Hello friends, creatives, journal keepers, artists and small business owners! 

I'm excited to share with you a book review for Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee. I originally found this title visually on Pinterest (​​follow me at Refresh with Dawn Herring); and I'm sure if you've known me for any length of time, that you would know that anything with JOY in the title is sure to get my attention! 

So I knew I had to get my hands on a copy, and I'm so glad I did. Ingrid is detailed, comprehensive and fun in her study on JOY as she dives deep into what initiates JOY from our Surroundings and WHY that happens. 

Through many interviews with architects, artists, designers and others who incorporate deliberate JOY into what they do, she showcases the initiators of JOY. Examples are color, shape, dynamic, energy, inspiration and a myriad of approaches to what can bring us JOY and Why. 

I love how she categorizes her 10 topical chapters (energy, abundance, freedom, harmony, play, surprise, transcendence, magic, celebration, renewal) and her comprehensive approach to sharing what each one represents, both seamlessly and with great detail. 

I enjoyed my reading of Joyful; it gave me new appreciation for my surroundings and even some ideas that I can incorporate into my space. I really loved her focus on abundance, giving examples of confetti, a ton of balloons, bubbles, and repeating wall paper as examples of what can bring us JOY visually and why it has such an impact on us. Yes, there is a science to it all! 

Somehow, this title, Joyful, really affirmed what I have already discovered and experienced as a JOY focused creative, and it just made me smile knowing that I've got this whole JOY thing right! We can have more JOY in our lives by deliberately choosing what is in our surroundings, how we decorate, how we dress, and how we connect with others in community. 

Love this quote from the book: "At the Heart of Celebration is a kind of mathematical paradox: the more we share joy, the more it grows." 

Ingrid does such a splendid job on this title, Joyful, that I wholly recommend it. Plus she offers several resources to help you figure how best to approach your choices in creating more JOY in your life every day. 

Thank you so much, Ingrid, for writing this book; it was a true blessing to read it and I'm delighted to share it with my readers. 

P.S. I've included Ingrid's TED Talk below, Where JOY Hides and How to Find it. 

As an avid journal keeper, I know it can be helpful to have more than one approach to journaling to keep it relevant, revealing and renewing, as well as a prompt or question to keep things fun, fresh and fabulous. You can now receive all this journal keeping support with The ART of Journaling Tool Box, filled with 7 Power Tools for your journaling as well as The ART of Journaling Prompt PLAY Book, filled with 31 prompts, questions and image suggestions to PLAY with in your journaling practice. Whether you're just getting started or looking for some fresh starting points, the resources are simply Perfect for Powerful Playing that leads to personal empowerment. Just click on either image and get started! And let me know which ones are working for YOU right now. 

Journaling Prompt:
Look at your surroundings and do an analysis in your journal about what you like the most about areas in your home and what you would like to change to make it more JOYful and aligned with Who You Are as Artist of Your Life. 

Art Journal Prompt:
Have fun with some JOYful images that encapsulate how you want to feel with more JOY in your life. 

Doodle Prompt:
Using JOY or JOYful as a starting point, draw circles, confetti and/or bubbles to highlight and accentuate JOY visually. 

You can read previous book reviews:
Creative Revolution by Flora Bowley
The Creative License by Danny Gregory
I Just Like to Make Things by Lilla Rogers
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
​Watercolor from the Heart by Barbara Nechis 
Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin 

Copyright 2019 Review by Dawn Herring
Copyright 2019 Art by Dawn Herring 

Hello friends, creatives, journal keepers, artists and small business owners! I've got some fun insights to share with you from this past week. I so enJOY sharing what inspires me, what fills my creative well and what I'm thinking about and working on behind the scenes as Artist, Designer, Creative and journal keeper. 

This past week, I watched a movie titled, A Brilliant Young Mind, which is a story about a young man in school who is Mathematically a genius, the mentors/teachers that helped him and his parental story, his pain and his connection with others in the process. 

