One of the most special days of the year is our birthday. It may not be true for everyone, it seems to be joyful for many, especially it marks a milestone.

My heart is overflowing with joy receiving all of your messages, calls, and postings celebrating my 50th birthday! 🥰 Sometimes we forget a little gesture like a birthday wish can make such a big impact! Thank you for making this moment so special!🙏💗

I`ve noticed sometimes we block the joy when we collapse the timeline of possibilities into a small window of expectations. I found myself doing this a few weeks ago asking , "What are you going to do ON your 50th birthday?"

You may not know, I`ve been in the process of clearing out my parents` home these last few weeks for the sale. I grew up here with memories from 36 years ago. If you`ve ever moved, downsized, or cleaned out a house, you know this can be one of the most stressful and exhausting processes in our lives. Our estate sale happened to be on my birthday yesterday. That meant no grand birthday plans. I remember being disappointed, and even resentful for a moment having expectations for this momentous day.

However, a crazy idea came to mind that shifted this attachment and joy blocker. Why not celebrate fifty 50th birthdays with friends and loved ones over the course of this next year? That way I can spend time and really share joy with those around the world when I visit over the next 365 days. This subtle shift really allowed me to embrace both the present and possibilities without expectations and disappointment.

I`m so grateful to celebrate 50th Bday #1 with my dear friends Jack and Denise who brought me a pizza with a candle from our favorite place in Galveston. I also met up with my long-time high school friend Michelle for some boba tea and ended the day meeting up with a dear college friend Andrew. We had Tex Mex food and a sombrero. What an unforgettably joyful way, to kick of my 50s!

If we didn`t get a chance to celebrate together I`m coming to a city near you this year to do so 🥳🎂🎈

We only have so many trips around the sun and never know when it`s out last one, so let`s make sure to celebrate joy every moment. ...

In case you missed it, October 11th is National Spread Joy Day!

Need some ideas how to create and share joy?

This is a poem I wrote that may help...

A Joyful Day by Yasmin Nguyen

Would you like more joy today? If so…

Don`t hope for joy, as joy is waiting for you.
Don`t search for joy, for joy will find you.
Don`t chase joy, as joy will follow you.

Joy is not what we lack. Joy is what we notice.
Joy is not what we earn. Joy is what we practice.

Joyful living is a daily practice of life in a way that invites joy into each moment.

So practice gratitude.
Practice kindness.
Practice empathy.
Practice connection.
Practice movement.
Practice adventure.
Practice giving.
Practice receiving.
Practice curiosity.
Practice creativity.
Practice vulnerability.
Practice forgiveness.
Practice rest.
Practice reflection.
Practice discovery.
Practice teaching.
Practice faith.
Practice loving.
Practice presence.
Practice playfulness.

Each time we practice, we remind ourselves of possibilities.
These possibilities activate hope and remind us that no matter how
stressful or challenging our day may be, we CAN have a moment of joy.

And in each moment, we deposit joy into our hearts.
So by the end of the day, we see that we`ve had a joy-full day.

If you would like to learn more about joy, check out my book "The Game of Joy" at www.gameofjoybook.com ...