Since starting my Bliss Habits Journey, I’ve had the incredible good fortune to run into many incredibly talented and joyous people. Some I’m lucky enough to call friends, others I follow from afar, happy to know that we share the goal to inspire and spread Joy. While by no means a complete list of the JOY hot spots on the web, these 10 spots reliably bring me personal delight. A visit to any of them immediately boosts your mood, and I dare say, regular visits can change your life!
Please enjoy my Joyful selections share your favorite spots in the Linky below. (Hint, you may even win a delightful prize for spreading the joy!)
Tiny Buddha
On Facebook, Twitter and on the blog, Lori Deschene’s Tiny Buddha is on a mission to provide “simple wisdom for complex lives.” I really love how each of her carefully chosen inspirations speaks to something in my heart. She speaks honestly, never bitterly and even when things go very bad she reminds us that It Could Be Far Worse.
Optimal Optimist
A long time friend of Bliss Habits, Vanessa of the Optimal Optimist serves up servings of good will and inspiration by sharing optimistic quotes, and stories, news, events, and studies that encourage and inspire us all to live a happy life and become Optimal Optimists.
Persistent Green
Amanda Fall of Persistent Green should probably be called the “Joy Whisperer” because it seems to me that everything this prolific woman creates just oozes with whimsy and delight! I am a huge fan of her marvelous Sprout Magazine which, coincidentally features Bliss Habits Merrymaker Lisa Wilson in the latest Adventure edition!
We Bloom Here
The delightful M.Bloom is the first bloggy friend I made on line and then met in real life! If whimsy and wonder are of any interest to you then this is your place. Her gorgeous blog houses delights upon delights as she shares tiniest tidbits of living life with her Sweet Baby, Sweet Boy and Sweet Husband.
Check out Celebrating the Best Bloomin’ Spot on the Web for even more delicious details!
1000 Awesome Things
Neil Pasricha’s website turned bestselling book is a long time favorite of mine. Every one of the 1000 entries will put a smile on your face and joy in your heart. One of my favorite games is to randomly select an entry for the days inspiration. Oh, and if the website and/or book are too cumbersome… Neil even has an app for you!
Metta Drum
It starts with the gorgeous photos, then Daniel Collinsworth’s beautiful prose about life captures your heart. I find every visit to Metta Drum filled with inspiration and Joy. I’m sure you will too!
Daily Good
A website devoted to spreading good News! Need I say more? Here is what they say, DailyGood is a portal that shares inspiring quotes and news stories that focus on the “good” we can find in our world daily along with a simple action to continue that goodness. Since 1999, it has delivered positive news to subscriber inboxes for free by volunteers every day.
Word ((HUGS))
I’ve primarily enjoyed Word ((HUGS)) on Facebook where Sandra Galati shares dozens upon dozens of inspirational quotes and photos each week. When I’m looking for a quick hit of inspiration to share on my own Facebook Page I find myself perusing Word ((HUGS)) collection of cheer.
My Smiling Heart
I was first introduced to My Smiling Heart on Facebook where Jen Saunders mission “to inspire, empower, and make hearts smile all over the world” regularly inspired. I finally made it over to her charming blog and I’ve been hooked ever since. I mean who wouldn’t love a stargazing, rainbow riding empowerment artist?
Surfing Etsy for fun art!
One of my most joyous pastimes, poking around Etsy is like going to a museum without ever leaving your home, with the added bonus that the art is actually available for sale!! (If you have your eye on a few things and would enjoy winning a $100 to spend there… check out Blogversary-apolooza Etsy Giveaway here.)
One of my favorite finds is the fabulous art of Jessica Grundy! (win one of her marvelous prints by commenting on this post!)
Let’s keep the JOYfest going!
Please share your favorite Joy Hot Spots in the Linky below!
As a thank you for spreading the joy I’m adding a little giveaway fun to the mix! Here’s what you could win for playing along:
Tightrope Walker in Lightning Storm by Jessica Grundy
This is a darling print of Jessica’s original digital painting/photo collage illustration.
Giclee printed onto beautiful Moab Entrada Rag Bright 300 Award Winning Fine Art Paper (300gsm, 22.5mil) Entrada exhibits a smooth toothy feel similar to a traditional hot press watercolor paper. Made in the USA of 100% cotton. Naturally acid- and lignin-free.