One of the things that fascinates me with these stories of autistic children is how they think, how they process their world, and how they use their gifts to excel and make a life for themselves. 

In this particular story, the young man's way of thinking is in Patterns. Thus the mathematical interest and genius in his application and focus. This gave me food for thought concerning patterns and how they influence me as an Artist. 

Whether it's a pattern in wall paper, in a rug, with tiles on the wall, and even from  questions on a standardized test (remember those?), patterns are everywhere. In interior contexts, I have patterned preferences, ones that are loose and more abstract, rather than repeated, ongoing. You know, the kind that keeps your eye too busy when your'e trying to concentrate or have a conversation and it's distracting you...

I prefer focal points that inspire versus an ongoing continuum. 
I once had a rug that had different sized squares with many of my favorite colors. That rug was really cool, and I loved looking at it. It was restful yet colorful. No repeating patterns. Yep. 
This movie actually inspired me to think more deeply on what I prefer as designer, artist and resident of my abode. 

Of course, I recorded all these observations and considerations in my journal because of its relevance,  it being a great way to keep track of my Artistic Mind and where it might lead with future designs that I create.

Want to keep your journaling practice more relevant, revealing and renewing? Check out The ART of Journaling Tool Box filled with 7 Power Tools I use to keep journaling fresh, fun and fabulous. Just click on the image to sign up and get your free PDF!  
Ready to P-L-A-Y with your next journal entry with prompts, questions and image suggestions for journaling, art journaling, doodling/drawing? Check out The ART of Journaling Prompt PLAY Book, perfect companion to The ART of Journaling Tool Box. Just click on either image to sign up and get your complimentary download today! 

In continuing with the movie's story (spoiler alert if you haven't seen it yet!), the young man has a horrifying experience in the car with his Dad driving, where someone runs a red light and there's a head-on collision, killing his Dad on impact. Traffic lights are featured frequently in the movie as a reminder of what he saw in patterns at the time of his Dad's death. He had a very close relationship with his dad, despite his autism, since his dad understood him deeply and often used humor to connect with him. This created many poignant memories throughout the movie at times in the young man's life that were deeply significant. 

As a Grandmother of a grandson with autism, I deeply appreciated the father's connection with his son and his desire to enable his son to feel secure, loved and appreciated for who he was. 

I pay close attention to my grandson's development (since his birth!) and when he struggles or when he's thrilled, I try to understand him on the deepest of levels, both in connection with how I felt as a child as well as wanting to feel what he is feeling, which can be challenging when he's in his own "world." Not only do I connect with him emotionally but also through humor, just by the way I say things to him. I have had the privilege of hearing him say to me, "Grandma, you crack me up!" 

Sometimes I'll ask him what was so funny, and he will reiterate what I said. It's always nice when he understands my humor and appreciates my communication with him on that level. It brings me great JOY. 

As I continued to reflect on A Brilliant Young Mind, I realized that life is full of repeating patterns, some of which we deeply enJOY and others we would prefer to change in order to grow. 

Whatever patterns suit you, pay closer attention. They may give you deeper insight into why you like what you do. Whatever life patterns you realize in your own reflections, remember that you always have the power to change in order to grow, if necessary. And those patterns you've developed to make self care a priority, appreciate them afresh as you relish the poignant moments that you experience from the heart. 

Journaling Prompt:
Recall a pattern you remember from childhood and detail what it looked like. Why did it leave such an impression, and was it positive or negative? Compare that pattern with ones you have in your current environment. Any similarities? What are the differences? Which do you prefer? 

Art Journaling Prompt:
Find a pattern you really love in a magazine and use it to frame your next art journal spread, using colors and words to show your appreciation for such resonating visuals. 

Doodle Prompt: 
Create a Pattern in your sketch book using colors and motives that are your favorites. 

If you are a small business owner, and you desire to feel empowered and confident with the visuals you use to market your products and services, and you would like a more customized approach to how you present yourself in the marketplace, check out my service, Dawn's Dynamic Designs: Hand Lettering and Illustration. My great desire is to create art for your business brand, products and services, so you can approach the market knowing you can attract the right client with the right visual. Plus with 10 years of experience in Social Media Marketing, I can take the overwhelm out of the navigation. I look forward to hearing from  you! 

