Last night, after the children were tucked in and I prepped everything for a smooth morning to follow, I listened and found the harbor most quiet, most peaceful. What a nice change from the hustle and bustle of dock life during the day–so I decided to leave the boat, and to walk the dock in the night, passing about fourteen neighboring boats. A dense fog had settled in, nestled snugly on the water, among the boats. I couldn’t see past my own dock, I couldn’t see behind me to land, I couldn’t see the night sky at all. I could only see the boats as I was passing by them. A path I am familiar with, boats I see daily. The fog caressed my cheek, leaving it damp, and I took the time to really feel the moment as it was. The blanket of fog obscuring my vision, leaving me with the rest of my senses to explore with. I listened to the stillness so long that I heard the foghorn, sounding off consistently. I heard crickets chirping. I heard the faintest little whisper of the ocean’s water gently lapping the hulls of the boats. I smelled the salt of the ocean, the fishiness from the huge fishing boats docked nearby, leftover odors from various dinners served a few hours ago. I opened my mouth and droplets of fog landed on my tongue; I tasted the night air heavy with fog. The cold, the wet, the freshness of it all. I felt the moisture in the air, almost as though the fog was caressing my face. My heart was happy. I felt secure, comfortable, well. On this night, the fog was not at all menacing, but almost as a beloved security blanket. I pictured my little family tucked in for a rest filled sleep, and the fog covering us so that we could sleep that much better.
May any areas of fog in your life
Be as comforting to you
as
Your most warm and safe
Security item–
The arms of a lover folding you in,
The hand of God holding yours,
The Universe enclosing you in Love.
May you see the Fog
Not as something to fear or curse,
But as a refreshing reminder
That all is well in your world.
All that you love is yours to love,
All that you treasure is yours to treasure.
All that you hold dear is yours to hold dear.
In this moment.
Feel the comfort and security in that.
May the peace and beauty of the place that you live,
May the love and joy in your life,
May all of the good in that which surrounds you,
Touch your heart today,
and
Expand throughout the week.
Much peace,
Joy
Unfolding Your Path to Joy 
#1 by Jay Schryer on April 26, 2010 - 9:20 am
That’s a truly beautiful blessing. I think that often, people see the fog as something threatening, something to be feared. We have the tendency to let the unknown frighten us. This blessing is a good reminder that the unknown can bring us peace, love, and all the good things in life, too. If we keep our hearts open and our feet firmly on the path in front of us, taking life one step at a time into the unknown, we can receive the blessings that are waiting for us.
#2 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:46 pm
A key point that you mentioned is to keep your heart open. Even when you are afraid, maybe *especially* when you are afraid. You do not need to leap into the unknown, you may walk through one step at time. You may choose to walk joyfully or fearfully; I personally find joyfully much more fun:)
Blessings are abundant in each moment. The key is to be a gracious receiver. The Universe cannot bless that which is not open for receiving.
#3 by Megan "JoyGirl!" Bord on April 26, 2010 - 2:05 pm
Joy, this is simply beautiful, and sure enough I have fog in my life. I thought it was lifting, but that’s the funny thing about fog. It lifts only to resettle… And we have to allow it. Rather than viewing it as an obstruction, though, your advice to view it as welcomed felt really good in my heart.
It’s all good… That’s a phrase I repeat often, but need to internalize here.
Thank you, and many blessings to you and this divine business of yours. You are gifted beyond words… You heal simply by focusing your energy.
#4 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:44 pm
Megan,
Here at the harbor, we have a fog season–May through August. The fog rolls in heavy and thick almost every morning, rolls out late afternoon. Yet inland is sunny and bright all day. The fog has taught me to relish the moment I am in..when it’s thick I am focused on what I can see so in those moments I let my other senses ‘play”. When the fog rolls out we all aprpeciate the sunshine that much more. Each and every day. Maybe the fog allows us to appreciate and focus on our work and obligations during the day, then play fully in the evening. The fog has become my friend, something I look for, instead of something I fear.
As you know, fog symbolizes lack of clarity. So, when the fog rolls in it is a visual reminder for me to look internally and assess my heart and my path.
#5 by Tess The Bold Life on April 26, 2010 - 2:40 pm
Hi Joy,
I’m so grateful for the joy and wisdom you add to my world. Your writing heightens my senses and makes me feel more alive. I’m enthusisatic about your new work and blog. Please let me know how I can help you in any way on your new journey. I love you. Tess
#6 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:40 pm
Tess,
Thank you for joining me here! You have enriched my life in so many ways; your challenge to be bolder has led to this…this hugely beauty filled, wonder filled path that I am now on. Thank you!!!
#7 by Sarah Lulu on April 26, 2010 - 8:02 pm
Lovely post and congratulations on your new blog. xx
#8 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:38 pm
Sarah Lulu,
Thank you! Much Light…
#9 by Greg Blencoe on April 26, 2010 - 8:59 pm
Hi Joy,
Congratulations on starting the new blog! I’m excited about all of the possibilities. 🙂
Thank you for the lesson about the fog. Among other things, it’s a reminder to me to live in the present and not worry about what lies too far ahead. And I really liked how you focused on your other senses when you were not able to see as far. You looked at the glass as half full by concentrating on what was special about the situation.
