joy

park_legs.jpg
the pretty girls of Dolores Park, Canon Digital Rebel

“Know that joy is rarer, more difficult and more beautiful than sadness. Once you make this all-important discovery, you must embrace joy as a moral obligation.”
– Andre Gide

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Hi, I’m Andrea

On this blog you’ll be learning with me how to use our voices, share our creative superpowers and live life in full color.

As an artist, photographer, life coach + mentor, I’m redefining what it means to be a SUPERHERO — ‘cause in my world, it’s got nothing to do with capes, spandex or sidekicks and everything to do with tenderness, intuition & baby steps of bravery.

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26 Comments

  1. jo anne

    great great photo, great quote. have a happy afternoon!

  2. Donavan

    Yes, Yes, Yes.
    I saw the wonderous Anne Lamott speak yesterday and she said “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet”.
    I love that.
    Joy takes bravery, but we can do it.
    Left foot, right foot, left foot, breathe.
    Cry/Laugh/Cry/Laugh/Life/Life/Sigh.
    Let’s all be brave, stand tall and smile big.

  3. Anja

    Thank you for the smile that’s on my face right now!

  4. stef

    Amen!!!!

  5. hillary

    this is such a great picture, thanks for posting it! you always have a way to make me smile and i thank you for that! still sending you those happy thoughts.

  6. Heidi

    Thank you for making me feel better after a “long” day!!

  7. Eileen

    Andrea, thanks again for embracing all of our goofy moments! This pic will forever remind me “it’s always okay” to tumble, toe point and “white lightening” where ever and whenever the urge strikes.
    You’ve beautifully captured My Joys — those lovely ladies I’m fortunate to have surrounding me.
    Sing it loud and proud. “I got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart.”

  8. kate

    It looks like I’m doing a sky cartwheel! 🙂
    I was just telling Eileen that over the last few weeks I’ve felt like I’ve been cut off (cutting myself off?) from joy- I got hurt & went inward to protect myself. I’ve felt sometimes small, mean, dry, pinched & closed up. My body’s sore. I’m a little sour. I’ve been like a little tart little sour apple.
    Yesterday was so great because I got to play. I got to feel connected. I got to let go. I’m also thankful seeing the picture now with your WONDERFUL quote about joy! It infuses me with some sweetness again! It’s so helpful right now. Joy as a choice. As an act of courage. As “peace on it’s feet…” (another great one!) As more challenging & rewarding than sadness.
    I don’t want to cut myself off from joy anymore.
    I want to live more in my joy than in my fear & sadness.
    I want to do more sky cartwheels!
    Thanks to Eileen, Andrea, Sotes, Scanny & Hoffy for a much needed roll in the grass!

  9. Anonymous

    I met a 72 year old Scotsman in Hawaii who ran about 30miles every day and went swing dancing every night. He had bright red hair and the most marvelous laugh wrinkles. “I’m always happy,” he told me in his thick, rustically delicious accent, “being depressed is too much work…”

  10. Anonymous

    I met a 72 year old Scotsman in Hawaii who ran about 30miles every day and went swing dancing every night. He had bright red hair and the most marvelous laugh wrinkles. “I’m always happy,” he told me in his thick, rustically delicious accent, “being depressed is too much work…”

  11. Anonymous

    I met a 72 year old Scotsman in Hawaii who ran about 30miles every day and went swing dancing every night. He had bright red hair and the most marvelous laugh wrinkles. “I’m always happy,” he told me in his thick, rustically delicious accent, “being depressed is too much work…”

  12. Anonymous

    I met a 72 year old Scotsman in Hawaii who ran about 30miles every day and went swing dancing every night. He had bright red hair and the most marvelous laugh wrinkles. “I’m always happy,” he told me in his thick, rustically delicious accent, “being depressed is too much work…”

  13. Anonymous

    I met a 72 year old Scotsman in Hawaii who ran about 30miles every day and went swing dancing every night. He had bright red hair and the most marvelous laugh wrinkles. “I’m always happy,” he told me in his thick, rustically delicious accent, “being depressed is too much work…”

  14. Anonymous

    I met a 72 year old Scotsman in Hawaii who ran about 30miles every day and went swing dancing every night. He had bright red hair and the most marvelous laugh wrinkles. “I’m always happy,” he told me in his thick, rustically delicious accent, “being depressed is too much work…”

  15. Anonymous

    I met a 72 year old Scotsman in Hawaii who ran about 30miles every day and went swing dancing every night. He had bright red hair and the most marvelous laugh wrinkles. “I’m always happy,” he told me in his thick, rustically delicious accent, “being depressed is too much work…”

  16. Anonymous

    I met a 72 year old Scotsman in Hawaii who ran about 30miles every day and went swing dancing every night. He had bright red hair and the most marvelous laugh wrinkles. “I’m always happy,” he told me in his thick, rustically delicious accent, “being depressed is too much work…”

  17. Anonymous

    I met a 72 year old Scotsman in Hawaii who ran about 30miles every day and went swing dancing every night. He had bright red hair and the most marvelous laugh wrinkles. “I’m always happy,” he told me in his thick, rustically delicious accent, “being depressed is too much work…”

  18. girlonaglide

    We someone could have taken a photo of ALL of you having such a wonderful, joyful, funful day! Girl time is so valuable… glad you had the opportunity to share it. 🙂

  19. jack

    omg this is the happiest post i’ve seen in a looooong time. it’s been overdue. made me smile. 🙂

  20. Darcie

    Looks like so much fun! Sometimes rolling around on the grass like a kid is the best medicine.

  21. Julia

    Thank you for this wonderful post! I think joy is happiness standing up and being counted! Hooray for you and this delightful picture of your friends sharing happy, silly,wonderful moments together. Sooo..joyful! 🙂

  22. Anne

    “Joy isn’t something we have to find. Joy is who we are if we’re not preoccupied with something else.”
    -Charlotte Joko Beck, “Nothing Special: Living Zen”

  23. sara

    awesome green wedge platform shoes! I bought myself a similar pair recently and they are the best.

  24. Pamela

    A wonderful representation of the collective power, and joy, of friendship!

  25. Amy

    Fabulous quote- it’s on my fridge now.
    KATE!!! I totally dig your shoes! AND your sky cartwheel. But, back to the shoes- I need some just like that and I live in Wisconsin. Please please tell me where you got them! I’ll send you some cheese for the trade?

  26. kate

    To Amy in Wisconsin- SORRY! The whole blog thing is new to me, I didn’t realize I might be asked important shoe questions! (They are the most important wardrobe questions if you ask me because I LOAVE SHOES. Loave them because it’s bigger than love, you know like in Annie Hall).
    Anywhoo, I got them at Urban Outfitters something like 2 years ago, but I think Espadrilles are very much in the now, very available all over…even with new sequined variations!
    I don’t know if that helps, I don’t know if you can order from Urban Outfitters or if they have them in Wisconsin (forgive my ignorance!). But the brand is: we ‘who’ see footwear. I recommend buying many, in different colors if possible like I wish I’d done.
    These shoes never get old, are super comfy & yet fun & sassy (they COMPEL me to do things like spontaneously roll! it’s the shoes that made the move to get up there in the air)!
    Hope you find some! :)k

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