Copyright 2019 by Dawn Herring
Copyright 2019 Images by Dawn Herring 

Hello friends, journal keepers, creatives, artists, and small business owners! I'm excited to share with you some important developments I've discovered and uncovered for myself, both in my journaling practice and as an Artist and Creative. 

The month of January in this New Year of 2019 has been very introspective for me. I realize it can be that way for a lot of people as we determine what we want to accomplish with the setting of goals often being the focal point. 

But for me, I think it's been more of a comprehensive looking inward as I focus on Who I Am as a Creative, Journal Keeper, Artist and family member, and friend to You, dear reader! 

So, I've been taking a lot of time, going deep into the recesses of my journal and my thoughts, putting them on the page. And it's been quite a revealing time for me. (One of the elements of The ART of Journaling ToolBox is for your journaling to be Revealing; see below to subscribe and get the PDF resource for your practice and take it to the next level!) 

Before I share more deeply what I discovered, I also wanted to share with you about two card decks that I use for such times like this. 

The first one is my Spiritual Deck. The idea for this one came from Julia Cameron, author of The Vein of Gold, a tome not mentioned often with her as author, but it's my favorite, and I've read most of her published works, including The Artists's Way of which she is most known for. In her book, The Vein of Gold, she offers an activity to build for yourself a Spiritual Deck. It contains your favorite things and people, plus much more. When I use this card deck, after shuffling three times, I pull three cards off the top, one for the past, one for the present and one for the future. 

This current card "reading" I did for myself opened up the energy for me to look back to the beginnings of myself as an Artist, which takes me all the way back to when I was 8. Yes. Remembering that far back is a bit of a challenge! So as I prayerfully discerned this possibility, I decided that after I recorded the details of this reading, which I always do in my personal journal as a record of what I've discovered, I determined that I would write a letter to my 8 year old self. Yes. After a full page, I was amazed what came out. And it shifted my energy in such a way that it was surprising. It was truly a way to honor myself at that age and give me a fresh voice to be heard. And I'm glad I listened! 

Deep journaling, when you give it space and connect it with what is truly relevant to you, can make all the difference in helping to see yourself in a whole new light (sort of like an Inner Seeing), with fresh appreciation of where you've come from and where you want to go. 

I'm so excited to offer you The ART of Journaling Tool Box filled with 7 Power Tools for your journaling practice to keep it Relevant, Revealing and Renewing! Whether you're just getting started or could use a jumpstart after being away for a while, or you just want to try something new, The ART of Journaling Toolbox is what you've been looking for! Just click on the image to subscribe! 

The second card deck is what I refer to as my JOY Deck, which I've used during Live Facebook Events. I decided to pull it out and do a reading from that as well using the same approach. And it showed me again, the importance of that inner child and who I was as that young artist and what I can learn from her now moving forward. It revealed more of what I already knew and clarified my direction and my focus concerning where I want to expend my energy when I create. (Currently I am illustrating dresses and working on my first Lyric Lines Design Series which I talk about in my post, My Visual View. )

As I have gone deeper into my journaling practice, writing up to 2 or 3 times per day instead of just one evening entry, it has given me SPACE to listen, to dream, to love, to understand myself on a deeper level. And it has given me a fresh appreciation for Who I Am as an Artist and Creative as well as going deeper in Connection with Spirit. That's really where it all begins, and journaling is my Power Tool to peel away the layers to get to my Deeper Truths that I aim to live by every day. 

If you want to go deeper in your journaling practice, or you simply are looking for inspiration, do click on The ART of Journaling Tool Box image above and subscribe today! Then enJOY some inspiration for tapping into Your Creative Voice and Honor Who You Are as Artist of Your Life. 

Journaling Prompt:
What does Going Deeper mean to you? What immediately comes to mind? What one activity in your life would initiate going deeper most naturally? Record this in detail in your journal, then determine how you can make this happen right now. 

Art Journaling Prompt:
Choose an image that means Deep to you, then choose your favorite way to create text (hand letter, stamp, cut out letters, stickers) and describe what going deep means to you. 

Doodle Prompt:
Draw the word DEEP as if it were deep! Or draw an image of something that feels deep to you. How does that make you feel? You can answer this question in your journal. 

Copyright 2019 Dawn Herring
Copyright 2019 Images by Dawn Herring 

Our Creative Energy can be a power house for expression and leaving our meaningful mark in the world, but sometimes we may find ourselves using that energy in too many places at once. We may want to go after this project and that activity and end up feeling pulled into too many directions. When that happens, we can lack direction which is a good time to get back to center.

I find that when I look at all the different things I'm doing, it's helpful to ask the question: What is Bringing Me the Most JOY? Once I determine what that is, that's where I choose to put my energy. Yes! (Of course I continue to fulfill needed responsibilities.)

When we spread ourselves too thin, it can actually be a deterrent to our creative growth and to expanding on the very thing that brings us the most JOY.

When we engage with too many things in our creative space, it can sometimes be disorienting, leaving us feeling misaligned, not in our creative flow. When we feel that way, we can take a closer look at where we might be putting our energy that may be making us feel like we're just spinning our wheels and not really getting anywhere.

I want to give you Permission today for releasing your Self from working on something that just isn't working right now, especially if you feel like your energy is being wasted. It's okay to let it go for a time or for all time, if that's what it takes to get you back to center.

When we align and center ourselves with what brings us the most JOY, we create a shift in our energy, getting back to Who We Are creatively.

Looking at the contrast of feeling not as happy, too heavy, overwhelmed and disheartened and feeling like maybe we shouldn't even bother, it pays to give ourselves space so we can regroup and figure out what exactly we want to accomplish, where we want to go from here, how we want to grow as a creative being.

It can help to dissect how we are feeling and where we are putting our energies as we detail our current place in our journal, helping us determine where the JOY resides in our creative path.

Trust yourself as you look a little closer and make some choices that will lead you into a better place. Pay attention to your intuitive voice, especially if it's telling you to let go of something, if it's leading you in a different direction or showing you to expand on something you're already tapping into and it just needs a fresh approach to get where you want to go. It may just leads you to a place that lights you up, lifts your spirit and leaves you feeling fabulous!

Find that place that feels expansive, fun and vibrant and aligns you with Who You Are Creatively.**

Journaling Prompt:
Make a list of all the activities you are currently engaged with. Note each one singly and see how your body responds as you read it out loud. Record your discoveries and nudges in those JOYful Directions. Then pick your favorite and go do it!

Art Journaling Prompt:
Using JOY as your starting place, use visuals and your favorite colors to showcase how you feel right now in your creative space, giving honor to what is bringing you the most JOY right now.

Doodle Prompt:
Create the word SHIFT in doodle form and see how your lettering can look shifty as you use your favorite pens, markers and colors to honor your creative experience. Note any associations that come to mind in your journal.



Copyright 2018 Dawn Herring

I can't believe it's that time again: My year in review with 2017! Where did this year go?? I have no idea. Time stands still for no one, as my Mom used to say. Now I clearly see why she said that. And then some. 

Of course when you have responsibilities and others to care for and connect with plus staying busy with creating and finding joy, time sure does fly by! 

And this year has been eventful, and I have lots to share. So I Shall. Ready? 

Where shall I begin? Usually, Journaling comes to mind first. So I'll start there. 
I am an avid written journal keeper and have been for many a year (30? I'm not sure; I think I lost count, as well as with how many filled journals I have. *wink*) 

This year I continued my daily written journal entries. Up until September, I was doing  a.m. and p.m. entries. Once the new school year started up and I had an earlier wake up time, I found myself forgetting to write in my journal since my a.m. responsibilities side tracked me. I was shocked I had let it slip! So I took a closer look at my practice, and after engaging with a live journaling event hosted by another avid journal keeper, I determined to ONLY JOURNAL in the a.m. if I really want to, like if I have something I want to say. 

