Tag Archives: joy

Apr25

Back On The Ice!

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Back On The Ice!

Hello!! My childhood sport of choice was competitive figure skating and I stopped when I was about sixteen years old. After that, I would skate just for fun and coach for the Special Olympics a few years later. Prior to the pandemic starting, I thought it would be cool to try ice dancing and take lessons again and did just that. Cue pandemic, what felt like an indefinite hiatus, then I was back. Until I wasn’t lol. I had an extremely off putting encounter with a male coach and it instantly sucked all of the joy out of being on the ice again. So, I hung up my skates and never went since. Until this weekend!! Check it out and peep the videos on my TikTok @lilred6794 :

A month or so ago, I noticed one of my friends on social media had recently got back into skating after some time off too. I knew who she was but she skated in a different club than me and was a few years younger than me in high school. However, her decision to skate again inspired me and I thought that it couldn’t hurt to shoot her a message to see if she wanted to go together sometime. The answer was a resounding YES, we scheduled a skate date, and were both so eager to hit the ice together this past weekend.

I arrived at the rink a bit earlier than my friend so I started the open skate session solo. And omg I was feeling good as soon as my blades touched the ice. The open skate was blessedly not crowded at all so I basically had free reign to do anything and everything. I did a few warm up laps and like no time had passed at all, I was back to spins, jumps, and footwork. What’s that old saying about riding a bike? Granted, what I was doing wasn’t perfect and I felt straight up drunk after spinning but I was sure proud of everything that I could still do!

By the time I was nice and warmed up, my friend was ready to get her skate on too. I told Johnny it was like the equivalent of going hiking with a friend. We skated around, talked like we had known each other for years even though we just met, and just had fun skating for the joy of it. It was such a wonderful experience to skate with no pressure whatsoever and to encourage each other to keep trying all of our long lost tricks. Before I knew it, the hour and a half long session was over and we exited the rink exhausted but exhilarated. We are going to try and skate at least once a month and I am already chomping at the bit for our next skate date!

The moral of the story is to NEVER let anyone take the fun and joy out of something you love to do. I am so thankful to have found a friend that gave me the motivation to get back on the ice after swearing off of it and am still riding the high of how proud I feel of both of us!

What is your favorite sport to play? Which sports did you play when you were little? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec8

Best Job Ever!

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Best Job Ever!

Hello!! I have been working with people with special needs for a decade now and I simply could not imagine doing anything different. Don’t get me wrong, I love working on the blog and social media but my work community feels like home and it is a beautiful thing. Being able to help and work with so many amazing families is a gift and I don’t take it lightly. One of my greatest joys this year has been being reunited with my VERY FIRST client and her family. It has been like stepping into a time capsule from when I first started out and it feels like I never left. During our last session, my client presented me with this sweet gift and I will treasure it for forever:

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My client and I spent a snowy day inside completing household chores together. About halfway through, she said “Oh! I almost forgot. I wanted you to have this because you have always been there for me and I’m so happy you are able to work with me again”. Then, she handed me the little angel and I almost cried – not just because it was incredibly thoughtful, but because I feel the exact same way. I was ecstatic when her parents reached out to me and it feels so good to be back. It really is a high point of my week.

I love my job even on the most difficult days and it’s moments like these that always makes me eager for my next shift. I have received countless drawings, works of art, cards, and trinkets from my clients over my extensive tenure and I have kept them all. I have enjoyed my time with every family I have worked with and displaying these gifts where I can see them around my apartment is a constant reminder of that. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world as I placed my angel on my knick knack shelf directly across from my computer station. I see it every time I look up and I smile Every. Single. Time.

My work never feels like work because I am genuinely excited every time I hop into the car and venture to one of my clients. Here’s to ten more years in the best field EVER!

