meek Souls Will Receive Him

Posted on December 23, 2013 by vincentsmithauthor

Of all our Christmas decorations the one I love the most is a hand carved nativity scene made out of olive wood. I bought it in December, 28 years ago, in Bethlehem. The Palestinian shopkeeper, when he discovered I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Appreciation, Bethlehem, Christmas, Faith, inner peace, Inspirational, Jesus, Joy, Nativity, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Our Expectations and Our Reality

Posted on October 10, 2013 by vincentsmithauthor

Megan Gressor said that the happiest person she’d ever met operates a pedicab in Saigon. He’d fought on the losing side in the Vietnam War, spent ten years in a re-education camp, had married late and now had a little … Continue reading →

Posted in Encouragement, inner peace, Inspirational, Joy, Life's journey, Living Life, Personal Growth, relationships, satisfaction, Spirituality, thankfulness | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment