A Joyous Perspective on....JOY!

Another week behind us, and it's time for another Friday Night Thought Tale Hour with the Hendersons. Do you have one of those names? You know, the ones that are used to state more than just your ID? Well, I do, and I can tell you it's brought me both a little smile and a few tears in my life. It's been used to both define and deflate me. To compliment me and to condemn me. But I have to say, being given this name has been one of the best blessings of my life. If not only for the novelty but also for the ways it has been a life vest for me during times of struggle. Then there is the added caveat of being born on New Year's Day. I spent many of the first few years of my life believing people were in pre-celebration of my birth with all of the JOY references that covered windows, Christmas Trees, and commercials. 

I eventually figured it out, but I still revel in all the JOY during the holidays. 

But it's a word that deserves much more attention throughout the entire year. Every day in fact. Everyone understands happiness. We all know what it is to be satisfied and full. Even the quietest and most solemn person has experienced a hearty belly laugh. But each of these doesn't touch the perfection of feeling real joy. Rumi said that joy was like a river running through you. So in this season of seeing JOY everywhere, I've decided to take some extra time to actually spell it out. To take apart my namesake with all of its meanings and maybe spread a little wisdom along with the JOY.  Here's my first shot at it. So let's have some fun.

J is for Jammies....

Ahhh.... Jammies. Is there anything better than putting on your favorite pair of P.J.'s at the end of a long day? Or how about just never having to take them off on a Saturday or on your day off? Oh, how about matching Jammies with your loved ones? Such a wonderful way to bring definition to who you are isn't it? Yes, our Jammies give us so much great joy. That profound and warm snuggle that says you are comfortable and all better. I am still holding on to a special memory from a few weeks ago while my 3-year-old Grandson Deo was visiting. Coming out of the bathroom, he looked up and said, "Gramma, I like your jammies."  Now there's some pure joy for this Joy.

O is for Over.

Is anyone else out there onboard with learning to accept some things and move on? If 2016 has had a message for me, it's been to get over some things and help others to do the same. The joy that one feels when you are PAST something and finally free of it is absolutely delicious. More tasty and warming than your Momma's best Chicken and Noodles. Being able to say, "It's over." is like taking off a heavy backpack. Your muscles relax, and you take a big, deep cleansing breath. And once something has been accepted as over, you can always remind yourself and others that it will be kept in that status. Moving forward with new freedom, now there's some real joy for this Joy.

Y is for YOLO baby!

Yolo, one of the newest entries into the Webster's Dictionary for 2016 has become one of my favorite themes lately. "You Only Live Once" has kept me on track through the past couple of years as I've endeavored to clean up my act in many ways. The realization that each day could be my last one here on this Earthly plane and whatever I've done to that point will be how I will be remembered. That has continuously motivated me to be my best.  Or at least be better. You may not find a lot of joy in trying something new or making a difficult change right away, but the rewarding joy will come later. The best kind of joys are the ones you work toward and cultivate for a later point. And while you wait, you are getting your YOLO out there loud and proud. The results of my YOLO plan are coming together, and that's a great source of joy for this Joy.

So what's your JOY spelling out for you this season?

Take a few minutes and consider spelling out how joy can make your life a little brighter. Maybe how it can challenge you to reach a little deeper for something that goes beyond happiness. Something that glows from the inside out. That river of joy.

So tonight, I am making one of my favorite cocktails called a "White Christmas Martini." It looks like we might be having one around here this year, and that - you guessed it - fills me with great joy! CHEERS, FRIENDS!

Joy's Favorite White Christmas Martini***

2-ounces vanilla vodka

2-ounces white chocolate liqueur

1 ounce white creme de cacao

1-ounce half-and-half (I use Fat-Free)

Honey and coarse sanding sugar for rim garnish

Pour the honey into a shallow dish and put the sanding sugar in another shallow dish. Coat the rim of the glass in the honey; then dip the rim in the sugar to coat evenly. Set the glass aside.

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the vodka, white chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao and half-and-half. Shake vigorously and strain into the prepared martini glass.

***Always drink responsibly. Never drive a vehicle after consuming alcohol.