<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Alexa - A Simple Life &#187; finding joy</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/tag/finding-joy/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com</link>
	<description>Living simply and content</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 29 Jun 2017 03:00:09 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
		<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
		<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.40</generator>
	<item>
		<title>Joy in unexpected places</title>
		<link>http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/joy-in-unexpected-places/</link>
		<comments>http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/joy-in-unexpected-places/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:45:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexa]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Contentment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Journey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Support network]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finding joy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finding peace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finding support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to cope with family trauma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[joy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Respite]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soothe the soul]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[support for the terminally ill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[support network]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=1232</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Finding Joy&#8230; I wrote this a week ago during a drive to visit family. A moment when thoughts just flowed. Since then there have been tragic news stories abounding which makes us want to hold loved ones closer. &#8220;&#8230;It has been an emotional few weeks visiting, supporting and driving from one end of an out-of-state [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_1238" style="width: 1546px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/image1.jpg"><img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/image1.jpg" alt="Joy in unexpected places, family, finding joy, finding peace, finding support, how to cope with family trauma,joy, Respite, soothe the soul, support for the terminally ill, support network, wild flowers, surviving hard times, resilient" width="1536" height="1024" class="size-full wp-image-1238" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Courtesy chamomile@morgueFile free photos</p></div>
<p>Finding Joy&#8230;<br />
I wrote this a week ago during a drive to visit family. A moment when thoughts just flowed. Since then there have been tragic news stories abounding which makes us want to hold loved ones closer.</p>
<p>&#8220;&#8230;It has been an emotional few weeks visiting, supporting and driving from one end of an out-of-state town to the other. Showing our love, compassion, cheer and empathy to two dearly beloved family members of two different generations. One ageing being cared for in assisted living and the other too young, with a short life expectancy but fighting valiantly to continue.</p>
<p>Many emotions and memories for all.</p>
<p>Today we decided to drive a different route home after morning coffee with family. We&#8217;d been refreshed with our eyes exploring the wide horizons of the beautiful Adelaide Hills. A change from city driving. From little car parks and trying to find another parking spot, again, today. From hospital car parks. From the stale confined air of hospitals.</p>
<div id="attachment_1239" style="width: 3082px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/image2.jpg"><img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/image2.jpg" alt="Joy in unexpected places, family, finding joy, finding peace, finding support, how to cope with family trauma,joy, Respite, soothe the soul, support for the terminally ill, support network, green hills, wide horizons, surviving hard times, resilient" width="3072" height="2048" class="size-full wp-image-1239" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Courtesy Kconnors@morgueFile free photos</p></div>
<p>&#8230;so we took another road not quite knowing what the journey would be like. We had time and were in the mindset to try &#8220;different&#8221; and I&#8217;m so glad we did. It was just a road, a straight unimpeded road with less bustling traffic and for most of the way it exuded tranquility&#8230;.older stately houses, graceful homes, bigger blocks, greenery&#8230;.it was my meditation</p>
<p>Sights which I would have loved to photograph.<br />
Instead&#8230;<br />
Snaps I took with my mind of quickly passing scenes<br />
A quaint cupola roof peeking out amongst the green<br />
Gorgeous stone and metal lace work from old religious college<br />
Sprawling slate roof on stately lady of a house with vibrant green moss growing amongst the tiles<br />
&#8216;Bespoke&#8217; luxury apartment with advertising sign for sale&#8230;Oh, what a gorgeous old worldly word<br />
Watching a young father with small son on his shoulders walking to the nearest place to play ball<br />
&#8230;each carrying their own basket ball<br />
&#8230;regular size and child size<br />
&#8230;and that REALLY made me smile</p>
<div id="attachment_1240" style="width: 4618px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/image3.jpg"><img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/image3.jpg" alt="Joy in unexpected places, family, finding joy, finding peace, finding support, how to cope with family trauma,joy, Respite, soothe the soul, support for the terminally ill, support network, surviving hard times, resilient, basket ball, playing ball with children, forget me not" width="4608" height="3072" class="size-full wp-image-1240" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Courtesy Jeltovski@morgueFile free photos</p></div>
<p>So I found a beautiful place to linger in and was refreshed. </p>
<p>Do YOU find these places?<br />
&#8230;by observing with a different eye.<br />
&#8230;A little beauty and joy on an unfamiliar road. </p>
<p>Another little detour later in the day&#8230;<br />
Taking the long way round to go visiting &#8230;<br />
Food for the soul-<br />
A drive along the ocean.<br />
Serenity</p>
<div id="attachment_1235" style="width: 2308px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/image.jpg"><img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/image.jpg" alt="Joy in unexpected places, family, finding joy, finding peace, finding support, how to cope with family trauma,joy, Respite, soothe the soul, support for the terminally ill, support network, sunset, serenity in a sunset" width="2298" height="1536" class="size-full wp-image-1235" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Courtesy demondimum@morgueFile free photos</p></div>
<p>Orange skies, luminous clouds outlined with gold<br />
Brightest of beams displayed surrounding an even brighter sun<br />
A heavy ball is the sun, drooping and dropping into the ocean<br />
And gone&#8230;<br />
But so many Joy filled hearts<br />
Sitting in parked cars or lined up with cameras,<br />
Silhouette of family standing on sand dunes<br />
Even paused mid stride it seemed,<br />
on the footpath with shopping in hand.<br />
All savouring a brief magic moment</p>
<p>Do you savour the moment? &#8221;<br />
For B.</p>
<p>Joining in with Thriving Thursday Link Up<br />
Hosted by servingjoyfully.com</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/joy-in-unexpected-places/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