One thing I learned in taking a closer look at my a.m. journaling practice was my redundancy (which I spoke about during our JournalChat Live in November). I found myself repeating things from the night before that weren't necessary. Why do this? I asked myself. So I gave myself permission to let go of the a.m. entry unless I felt drawn to write. And so far, I've only indulged once or twice in the a.m. and most times, it's been on the weekend, when I'm relaxed and not in a hurry. Lesson: let go of what is extraneous or what isn't working. No need to feel obligated! (This is HUGE for me as a journal keeper.) 
I do continue to create evening doodles every day to honor my day's experience and still find it engaging, fun, and relaxing, giving myself space to play with design, color and texture with my watercolor markers and artist pens. You can view many of my doodles on my Instagram account and here. 

Also, I created my own designed Planner Pages to change things up with my journaling practice, but I found that printing them out, hole punching them and using them became more of a chore rather than a JOY. OY. So, I continue to write in my blank journals as always and plan to get more. My goal is to always have a quality white blank paper to create my doodles on; that's one of my reasons for loyalty to the empty sketchbook as my primary journaling tool for entries. 

As for JournalChat Live for all things journaling of which I host on Social Media, I decided to change things up and go LIVE ON VIDEO in our JournalChat Live Facebook Group which went from Public to Private this year! Yes! We had a delightful time in November as we talked about How to Keep Things Fresh with our Journaling Practice; I also provided special prompts for us to play with during our time together, which made it even more special and fun! I plan to host JournalChat Live in this group in the coming year of 2018! Do join us if you haven't already! 

Speaking of going LIVE on social media, Next up I will share with you something New I started on Facebook called JOYFest, where we gather together to share our JOYS with one another, thus making the World a Better Place. We had our Christmas Edition on 12/7 and had a blast sharing our Greatest JOYS of 2017! You can catch the replay here. 

Our next JOYFest will take place in our new Private ​​JOYFest Facebook Group! I decided it would be fun and organized to hold and host LIVE VIDEO events in private Group Settings to create a comfortable and affirming place to share our JOYS together! I so look forward to having YOU join us to share Your Joys in 2018! 

To backtrack just a bit, I wanted to share with you the new focus I created with my website and message here at Refresh with Dawn Herring. I realized that most of the engagement I experience that refreshes me brings me JOY as I get refreshed. So...in January, I went live with a completely new website with JOY as my focus, and I have had so much fun since! So now my brand reads, Refresh with Dawn Herring: Where Finding JOY Takes Center Stage! I do hope you enjoy perusing all the JOY focused content and navigation as I share my JOY with you. And you can create your Own Path to JOY, which is my greatest aim for you! 

Which leads me right into some new offerings here at Refresh with Dawn Herring...ready? 
First up, Dawn's Life Directives and Affirmations Coloring Pages with Prompts! YAY! 
Since I am an avid doodler and have so much fun creating doodles and coloring them in, I thought it would be fun to Create Doodles for YOU to color in! Using the tenants that I hold to and look to live by, such as Appreciate Your Self for Who You Are, Recognize Your Value and other self care initiating directives, I created Coloring Pages, with a word from me about each tenant and prompts for your journaling, art journaling and doodle practices...and if you don't already practice, this is a perfect place to start! :) 

And if you're looking for even more prompts with a self care focus, plus some video and audio from me along the way, then my new course, 7 Steps to Creative Clarity, is perfect for you! If you ever feel blocked, bored or uninspired or maybe you don't know where to start in building a thriving, fun Creative Practice, this is why I created this course, so you can find the JOY of creating! 

So this year of 2017 has been an important year for me as Creative Visionary and Guide for those who need some encouragement and feel they could use a little bit of permission to create! 

