When Corinne asked me to do a guest post for her, I was quite elated, alarmed and surprised. Elated because I was asked to do a guest post, alarmed because I didn’t know what I should write and finally, surprised because she chose me. Why did she choose me? Well, those were my initial responses. Now, to the topic of my post.
Bloggers who have known me and are familiar with my comments would notice that I sign my name with “Joy always.” What made me adopt these two words ‘joy’ and ‘always?” Well, there is a wee story behind everything and here is mine. Mid-2008 I began communicating with Alan Drengson,a deep ecologist. A deep ecologist is someone who follows the philosophy of Deep Ecology, a concept formulated by the Norwegian philosopher, Arne Naess. This principle believes that every organism has an intrinsic value that should be respected and valued.
Drengson was an epitome of love, peace and calm. His mails were always suffused with words that soothed me mentally and physically.His mails were always signed with phrases such as: “Mountains of joy,” “Rivers of compassion,” and “Joy in the circle of life.” Towards the end of 2008, I was also undergoing a period of pain and restlessness and when I received his mails, the signature was something that stayed long with me. The forests of joy and peace resonated within me. I was learning to heal myself with the joys passed through his mail. Deeply touched by this signature, I changed my signature from “Best wishes” and “Love” to that of “Joy Always.”
When I signed with the words, “Joy always,”I truly meant that joy should always resonate and fill every person who comes in touch with me. I don’t know whether my signature has touched chords with many but some people have responded warmly to the “Joy always” signature.Those days of 2008 and 2009 are etched strong in my mind. I would complete reading Alan’s mail and hurry to take in the joy that he spread. I embraced the warmth that he was sharing with me, without any doubt. Never for a second did I think that his signature was just another style factor. I felt that what he truly wished was reflected his way of signing off his mails.
Signing, using the words, “Love” was very personal and did not fit everyone that I crossed my paths with. But the words“Joy always” could be used with everyone. In a busy day when a blogger, friend or colleague reads my comment and finds “Joy always” at the end of the comment/mail,I would like the individual to pause and take in the joy. She/he shouldn’t stop there but also be an instrument to spread that joy to someone else who is deprived and hungry for joy.
What is in a word, or two words, you may think. You may wonder, “Does my signature have any value/purpose at all?” “Will someone actually pause and savour the signature?” Well, you may be surprised,but positive, kind and gentle words always reach someone who might be needy of those words. Every single word matters and that invaluable lesson was taught to me by Drengson. Long after his mails were read and finished with, his signature lingered on in my heart and mind
Have you thought about your signature and what it would come to mean? If not, you could spend a minute or two dwelling on that today.
A warm welcome to my guest blogger today – the warm, caring and very intelligent, Susan Deborah. Susan’s blog, Meanderings and Reflections is great reflection of her personality. Thank you, Susan for sharing here and hope you’ll be back soon with more.
May you be inspired – everyday!
Image via Shutterstock
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