I spent so much of my life shut down from the abuse of my childhood. I didn't have friends and I didn't have connections with people.

I was always interested in how to be more joyful. This goes all the way back to elemenatary school. I looked at what was going on around me and I wanted something better. Because my mother had so many ups and downs, I watned to know how to be "up" more often.

God has joy for you right now.

I do a lot of to-dos and a lot of lists. I realized I had to make room for joy. So I added "to feel" items on my to-do list. That's something you can easily do.

We don't always get everything. And sometimes we worry too much about our circumstances. We think oh I'll be happy when I get my job back, or I'll be happy when I get a man back, but it's really about allowing God to give us joy now.

Friendship is such a powerful healer and source of support.

Friends are people who are in your life because you feel good around them and you like them. Friends are the people you choose to be with.