#10 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:37 pm
Greg,
Thank you for joining me here.
Thank you for the reminder of living mindfully in the present moment. When the fog rolls in I only “worry: if I project, but if I turn my mind off and focus on the now I may enjoy what only seconds ago may have felt ominous.
When I am in nature, or in a moment that pleases my heart, I like to turn off one sense and “feel” it with the others. It helps me realize how precious each moment is, and to live it in a slightly different way. It helps my heart to expand with the joys of my experience.
#11 by Wilma Ham on April 26, 2010 - 10:40 pm
Hi Joy, a new beginning, a new creation appearing from the fog, how exciting.
Fog is a natural phenomenon isn’t it? And with everything natural, we can fight it and question it or enjoy the beauty while knowing all is well.
Oh Joy, let it all unfold in its own beauty, as a co-creation with joy for ALL of creation from its contemplation. I love the imagery, I love your vision.
Blessings and much joy with this new beginning, love Wilma
#12 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:34 pm
Wilma,
You are precious. Absolutely. Thank you for your kind words and support.
Natural phenomenons are tricky things. Our minds race when faced with that which we do not understand, but our hearts remain calm, because they *know*. I choose to see the beauty, the wonder, feel the joy in all around me. And I will allow my heart to remain open so that I may share all of that with you here.
#13 by Jodi Sloane on April 27, 2010 - 2:28 am
What a wonderful blog, Joy! You have been so busy!! Congratulations on your new endeavor. You are going to make waves–big, huge, glorious waves! Best wishes to you!! ~Jodi
#14 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:32 pm
Jodi,
Thank you for joining me here! A blessing indeed:)
Big waves are fun and awesome to play in together….let’s all make some:)
#15 by YogaDoc on April 27, 2010 - 4:29 am
Very nice! I’m so proud of you 🙂
#16 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:31 pm
Thank you my friend. It has been an amazing journey, and I am blessed to have you on this path with me:)
#17 by Caity on April 27, 2010 - 10:40 am
Congratulations on your new blog! I was so happy to find you here. I have always thought of the fog as a sort of ominous and threatening, dark thing. Now I can see it in another way. Thank you for showing it to me in another light. It just goes to show you that many things in this world can be looked at through many perspectives. All you need is a different and positive outlook!
#18 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:30 pm
Caity,
Thank you for joining me here!
Perspective can redirect your mind to follow your heart. Admittedly, when I am out at sea and the fog rolls in, my mind may panic, but my heart quickly calms it. I know the way, I have navigational tools, and fog offers me the opportunity to focus what I already know to get through what I may not know. Works on land as well- 🙂
#19 by Peggy Nolan on April 27, 2010 - 8:30 pm
Hello my dear friend!
(what a great thing to be able to comment while I’m at work! So, I love that you moved to a wordpress blog!!)
Joy – if there’s one thing I love, it’s being crystal clear on what I want in life. Every time I have crystal clear clarity – my vision, my dreams, manifest miracles!
The clearer we are with want we want in life, the clearer our outcomes. The Universe works wonders when we’re clear!
xo
Peggy
#20 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 28, 2010 - 1:26 pm
Peggy,
Thank you for joining me here! I am glad you can comment from work–yay! There is great energy within our blogging community so I check in from work as well.
I agree, clarity=dream manifestation. When you focus your energy on something it grows, so it is wise to be clear about what you are focusing on. I surround myself with positive so I grow positive, and I allow my heart to dream, so my dreams my grow. God blesses it all, and the Universe matches each of my steps with something wonder filled and marvelous!
#21 by Evita on April 29, 2010 - 1:56 pm
Hi Joy
And yes, first off it is so beautiful to see this new site of yours! I love the look and feel and it is a great blessing in itself that you are choosing to spread even more beautiful content around and share it with so many out there.
Clarity is an amazing thing in our lives, but other aspects like those of “fog” need to be appreciated as well. I think in a way we always see as clearly as we need to at any given time, and so yes, the fog is nothing ever to look at negatively. How do we know… perhaps it is protecting us from something….
Beautiful words Joy – thank you for sharing!
#22 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on April 30, 2010 - 12:11 am
Evita,
Thank you for stopping in!
Thank you for your kind words about this new site. This project of guiding others to unleash inifinite joy and creativity is near and dear to my heart. 🙂
Brilliant point about the possibility of fog protecting us; I think of it as a security blanket folding over me in a comfortable way. But protecting me–I like that! Thank you!
#23 by The Exception on May 26, 2010 - 3:35 pm
What a beautiful thought… I lived in San Francisco for a bit and fell in love with the fog. It softens, mystifies, and blurrs the world in such a way that things appear different at times providing for a perspective which didn’t exist before.
I look forward to your path unfolding to joy… and mine unfolding to joy too!
#24 by unfoldingyourpathtojoy on May 26, 2010 - 4:23 pm
The Exception,
San Francisco is one of my favorite cities! I absolutely love your imagery of fog!!!! How comforting, almost something to seek out instead of to fear….
Here on the dock or out on the ocean, fog is like one big soft blanket for me, but out in the world fog can be disconcerting in a place I am not as familiar with. I let my eyes adjust then find my way….