Recently I met a lovely woman named Linda Boos. She told me about some of the struggles she has overcome in her life. I was struck by how much life wisdom she has gained from her experiences, and I asked her to contribute to the WelcomeJoy ebook. She agreed, and this is what she wrote:

"There was a time when I confused joy and happiness. Being happy is a feeling, while joy is a state of mind, a whole body experience. Joy is always there, even in the worst of times. The joy and gratitude I carry with me sustain me when things are not as they should be.

One of my most joyous peace filled moments was holding my mother’s hand as she completed her earthly journey. My father and I both left that room feeling more peace than I think we had for awhile. I was actually smiling (I guess you just had to be there). Joy and gratitude define me: they are expressions of my soul that others see.

My life has not always been easy. I have had my share of bumps and bruises along the way. Twenty years ago I came to grips with my alcoholism and started to learn about gratitude then. Being grateful for toilet paper is an art that I developed when I could not find anything else to be grateful for! As my sense of what is important developed, I became more and more grateful and my joy started to appear.

I have a friend who told me in my darkest times, that she would hold the dreams in the palms of her hands until I was ready to take them back. It was a good while before I was able to take them back, but take them back I did.

Deep joy is always there. While you may not always feel “happy”, peace and gratitude can always be present. My dream holder friend, when asked how she is, most always replies with “I am blessed”.

This is a woman with four girls, who at times worked three or four jobs to make ends meet. Her husband had challenges and for a time she was the sole breadwinner. I often thought that her response was fake, just a pat response so others would think everything was okay.

But now I realize she has deep joy. Recently I experienced that feeling of wanting to respond with “I am blessed”. I was pondering and realized that I am truly blessed and that acknowledging blessedness is a byproduct of recognizing the joy within.

The easiest way for me to spread joy is just to be me. I wish I could package it and sell it on the corner. The best I can do reach out to others, not worry about what I am getting, but concentrate on what I give.

Most importantly, my joy and gratitude now allow me to hold other’s dreams in the palms of my hands until they are ready to take them back."

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If you would like to contact Linda Boos you can e-mail her at lsboos [at] columbus.rr.com

"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