Our campus is reading The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World. Douglas Abrams was on campus to share the wisdom of the book with us on Tuesday. He shared how compassion–according to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu–is such a key to joy that the book might have been titled: The Book of Compassion.
In a moving presentation, Abrams shared the wisdom he gleaned from these spiritual leaders and reminded us not to run from suffering. Instead, we need to turn up the volume on joy.
Speaking of turning up the volume on joy, creative writing students are blogging again this semester; you can find their wisdom and stories at:
http://somanythingstotellyouhome.wordpress.com
http://21stcenturyslideshowhome.wordpress.com
http://neotericplaylisthome.wordpress.com
http://galaxiesofwordshome.wordpress.com
http://promptstockpile.wordpress.com
http://findingour5senseshome.wordpress.com
http://inventoryofmemoryhome.wordpress.com
Please follow these bloggers, like them, and tell your friends about Cosumnes River College’s diligent and creative writers.
*
In a chapter titled “Happiness,” from her book The True Secret of Writing: Connecting Life with Language, Natalie Goldberg explains:
Happiness is shy. It wants to know you want it. Like pursuing writing. You write the truth. It signals more truth to rise to the surface. You can’t be greedy. You can’t be numb—or ignorant. The bashful girl of happiness needs your kind attention. Then she’ll come forward.
*
How do you welcome happiness into your life? How do you turn up the volume on joy?
shewhodaresnothing 