Go out with Joy

Finding peace
“I love the idea that joy can be found in simple moments. Joy is ever-present. Joy is connection. I feel it when my kids look at the sky and question why the moon looks broken. It’s in the classroom when students sing “I am Yoga” in unison or hold hands during their yoga nap.

I found yoga while grieving. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after my brother died when he was 35 years old. I was the one who found him. Yoga helped me heal, and find peace and stability. The yoga community is full of beautiful beings and those connections were imperative to my healing journey.

I took Youth Yoga Training through Challenge to Change to learn breathing techniques to share with my kids at home but found the training to be transformative in my healing. I was inspired by the CEO of Challenge to Change, Molly Schreiber, who shared her grief journey. Molly’s husband died in a car accident, leaving her widowed with three small children at the age of 30.
Through gratitude and optimism, I hope to radiate joy into the world. It’s a lifelong practice that I continue to work on. Surrounding myself with kids is the best way to radiate joy. I find it impossible not to smile and laugh when I’m around our youth.”     — Chelsea Robinson, Challenge to Change yoga instructor for Madison Elementary

Focus on what matters most
“Joy is a feeling of wellness that comes from inside; from knowing you have a purpose and doing your best to fulfill that purpose.

My wife Ann and I always had a lot of fun together. It didn’t matter what we were doing, we enjoyed each other and did everything together. When she died last year, that loss was hard. But you endure. You focus on your kids and grandkids because that’s exactly what she’d want me to do.

My purpose is my family. I have four children, their spouses, and nine grandchildren. They make me want to get up every single day. I enjoy following my grandchildren’s lives and watching them find their paths in life as they become adults. Their curiosity about the world and their positivity are what bring me the most joy.

I try to radiate joy into the world by engaging deeply with people. The church is a huge place of socialization for me because I’m not a naturally gregarious person. I have to force myself to be more sociable, but we all need that feeling of community in our lives.”     — Ted Harris, St. Paul member, retired business professor

Sing for joy
“Joy is more of a feeling and it’s hard to put into words. Joy is being able to look around and find the good amidst the bad or the negative. You’ve got to pick things out and concentrate on the beautiful things to get you through.

Six years ago I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I was devastated, to say the least. Leading up to surgery, I knew I had to sing as much as possible because I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to sing again. The night before surgery, I recorded myself singing because I wanted to have that recording just in case.

Now, there are moments I have to pinch myself that I get to be a professional performer. I still get to sing, and I’m singing more than ever; that’s God’s gift and I get to share it with the world. I get into a flow state where I forget everything else that’s happening and just connect with the audience. On Sundays, when Open Spirit melds together, you just get this feeling of joy and I can feel God’s presence in those moments.”     — Laura Hammes, vocalist, teacher, Open Spirit ensemble member