The impulse to grow and thrive is innate to all living things. This truth was made visible to me recently when I found a forgotten bag of flower bulbs tucked away in a corner of my garage. As I opened the bag I was amazed to see vigorous roots sprouting even though the bulbs have been in such an inhospitable environment.

Ideally the bulbs would have been planted in the warm soil of early autumn, allowing lots of time to put down roots into good soil before the winter.

Even though it's way too late to plant, I placed them in the ground with care. I remain hopeful that they will take hold and bloom in the spring. After all, those bulbs clearly want to grow.

"I once read a proverb that said if you lead a meaningful life, you never really die. Instead, you break into 1,000 pieces, each of which stay alive within the people whose lives you've touched along the way.

I am fooling only myself when I say my mother exists now only in the photograph on my bulletin board or in the outline of my hand or in the armful of memories I still hold tight. She lives on in everything I do. Her presence influenced who I was, and her absence influences who I am. Our lives are shaped as much by those who leave us as they are by those who stay. Loss is our legacy. Insight is our gift. Memory is our guide."

~ Hope Edelman ~
American author

from Rey Carr's newsletter "Peer Resources"

Yesterday I received this email from Mark Kokocki, one of the coaches featured in the WelcomeJoy ebook:

Barbra, Thank you for including me in your Welcome Joy ebook. You may have helped changed at least one persons' view of HIV with this simple choice. I will not forget this opportunity.

I responded to Mark by saying:

Mark, it was my privilege. I was enormously touched by your entry. As my husband often says "less is more" and the simplicity of your words carried a big punch. It was one of my favorites. I hope you like the photo that I choose to go along with it.

Below is the photo and Mark's simple but oh-so-powerful entry.

"After living 15 plus years with HIV, I am simply happy to wake up each morning healthy and capable of being a positive force in my world - something many of my friends did not have the chance to experience.....gratitude, joy and peace all rolled into one."

You can contact Mark through his website DropDeadHappy.com

The following article by Dorraine Fisher won first prize in the WelcomeJoy writing contest.

I learned fairly recently that the most important things I know in life came from my Grandpa. He passed away several years ago, but his memory lives on for me every single day in the way I now live my life.

Grandpa was probably the happiest person I ever knew for reasons I never quite understood in my younger days.

He took a lot of criticism from other people for the seemingly lazy way he lived, but he kept on smiling.

He didn’t get too upset about anything, and he didn’t change his ways for anyone.

Those slow summer days spent on my visits to the grandparent’s farm are still fresh in my mind. There was a big picture window by the kitchen table that Grandpa had happily installed with a big bird feeder attached to the outside of the window sill.

Joyful living involves finding your own path, moving forward on that path, taking risks, and inspiring others to do the same.

I find my greatest joy when the trail I leave behind me is so appealing that others are motivated to create their unique trails.

Submitted by Marie M. Loeffler, Certified Life Coach. Contact MLoeffler237 [at] aol.com