I had never really thought of “interest” as an emotion, but apparently it’s one of the very basic emotions. Different stages include noticing something, wondering about it, being curious, being fascinated, astonished, and being in ecstasy. I had always thought of ecstasy as meaning intense pleasure, but it apparently refers to that state when you pay so much attention to something that the rest of the whole world falls away.

I wonder to what extent this emotion plays into addictions. I’ve been known to become easily addicted to just about anything, from video games and FaceBook, to reading and knitting (good thing I’ve never tried any drugs and limit my alcohol). I tend to get hyper-focused on things I’m interested in, to the exclusion of everything else. It is, indeed, intensely pleasurable to me. I wonder if it’s the focus on your object of interest that is pleasurable, or the fact that everything else disappears? I wonder if I could trick myself into becoming addicted to cleaning the house? Which brings us to tomorrow’s topic (or today’s, since it’s past midnight): HOPE.

When I wrote the word Gratitude on the white board this morning, the kids immediately said “When you’re thankful for something!” The word “appreciate” came up, too. I asked the kids to close their eyes and think of something they were grateful for. Then I asked them who they were grateful to. It occurred to me when I asked it, that Gratitude is an emotion felt in relation to someone else. You can feel Joy by yourself, but you feel Gratitude towards someone, for something they’ve done for you or given you. Then I asked them what the emotion really felt like. Their answers pleasantly surprised me: warm, soft, like a hug.

While doing this exercise with the kids, I closed my eyes, too. I was overwhelmed with the thoughts and feelings that sprung to mind. I am grateful to so many people for so many things, I can hardly begin to tease something out of the cloud to identify, much less put them in any order. I feel gratitude towards just about everyone, even strangers, for their part in the dance that creates the world I live in and the life I experience. I couldn’t possibly express it adequately – “Thank you” just never seems to be enough.

So the positivity word of the day was JOY. The kids jumped right on this: Joy is happiness and excitement! Joy is being with your family! Joy is going on an adventure in the woods!

Liam wrote: Joy is a happy feeling. When you play with friends, get a present, or even feel rested, you may feel joy.

I have found it easier over the last year to find JOY in everyday moments through the practice of being present. Sure, I experienced joy in wriggling my toes in the warm, wet sand at the beach, listening to the waves lap at the shore. I have experienced joy in simple pleasures like cooking a meal for my family, singing lullabies to my kids, watching the snow fall, throwing pottery. But I’ve also learned to experience joy in parenting a fussy toddler, working out at the gym, even folding laundry. I’m quite joyful right now, snuggled under a blanket and a warm laptop in my recliner in front of the fire, even though I missed my pottery class this evening because Lori wasn’t feeling well. Of course I don’t live in a constant state of bliss, but when I remember to bring my full attention to the present moment, it can almost feel that way.

I recently attended a seminar on Positive Psychology, and came home with a bunch of ideas. One of them was to create a Positivity Portfolio. The kids and I had so much fun counting down to Christmas, I thought it would be neat to count down to Valentine’s Day by exploring our happy feelings and creating a Treasure Box (Positivity Portfolio). I bought little boxes that the kids painted and decorated last week. This morning, Liam read this story to the rest of the kids:

A Cherokee Chief’s grandson once came to him in anger, proclaiming loudly the injustice another child had committed against him in taking credit for his discovery of a water well nearby.

With a smile the chief began, indirectly preparing his grandson to lead the tribe with a wise Cherokee parable:

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves,” he paused momentarily – meditating upon the predicament the Chief faces on a daily basis.

“One is negative – he is anger, envy, hate, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, and ego.”

He continued, “The other is positive – he is joy, gratitude, interest, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, amusement, inspiration, generosity, pride, compassion, awe, and love.

The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson of the wise Chief thought about it for a minute and then instinctively asked his grandfather “Which wolf will win?”

Delighted that his grandson had the wisdom to inquire, the Cherokee Chief smiled and countered with a whisper, “The one you feed.”

We talked about the story, what the kids thought it meant, and what they thought about it. Then we jumped right in to examining JOY.

I haven’t blogged in a whole year, but I’ve accepted a friend’s challenge to blog every day this February. I’m planning to blog my Positivity Portfolio until Valentine’s Day, so that should get me through the first half of the month. Stay tuned!

I just uploaded pictures from Halloween and November, but unfortunately not in that order. I could probably figure out how to fix it, but I’m going to let it go. Hopefully you will, too. Next up: Christmas pix!

I’ve always been amazed at each child’s verbal explosion around 18 months, and Lori’s is no exception. Since Christmas she has learned a bazillion new words and applies them in new ways every day. This morning, while reaching for the handle of the sliding glass door, she said, “Me help gogog out peepee.” I asked, “You want to help let the dog out to go pee?” Her reply encompassed her enthusiasm both for the task and her ability to communicate her idea: “YES!”

Kids like to tell jokes. Usually, they’re not funny. The boys will often repeat jokes that ARE funny, but they have no idea *why*. So I’ve been all the more amused lately when Liam and Evan have made up their own jokes that ARE funny. Examples:

Me: What does a kangaroo need when it’s having trouble jumping? … A HOPeration!

Evan (without missing a beat): At the HOPspital?

and Liam’s latest joke:

Q: What do you call it when a robot cat isn’t working right?

A: A MEOWfunction.

We’ve had some good times in 2008, but I’m ready to move on. I have great expectations for 2009, tempered with an appropriate measure of trepidation. Everyone hold onto your hats!

As an end-of-year gift to you, our readers, I’ve uploaded an album of pix from September and October. There’s a lot to wade through – that should keep you busy while I weed the Halloween album. We take too many pictures…

The Stearns clan wishes you peace and joy. Happy New Year!

Liam was following me around this morning tunring off all the lights as I ran around the house straightening things up for impending guests.

Me: “What’s up, Liam?”

Liam: “It’s electricity day.”

Me: “What is electricity day?”

Liam: “Today. We have to try to not use so many lights and save electricity.”

Me: “How did it get to be ‘electricity day’?”

Liam: “I made it up. Can I turn this light off now?”

So, I apologize to those of you who read our site and are *not* on facebook – I’ve been neglecting the blog and photo albums. I joined facebook as part of our 15-year class reunion, and have since become addicted. It’s just too easy to post updates, pictures, notes about the kids, etc. I do still intend to upload pictures to this website and blog from time to time, but if you want up-to-the-minute news on the Stearns clan, facebook is the way to go (at least for now). Check back soon for album uploads – I have to get up to date before Christmas!