21 "Joy" Enhancers (When You Need To Get Your Joy Back)

It's a fact. The holiday season comes. And while many are gleeful and glad, still others are grouchy and glum. It's not that these don't want to be happy. It's not they don't want to have fun (and frolic). It's just that money's tight (for some) or they've lost their job (for others) or, you see, that loved one passed away earlier this year (for still others) and to be cheerful and bright right now? Well, it's just not gonna happen, quite frankly. And it could be just about anything that's got any one of us in a "Bah, humbug" mood. (Can you relate?)

I want to try to help "restore the joy" (should you find yourself in need of help). That's what this post is all about. I've lumped together (below) what I call "JOY enhancers" using the acronym "J-O-Y." I mean, you just can't do this sort of stuff in the list and still be in despair. It's just not possible (at least in my mind). And so in the interests of restoring/enhancing "JOY", here we go with...

21 "Joy" Enhancers (When You Need To Get Your Joy Back):

1. J-UMP, skip and hop like you used to do as a kid.
2. J-OIN with others to sing Christmas carols.
3. J-OG ~ or whatever exercise suits you (gets the blood flowing).
4. J-OURNAL a list of happy moments in your life.
5. J-OKE around with a good friend.
6. J-ETISEN the hurts of the past, forgiving those who hurt you.
7. J-OURNEY to a celebration of Christmas at a church in your area.

8. O-PEN the curtains of your home to let the sun shine in.
9. O-FFER to help with the needs of another.
10. O-MIT negative thinking from your mind.
11. O-RCHESTRATE a dinner and invite your neighbors.
12. O-PINE (to yourself) about all the things you're thankful for.
13. O-CCUPY a lower place (by choice) in a situation and give someone else the higher place.
14. O-RDAIN in your heart that you're gonna make this the best Christmas ever.

15. Y-EARN for the good ol' days (but make today a good ol' day!).
16. Y-IELD to seeing the good in others. (It's really there if you look close enough.)
17. Y-ANK out (in a gentle way) old pictures of family and friends to look at.
18. Y-ACK on the phone with a sibling that you haven't talked to (yacked with) in a long time.
19. Y-AWN because you stayed up late watching "It's A Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart.
20. Y-ELL, Hallelujah! (Rejoicing has a way of bringing back the joy.)
21. "Y-OU'RE a mean one, Mr Grinch" ~ If he can get better so can you. Believe it.