 
How to win Jessica’s delightful print!
1. Share a Link (in the linky above) to a website or blog that brings you joy. Be sure to include your name in the “Caption or Title” field of the entry! (as in “added by Kathy Sprinkle” in the LifeUnity example I started the list with. If you forget just tell us in a comment!)
Bonus Entries:
2. In a separate comment tell us why the spot you picked brings you joy!
3. Stop by Jessica’s Facebook Page and “Like” it. Let me know in a comment here that you did so. Extra Karma points for liking Bliss Habits too!
4. Tweet the following:
I just entered to win @solocosmo ‘s fabulous print in the @BlissHabits Blogversary #apolooza http://bit.ly/JsDffe
Do all four and you have four chances to win!
Winner will be selected at random from all entries received by Friday, June 1, 2012
The contest has concluded! Congratulations Karen B. you are the winner!!!
Check out the complete Blogversary-apolooza giveaway list and learn how you can double your chances!!
Good Luck!!
Oh wow!! What an awesome honor to be picked as one of your joy-loving spots on the web! You just made my night. What perfect timing, too, as I’m working on Sprout’s next issue . . . based on . . . JOY! Thank YOU, Kathy, for bringing such joy and goodness into the world.
Amanda you are so welcome! I LOVE your site. So great about the JOY edition of Sprout!
You already have the two that I like: Bliss Habits and Life Unity! Hmmm. I like Hands Free Mama and Teach Preschool, and my new favorite Humans of New York!
Not having any luck with linky, but if you could at least check out Humans of New York that started a whole group of street photography on Facebook in several major cities now, like Souls of San Francisco, Humans of Rome etc. I just love looking at the pictures of my old city and walk the streets of NYC with them. Gives me great joy!
Thanks for playing Efsun! I added your Humans of New York link for you!
Well, I added one of my fave’s, and didn’t add the name of the blog – so here it is – http://www.gingerblue.com/
Sorry Chel!
No worries! I updated your Linky entry for you!
Thanks Kathy!
Congratulations Karen!! You are the winner of this darling print!!
Tried to link to Jessica’s facebook page, but the link isn’t working for me (and there are a few Jessica Grundys so I couldn’t do it directly!) Can you repost it please?
I’m so sorry my Link went to an incorrect address! It has been updated now!
Thanks for that too – I’m on my way there now!
Done it!
Ok I added a site, but I did it wrong and now there’s no thumbnail and I forgot to add my name too! Sorry! I added Cute Overload, because nothing brings me joy like looking at amazingly cute animals. Seriously, sometimes I think I’ll just explode from the cuteness of so many amazingly cute animals. Animals have always brought me tremendous joy!
Meg, I fixed the problem for you! Thanks for playing! Good luck!
These are great links, Kathy. Thank you for sharing them! I was familiar with many of them but found a few new ones to visit. And thanks for sharing the work of Jessica Grundy – happy to find a new artist to inspire me!
I liked Jessica’s FB page and, of course, I like yours, too!
I tweeted for you. 🙂
I added a link, but I don’t think it shared my name. My contribution was A Fanciful Twist. 🙂
Oh now the first two that came to mind when I saw the topic were Persistent Green and Life Unity as a joyous approach to life is something I associate with them both – hmm, have liked Jessica’s facebook page and will be back with a link shortly.
After trying to pick just one from the list of places I go regularly…I chose Homegrown Hospitality http://homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/homegrown_hospitality/ which is the blog of Stephanie Ackerman. I love the way she is totally real about herself, and how she combines faith and creativity and embraces her mistakes and seems to love life. She makes me smile and feel positive about life, and for me that sums up joy.
I did try to link, but the linky tool couldn’t seem to pick up an image and then didn’t link.
Sometimes the Linky is persnickity!! I added your link for you and just put a screen shot picture in! Thanks for introducing this great blog! I’d never been and am delighted to meet Stephanie!!
Thanks a lot Kathy.
Patti Digh’s words always make me laugh and cry–sometimes at the same time.
I accidentally posted twice to get the link right! Like both Facebook pages. And I also tweeted about the giveaway!
Good One! Patti is awesome!!