I, myself, can sometimes be pessimistic, a downer and I have struggled with issues that haven't allowed me to fully embrace contentment in life. But after reading this book, I know for a fact (and it has been scientifically proven) that the possibility of joy is limitless. You just have to allow yourself see, hear, smell and FEEL it! The world wasn't created for loneliness, sadness or isolation (though sometimes it feels that way). If it was we wouldn't have lush jungles, blue oceans and magnificent creatures that roam. Van Dyke’s text is a multi-layered poem of praise. Albert Bailey describes it as an “intricate interweaving of fact and metaphor” ( The Gospel in Hymns, 554). Some argue that the text is too universalist, but it is simply a beautiful hymn of praise from all of Creation. The all-encompassing text is meant to show the interplay between the joy given to God by His creation, and the joy we receive through this creation. The third verse is especially poignant in that it directs our attention from creation to Christ, and reminds us that our joy means nothing if we do not live out of that joy in love of one another. Tune: I like the sketches. And what the author says makes sense. But imo it's not a great book. It's meant to be a sort of counterpoint to minimalism, but m. is an easy straw man. It's meant to be a serious book, but Lee is neither a psychologist nor an anthropologist, and some of what she claims she actually has misunderstood, misreported, or supplanted. She doesn't think like a scientist, either, mixing up cause & effect, or pointing to one cause among many as if the others don't matter.

Yarn bombing in action – an element of the Surprise aesthetic – image from wiki – Bet this photo made you smile I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.” It seems that Dana was onto something when she sang these words in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest. One may wonder, does the aesthetic IFL espouses reflect anything more than her own personal preferences? There is certainly a danger that confirmation bias might play a role here. By offering thoughtful discussion, and the assistance of professional practitioners, she made me feel pretty comfortable with there being a minimum of such sample soiling here.

Ruth Lande Shuman - founder of the non-profit Publicolor, which offers a group of design-based programs aimed at helping high-risk students in their education. Overall, Joyful is an enjoyable and inspiring read which I recommend for readers who enjoy design and concepts of well being. I was talking about this book with a dear friend who was a chef, had owned and run a restaurant or three in her time, but is out of the business now. She said that one of the things that was very important to her was that the plates on which a meal was served complemented the food, drew the eye, made for a presentation that was about more than just aroma and flavor, but built anticipation. IFL is doing that here, on a much larger table. I is thrilling to think about the many elements in the author’s descriptions that I already incorporate into my home decor and party planning that do bring me joy. It’s nice to recognize and embrace these elements not just as my personal preferences but as overall important elements of design. My intuition in creating my environment is justified, and I’m challenged to deliberately incorporate more elements! This hymn is generally considered by hymnologists to be one of the most joyous expressions of hymn lyrics in the English language." It is also used as a Christian song for children.

Next time you see one of those inflatable tall tube 'men' dancing to advertise a car sale or whatever, note the movement. And go home and try to dance like that. The story behind their design is fascinating. Parr devotes time to numerous philanthropic causes supporting pet adoption, children’s hunger, health, and literacy. He is a frequent reader and fundraiser for The Ronald McDonald House and serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Children’s Book Festival. His corporate collaborations include Best Buy, Stouffer’s, and the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank, among others. Pierre Cardin’s iconic Bubble Palace designed By Antti Lovag – image from nine.com.au – the author writes on the impact on creativity of curvy shapes in one’s environment I loved so much about this book but I did find it all too much in one go. Maybe I should have paced myself more. I suspect there’s something of the dark in my nature because I started to find the joyfulness a bit cloying at times.Mae hwn yn llyfr gwirioneddol hyfryd. Mae’r darluniadau i gyd yn llachar o liwgar, ac mae’n gwneud ichi deimlo’n gyffredinol gynnes. Ar y diwedd, mae’r darllenydd yn cael gwahoddiad i ysgrifennu ei stori ei hun ac mae yna gwpl o dudalennau gwag yno ar gyfer gwneud hyn. Jihan Zencirli has made an uplifting business out a familiar joyous object – reflecting points about the joy of celebration and the impact of large objects in our festivities Ingrid Fetell Lee takes a close look at how the simple pleasures in life (such as bringing joy to a room) ultimately transform lives. We rediscover their joy again and again, and we fall a bit more in love each time.But, that begs the question, what makes a room joyful? I am intrigued by the author’s comprehensive and thoughtful explanation and application of each aesthetic. A “Reversible Destiny Loft” in Tokyo – The author tried it for a few days - Can enough physical stimulation in a living space reverse aging?

Celebration: synchrony, sparkle, and bursting shapes, string lights, glitter, contrast of light and dark (fireworks, candlelight, fireplaces)

A hugely entertaining, fully colour-illustrated collection celebrating joy, perfect for children age 8 to 12 (and beyond!). Curated by Laugh Out Loud Awards winner Dapo Adeola, with a foreword by the acclaimed Patrice Lawrence. Joyful, Joyful is a book to sing about! Author says, "We are living at a moment when technology is redefining our world at an unprecedented rate, creating more opportunities to be dazzled but with a greater risk of fatigue. ... Technology is the most valuable when it reminds us of the boundaries of our existence...."

This book should be a help to those of us who are always interested in adding more joy to our lives. The first chapter of Joyful reminds me of Debbie’s post here on her family and the color orange! (Yes, Debbie, the first chapter is about the colors orange and yellow and I thought of you immediately!) In her introduction, Lee tells of a woman who found that buying cut flowers lifted her mood for days, yet she restricted herself to buying them for special occasions. Lee notes that if she were to buy them weekly, they’d cost far less than her therapy sessions. Good point! Freedom: nature (water, blue sky, trees, gardens), wildness, and open space (most commonly enjoyed paintings are landscapes)

Ingrid Fetell Lee shares how to bring more joy into your life through the appreciation of ordinary things. Using tools like color selection, feng shui, gardening and room design, you can utilize your environment to foster an inner sense of joy and well being.