And for those who like to LISTEN and be inspired, I launched my Refresh Daily with Dawn Herring Podcast! Yay! So far I've created one episode that you can listen to or watch, whatever your preference, both here on my website and on YouTube. I plan to create more episodes next year (including some interviews with others who share about their creative practice!) My purpose in creating a podcast is for those who are looking for tips and inspiration toward building an authentic Creative Practice that brings them great JOY. 

Also, this year, I launched my new newsletter called The JOY Finder! I share tips and inspiring stories about how I am Finding More JOY so you can too, plus I keep you up to date on what's happening here at Refresh with Dawn Herring, including when I'll be hosting Live Events you don't want to miss. You can subscribe here and receive a gift from me, 10 Steps into JOY! 

To conclude this 2017 Year in Review, I thought I would share a bit of what I've been doing in my art studio. I did take some time off this past summer, breaking the creative mold I had been in with painting with watercolor every day for three years. Once I got back into studio space, I decided to try some new things (with more new stuff planned for 2018...). I did my first fashion gouache and pen rendering of a gorgeous faux fur jacket which you can view here. Plus I did some drawings in a sketchbook of some of my jewelry. (There is one post on my Instagram in the early part of 2017 you can view.) I plan to indulge a bit more in this type of art since I enJOY it so much. I continue to paint with watercolor, working on watercolor paper at this time. Plus playing with designers gouache as well. 

So there you have it! It's been a busy and exciting year for me at Refresh with Dawn Herring, and of course, it would not have been the same without YOU, my dear readers and friends. Thanks so much for joining me during my Live events and sharing your journaling and creative lives with me. It brings me true JOY in sharing with you. 

I wish you the greatest and most JOY-Filled New Year of 2018; and I look forward to having Fun and Engaging with YOU in all of our creative energy together in community, thus making the World a Better Place! 

​ May Joy Find YOU in the Most Unexpected Places! 

Copyright 2017 Dawn Herring
Copyright 2017 Dawn Herring for Art Header

In this video I host what I am now calling my JOYFest on Facebook Live, where we can share our JOY together in community and creative conversation. I share some news here at Refresh with Dawn Herring as well as what is currently giving me JOY. I share samples of my new Dawn's Life Directives and Affirmations Coloring Pages with Prompts, as well as a peek into a new painting I'm working on with watercolor, gouache and collage. Plus more. 

You are welcome to leave a comment below about what is bringing YOU JOY. I'd love to hear from you, dear creative person. 

Subscribe to the JOY Finder here.
Listen to my Podcast, Refresh Daily, on SoundCloud here.
Purchase Dawn's Life Directives and Affirmations Coloring Pages with Prompts here.

It's time for more Acronym fun, isn't it? I shared my September Acronym late in the month (better late than never, right?) so I'm back at it (albeit, late again...sometimes it take me over a week to remember we're in a new month!) with October's rendition, all with the purpose of initiating more JOY and Creativity in our daily lives.

Here is the acronym for October:
Ongoing
Creativity
Takes
Over
Bringing
Each
Restoration

Journaling Prompt:
Make a list of the "creative" activities you have engaged in recently, wether in the last few days, weeks, or month. Note which activity you recall most clearly and the positive impact it had on your well being, bringing "restoration." Record it in detail.

Art Journaling Prompt:
Create a spread that shows what restoration or "rest" means to you and honor your creative space to reflect that essence. 

Doodle Prompt:
Using your favorite doodle pen or other implement, create a doodle that focuses on the word "Restoration." and reflect on what that means to you. You may want to put the doodle in a frame to remind you of how your creativity enhances your well being. 

I've been having some fun coming up with acronyms for the months of the year. I find them to be insightful into what really matters to me. Today I'm excited to share with you my new Acronym for September here at Refresh Daily. 

Staying
Ever 
Present
To 
Every 
Moment
Brings
Each
Rest

The more often we take moments to be really Present, the more rest we will create for ourselves (instead of worry and fear playing games with our thoughts!), and perhaps, activate more daily JOY in our lives. 

Journaling Prompt:
What does the word Rest mean to you right now? What does it look like? What are three things you can do to implement being more present and restful in your days. 

