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WELCOME to the Take Joy Society. We are a group of ladies who first met because of our love of Tasha Tudor's art and lifestyle. We are broadening our focus to include other artists/writers/people of interest who embody Tasha's philosophy to Take Joy in all the good that life has to offer. Here you will find a record of our get-togethers and resources to help you see that the gloom of the world is but a shadow so that you, too, can Take Joy by Creating Joy in your life!

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Authentic Success


art by:  Susan Branch


In Sarah Ban Breathnach's book, Simple Abundance, she writes that while wandering through an abandoned cemetery she discovered a wonderful definition of authentic success inscribed on the headstone of a woman who died in 1820:  "The only pain she ever caused was when she left us."

It's probably too late for any of us to live up to that inscription for our grave stones, so I thought I'd list some of the other examples Sarah gives for authentic success.  She begins with time.

Having time to. . . .
SB
  • pursue personal pursuits that bring you pleasure
  • make loving gestures for your family that you long to do
  • care for your home, tend your garden
  • nurture your soul


In your work you feel. . . . .
  • focused and serene
  • you're doing the best you possibly can and that is enough

With your gifts you've. . . . .
  • accepted your limitations and made peace with your past
  • discovered your passion and are calling forth your gifts so you can share them with the world

Authentic success is. . . . .
  • not about accumulating but letting go because all you have is all you truly need
  • feeling good about who you are, appreciating where you've been, celebrating your achievements, and honoring the distance you've already come
  • reaching the point where being is as important as doing [afterall, we're human beings, not human doings]
  • realizing that no matter how much time it takes for a dream to come true in the physical world, no day is ever wasted
  • elevating labor to a craft and craft to an art by bestowing Love on every task you undertake
  • is being grateful for the many blessings bestowed on you and yours that you can share your portion with others


art by: Maria Berg

.•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•
Take Joy!

4 comments:

  1. Hi Cathy,
    Well you inspired me to finally break down and order this book! :-)
    Thank you for another lovely thought provoking post! :-)
    Many blessings, and warmth, Linnie

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  2. You can't go wrong when guided by Sarah B. After I read one - or more - of her essays on any given day, I almost feel like I've had a massage. Or even a therapy session with a psychologist or a clergy person. Just sort of soothed, rested and comforted. She writes so well too. I love the story about how she came to change her life after her head injury - a great story. Can't remember which book it's in but I have GOT to go dig them out now. Thanks for the impetus and have a great weekend - last one of Summer! 💛

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    Replies
    1. I'm pretty sure the head injury story is in Simple Abundance because I just read about it sometime in the last 2 months when I picked the book back up. I hadn't read it since 2002, so I was overdue in reading it again, too.

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