Thank you so much to the staff over at Fab Over Fifty for naming me as one of their (FAB FAVES) favorite blogs. I am truly flattered! How nice is that?

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,

but to live by them."

-John F. Kennedy

Have a wonderful weekend!

Via la la Lovely

Give the world your best . . .

Photo via Lerkenfeldt Photography

Perception. . . .

The place: Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.

The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar; the woman threw the money in the hat and without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes later:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes: A 3-year-old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised: In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made, how many other things are we missing?

Would you recognize beauty incognito?

Virtuoso & Grammy Winner - Joshua Bell

Images via Google Images

"To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to."

-Kahlil Gibran

Photo via Twenty Three

Peace through music . . .

"While walking down the street in Santa Monica, CA., the voice of Roger Ridley singing "Stand By Me" was heard from a block away. His voice, soul and passion set us on a course around the world to add other musicians to his performance. This song transformed Playing For Change from a small group of individuals to a global movement for peace and understanding. This track features over 35 musicians collaborating from all over the world. They may have never met in person, but in this case, the music does the talking."

- Playing For Change

Watch, and be inspired.

The Playing for Change Foundation is dedicated to connecting the world through music by providing resources such as facilities, supplies, and educational programs to musicians and their communities around the world. Support them if you can.

Happy Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend!

via Quote Book

Here's To You . . . .

From the book Here's To You

Photo via Google Images

Living in the moment . . .

Have you ever had the experience of driving on the highway, only to realize that you missed your exit, or worse, have no recollection of the previous 15 minutes? We just 'zone out' occasionally. The same thing may happen when you are reading a book. You find yourself at the end of a chapter, and have no idea what you just read! We become so lost in our thoughts that we become unaware of what is going on around us. This is when life can literally pass us by! We can change this by doing our best to live in the moment. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't care about the future. It merely means that when you make a choice to do something, you actually focus on doing it. Most of us have a lot of chatter going on in our minds and when we learn to cut through all that noise, this is when we become more mindful. I find it helps to think of what you're doing as possibly the last time you'll get to experience it. What if it truly was the last day of your life? Would you finally pay attention? No matter what you're doing, try to find something beautiful around you. Being thankful for something that is already in your life will help you notice the present moment. Even the small things can bring life and happiness to routine days.

In her book Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert writes about her friend who, whenever she sees a beautiful place, exclaims in near panic, "It's so beautiful here! I want to come back here someday!" "It takes all my pursuasive powers, writes Gilbert, to convince her that she is already here."

"We have more possibilities available

in each moment than we realize."

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Photo via Getty Images

. . . . never.

Happy Friday!

Via Ventisette

via Design Crush

Just listen . . . .

"There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what it's saying."

-Sarah Dessen

Photo by Sanni Salminen via One Eyeland

Making life come to life . . . .

Photo via Kate Murphy Photography

Celebrity photography . . . .

"It is one thing to photograph people. It is another to make others care about them by revealing the core of their humanness."

-Paul Strand

American Photographer 1890 - 1976

#1, 3, 4 & 5 Melanie Acevedo Photography

#2 & 7 Hugh Stewart Photography

#6 Unknown

When one door closes . . . .

. . . . another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.

-Alexander Graham Bell

Photo via Google Images

Have you ever . . . .

. . . . been in a situation where something you said didn't come out quite right? You didn't mean it the way it sounded, and more than likely it was just a minor slip-up. Well, unfortunately it can be easy to do, and we all know what a sinking feeling that is! It can send us in to a deep hole of embarrassment. Who was it that once said...I may have small feet, but they fit perfectly in my mouth! When you realize you've said something wrong, stop immediately, even if you're mid-sentence, and apologize. Don't make excuses. Own up to what happened and move on. The last thing you want is the feeling of having to avoid the other person the next time you see them at the other end of the grocery aisle. Saying you're sorry immediately will go a long way towards making a bad situation, better.

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."

-Mark Twain

Photo via Getty Images

True enjoyment comes from . . .

activity of the mind

and exercise of the body.

The two are united.

-Alexander von Humboldt

Photo's via Google Images

My intentions . . . .