Art Journaling Prompt:
Create a spread that really shows REST both with color, image, text or whatever feels the most restful to you. Be very aware of the moments as you create this spread, honoring where you need rest in your body, mind, heart, soul. 

Doodle Prompt:
Create a doodle with the word Rest or Present and incorporate what they mean to you in the way you draw your letters. 

Copyright 2017 Dawn Herring 

In the throws of Hurricane Harvey, with catastrophic flooding causing many to lose their homes and their belongings, I observed the difficulties and challenges laid before so many. 
​
Without their own space, running water, and just having what they brought with them, if anything, in the face of such a daunting storm, my heart broke for these folks. 

So what does JOY have to do with such heart ache and loss? Is that even possible? 

As I considered their circumstances and prayed for their recovery, I realize a-new the importance of seeing what I have Right in Front of Me with renewed gratitude and appreciation. 

Like water in my kitchen sink. 
My own restroom. 
A comfortable bed. 
All of my clothes dry and ready to wear. 
Electricity where needed. 

I began to see these Basic Necessities as Gifts. Because, in essence, that's what they are. 
And as I looked at these basics and experienced this deep gratitude for what I have, JOY made its presence known. 

When we see what we enJOY daily a-new, it can change how we see and experience life completely. 
Just paying attention to that running water in whatever capacity we are using it for. Or those lights that illumine our space. 

The comforts of home can bring us New JOY as we take a moment to appreciate what we have. 
It's really about being mindful. That word Mindful has become so popular, as I read recent headlines on magazine covers. 

But mindfulness can be a true source of JOY. 
Just taking that moment to say Thank YOU to the Universe for giving what is needed. 

Here at Refresh with Dawn Herring, Finding JOY Takes Center Stage. 
And as the evacuees exited the Houston area as well as Floridians leaving in the face of Hurricane Irma, the Basics have taken center stage. 

May we never see them in quite the same way again. 

Journaling Prompt:
Take a moment in your journal to really pay attention to one thing you have that makes you really happy, realizing gratitude a-new. What would it be like if you lost that one thing? If it was no longer available to you? Detail how you feel in your journal. 

Art Journal Prompt:
Create a spread that invokes gratitude for the simple things you use every day. You can use images of these simple things collage style to be focal points of appreciation. 

Doodle Prompt: 
Using a writing implement you truly value for its performance, color or comfort in your hand, create a doodle that initiates an attitude of Joy and Gratitude, keeping the design as simple as possible showing that just basic design can also be meaningful. 

To get more JOY in your inbox, subscribe to The JOY Finder to stay abreast of happenings here at Refresh with Dawn Herring plus get quality content to help initiate more JOY in your daily experience. 

Follow this link to listen to my first Refresh Daily podcast episode titled, Observation is a Key to JOY.

Copyright 2017 Dawn Herring
Copyright 2017 Header Art by Dawn Herring 

Here at Refresh with Dawn Herring my goal is to give you as many ideas to initiate more JOY in your daily life, whether it's your personal or professional journey. In this video I share an encouraging word about Celebrating Your Wins in your personal or work life. 

Journaling Prompt:
Record the last time you celebrated a win, whether personally or professionally. Has it been a while? If so, celebrate your last task fulfilled, no matter how small. How did you feel when you were finished? Relieved? Satisfied? Didn't pay attention? (Next time, do so, and feel more JOY.) 

Art Journaling Prompt:
Create a spread to celebrate your latest win. Perhaps choose one that seems insignificant or small and make a Really Big Deal out of it. 

Doodle Prompt:
Describe your latest win using your favorite font styles in your doodle practice. Really give it glory! Don't be shy. Bold colors galore! 

If you'd like to also  check out my new podcast, Refresh Daily, follow this link. This first episode is titled, Observation is a Key to JOY. 

If you'd like to sign up for The JOY Finder, my email communication, you're welcome to follow this link, where you can read my offerings and watch my welcome message! Come be a JOY Finder today!