What do you love about your job? What would you change about your job? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct18

The Wiz At Playhouse Square Review

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The Wiz At Playhouse Square Review

Hello! This past Saturday, Johnny and I spent a rousing evening at Playhouse Square to see The Wiz. Nothing pleases me more than a night out at one of my favorite places with my favorite guy! I admit that I have never seen The Wizard of Oz in its entirety or have seen The Wiz. However, I knew the story line and a few songs from The Wiz and with a plot and music that fun, it was sure to be a great show. And, it was. The Wiz was a celebration of Black excellence from start to finish and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have seen it! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Lol, Johnny had way more fun than these pictures lead you to believe! 😀

We all know the basic plot of The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz stayed true to this. Dorothy gets swept away to the land of Oz after a tornado hits her Kansas home. To return back to the life she knew and her beloved Aunt Em, she must travel to the Emerald City to meet The Wiz. Along the way, she meets new friends that could also use some help from The Wiz. A scarecrow who needs a brain, a tinman who needs a heart, and a lion who needs some courage. The quartet makes their way to the Emerald City together, but must be wary of the Wicked Witch who wants to foil their plans. During their journey, the foursome learns that what they wanted can be found within themselves – they just need to know where to look!

The cast of The Wiz was absolutely divine and there was no weak link to be found. Nichelle Lewis was stunning as Dorothy and her voice was pure magic. Dorothy was spunky and brave and it was impossible to look away from her. And when she sang those high notes? Wow! It was such a joy to see Dorothy’s interactions with her newfound friends and they all worked together so beautifully. Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman, and Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion were perfectly cast and their physicality as the characters were sublime. When the foursome was all together, it was like watching a movie come to life onstage and it was so neat to see the real deal happening before my eyes.

Of course, a shout out needs to be given to Melody A. Betts who played Aunt Em and Evillene. She was so lovely as sweet Aunt Em who took Dorothy in after her parents passed and a force to be reckoned with as Evillene. Her song as Evillene “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News” was mine and Johnny’s favorite from the entire show. Deborah Cox as Glinda also gave a very strong performance and her glittering gowns were everything. She blew us away during her number “He’s The Wiz”.

The Wiz featured a very creative set with moving parts and huge projections set on a screen. Rather than a different set for each location, they used the images and lighting to bring the space to life. The woods had a projection of the woods, the poppy field was a projection of a field of poppies and… you get the point! I thought that this was such a good idea for the set of The Wiz because it’s a play about a journey. The location of the characters changed frequently and using images instead of full set changes helped keep the show moving along seamlessly.

Finally, let’s talk about some of my favorite songs! The soundtrack of The Wiz is rooted in soul, gospel, and R&B and it was jam packed with bangers. From upbeat to ballads, the hits just kept on coming with The Wiz. As I mentioned before, our favorite number was “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News” which was a gorgeous tip of the cap to Aretha Franklin. “You Can’t Win” sung by the Scarecrow gave us all of the James Brown vibes and we loved the Tinman’s smooth rendition of “Slide Some Oil To Me”. Every actor brought their own special flavor to each song and paid homage to the greats. Don’t even get me started on the dance numbers which tied the show together perfectly. “The Emerald City” dance which began Act II was fabulous!

If The Wiz is coming to your neck of the woods, then I cannot recommend seeing it enough. It was a celebration, it was a joy, and it is not one that should be missed. You will love it!!

What is your favorite song from The Wiz? What is the last musical you have seen? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct16

How To Bring A Little Joy Into Your Life

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How To Bring A Little Joy Into Your Life

Many times in a person’s life they can find themselves feeling stuck in a rut, deflated, or that there is nothing positive happening. If you feel like this, then it could be for many reasons. One of which could simply be that you are not giving yourself the time you deserve to enjoy the possibilities that life is presenting you. So, whether it is cutting out negative habits, creating new and healthy ones, or simply allowing yourself time to relax, here are several ways in which you can bring a little joy into your life:

Limit your time on social media:

Social media is still a relatively new thing as far as human existence goes. Although it has brought about many new and exciting possibilities, it also has some fairly negative attributes associated with it. Many people can find themselves consuming social media for hours, and letting the days slip by without doing the important things that make them happy. When consuming a large amount of social media it can be hard to detach from what you are consuming, and many people find themselves constantly comparing their lives to those they see online. Both of these situations can impact your mental health in a negative way, and suck the joy out of your life. To combat this, you should consider limiting your time on social media, and instead give that free time to yourself. Even if you do nothing and simply relax, this is better than an all evening social media session.

Find something fun to do outside:

It is no secret that many people, whether they realize it or not, gain huge benefits and satisfaction by spending time outside. If you can couple that with doing a fun activity or having new experiences, then you will significantly increase the joy you experience in life. Whether you live by the sea or a lake and want to learn the basics about paddle boarding, or perhaps if you live near the woods and want to explore your local areas and find out about all the wildlife, consider getting yourself outside and doing something fun to live more fully.