It was one year ago that I launched This Way To Joy, and began posting here, on this site. Over the weekend I perused my own blog, reading back over the older posts and asking myself what it is that keeps me posting, what it is that inspires me, and even thinking back to why I even started this. I realized that I have to give credit to my sister-in-law, Jenni, who recommended a very motivational book called Making Your Dreams Come True, by Marsha Wieder. This is the book that defined my personal dreams. I honestly wasn't even sure what my dreams were until I read this book. It was literally the roadmap that led me to This Way To Joy. The author states that your beliefs "either move you forward or hold you back," and I realized that I wanted to move forward with the belief that I knew I could lift spirits and encourage others to find their own joy, and I could do it by posting inspirational messages, quotes, and words of encouragement. Honestly, nothing makes me happier. So here I am, 315 posts later, revealing my intentions. I have to admit that my posts are intended just as much for me as they are for my reader. They act as my daily reminders to do whatever I can to be a better person. Many bloggers keep track of how many hits they receive each day, but I don't have a counter on my blog, so I have no idea how many people visit me. I'm pretty sure I prefer it that way. Most days I truly believe I am the only one reading it, which keeps me posting from my heart, and prevents me from obsessing about the numbers. So, to my readers.....if This Way To Joy brings you even a sliver of happiness, an ounce of joy, inspires or motivates you in any way, my dreams have been fulfilled.

I thank you,

Connie

P.S. I do love and appreciate your comments. They make MY day, lift MY spirits, and encourage me to keep posting, so please leave them as often as you like.

"To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being."

-John Lubboc

Ask yourself . . . .

Got a question? About life? About work? About love? About your past, present or future? Very likely there are lots of great people in your life you can turn to for answers, but none know you like you know you! And none are as wise to the ways and the needs and the dreams and the desires that are your own as you are. Neither could another know of your greatest potentials nor of the promises life has in store for you. Ask yourself for the direction you seek and look for the answers in your feelings and intuitions. Listen, too, to your mind. The right way will feel good and make sense. Expect answers!

The mysteries of your soul begin

to show themselves when you look within.

From the book Choose Them Wisely

by Mike Dooley

Photo via .la douleur exquise.

Always . . . .

Via Thresca

HAPPY FRIDAY!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

Love yourself . . . .

"The greatest gift you will ever receive is the gift of loving and believing in yourself. Guard this gift with your life. It is the only thing that will ever truly be yours."

-Tiffany Loren Rowe

Here's To You . . . .

Photo via Guy Aroch

From the book "Here's To You"

"We need not be afraid . . . .

. . . . to touch, to feel, to show emotion. The easiest thing in the world is to be who you are, what you feel. The hardest thing to be is what other people want you to be."

-Leo Buscaglia

Photo via Getty Images

Awesome . . . .

Who or what in your life is AWESOME? Think about it. Few things in life are truly awesome. The definition of the word means "extremely impressive or daunting." Although it gets thrown around too casually in today's culture, once in a while it applies so beautifully to things like:

• a breathtaking sunset
• music so moving it makes you cry
• the rush of love at first sight
• that initial glimpse of your newborn baby
• a beautiful, starry night
• the kindness of a true friend

Make someone's day. Tell them...."you are a great friend - and your kindness is awesome! For that, I thank you."

Photo via Getty Images

Open up your mind and . . . .

Happy Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend!

"We sit silently . . . .

. . . . and watch the world around us. This has taken a lifetime to learn. It seems only the old are able to sit next to one another and not say anything and still feel content. The young, brash and impatient, must always break the silence. It is a waste, for silence is pure. Silence is holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking."

- Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook)

Photo via Getty Images

Listening with your heart . . . .

"God gave you two ears and one mouth" . . . . what does that tell you? I'm thinking that if more people really understood what it means to listen, it could change their life. It could certainly change their relationships. Most of us with siblings grew up simply trying to be heard. We talked over each other. We certainly talked louder. It's sad to say, but most of the time it was true. The squeaky wheel got the grease, right? So at what point did you learn to listen? More than likely you met someone who really listened to you, which made you take notice. You realized what it meant to be heard. Someone was paying attention!

Are you a listener that participates in the conversation or are you just waiting for the other person to stop talking so you can speak? First, you must quiet the chatter in your mind, and engage yourself. If you are constantly thinking about what you are about to say, you surely cannot hear what the other person is talking about. Pay attention to the words and feelings that are being expressed to you. It is then that you will begin to really hear what the other person is trying to convey. Hopefully, at this point you will begin to feel the connection.

I recently read an article that said, 'once the other person realizes that you actually heard what they said, they will most likely relax, share and trust you'. I love that because that's when true communication begins. That's when the real conversations take place. Learning how to truly listen will be the best gift you ever give to yourself and to those you love. Listening with your heart is truly invaluable.

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand."

Pure pleasures . . . .

The first sip of hot coffee in the morning.

The last check mark on your to-do list.

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

The feeling after a great workout.

The smell of the grass after it rains.

An ice cold beer.

All photos via Google Images

Photo via Google Images