Make time for your loved ones:

Humans are meant to be social creatures. Although it’s perfectly fine to spend time alone, often you will experience a larger amount of joy when spending time with loved ones. This could be anything from taking a vacation together, to simply eating regular meals together. As long as you are enjoying each other’s company is all that matters!

Treat yourself:

If you want to truly boost your happiness in life, you need to learn how to be your own best friend. Do you need to take a break? Take it. Do you want to have that treat? Have it. Do you want to do something different? Do it. Self-love is one of the best ways in which a person can bring a little extra joy into their life.

There are many other ways in which you can bring joy into your life, but why not consider these first?

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep17

Belated Nine Year Blogiversary!!

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Belated Nine Year Blogiversary!!

Hello!!!! September 13th was lifewithlilred’s Nine Year Blogiversary and it came as a huge surprise to me lol. Obviously, because this is a belated celebration post! Not only was the date of this a shock, but also the length of time. It feels like just yesterday that twenty year old Sarah sat down and began her blogging journey. It is thrilling that almost a decade later, my blog is still going stronger than ever with daily content for the past four years and change!

As always, the best part about lifewithlilred is all of the incredible friends and readers that have come along for the ride. And, man, have we been through a lot! You have all been there through major milestones in my life – graduating college, new jobs, and getting married. It is so special to me to know that my dear readers are there celebrating the good and offering support for the bad every step of the way. It inspires and motivates me to no end, which is the main reason lifewithlilred has kept on truckin all of these years.

Every day, I feel so excited to sit down and write and I think that my blog is a reflection of my favorite phrase “the joy of writing”. I write for me, I write for my beloved viewers, I would write for no viewers – it just makes me happy to do. lifewithlilred is something that brings me true joy and it is my safe haven that I have carved out in the great world wide web. For nine years, I have been in blogging bliss and I cannot wait to see what else is in store for my page in the years to come. ❤

Thank you to each and every one of you for being the driving force behind lifewithlilred for the past nine years. I could not do it without that love and support and it works both ways. I love all of you and wish nothing but for you to continue on in your blogging journey and experience the joy of writing every day!

May25

5 Simple Ways To Add More Joy To Your Life

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5 Simple Ways To Add More Joy To Your Life

Life is to be lived. It should also be full of happiness and joy too – but that isn’t always the case. While setbacks and hardships are a normal part of life, it doesn’t have to consume you. We deserve to enjoy our lives and live them to the fullest. But sometimes, we can get in our own way. When that’s the case, you’re going to want to try and do what you can to add more joy into your life:

Decide What You Want:

For starters, you’re going to want to take a look at what you want out of life. Can you see what’s missing? Is there something that you’d like to be doing with your life but currently aren’t? Sometimes, the simplest way to add more joy is to know what you want out of life (and how you want to spend your time) and to go after it.

Be Kinder to Yourself:

Next, you absolutely need to make sure that you’re being kinder to yourself. If you’re always beating yourself up, it’s never going to be a good day for you. Think about ways to stop the negative thoughts and aim to treat yourself with love and kindness. This can make a huge difference in how you feel.

Get Creative:

Another way to feel happier with your life is to be more creative. Think about how spending more time on artistic pursuits can keep you calm and bring more joy into your life. It could be that you want to try out watercolor, a chocolate quilt kit, or even writing poetry. It’s all about exploring what brings you happiness. Often, the simplest of creative hobbies can make you feel incredible.

Improve Your Life:

This one can seem like a big thing to do, but in reality, it can be much simpler. It’s safe to say that we all deserve to be happier. Yet, that’s not always easy to do. But when you choose to look at ways that you can improve your life, things will start to get a bit better. Can you meditate or practice yoga to calm your mind? Go on walks and drink more water to help your health? Establish a sleep routine for your well being? It can all add up to a better quality of life.

Prioritize Time:

Finally, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re able to prioritize your time so that it works with what makes you happy. All too often, we find ourselves swept up with expectations and prioritizing the things that we think we should or society says are important. But what about what is important to you? It’s essential that you can steal away time for the things that matter to you. When you take the pressure off, life tends to feel a lot lighter.

Making small, simple changes to improve your life and how you feel will result in more joy, calmness, and confidence. Why not go for it today?!

Featured Image By: Unsplash