58 Comments
Nov 8Liked by Bob Dunning

Bob… Thanks for one of your best columns. Appreciating and spreading Joy shall sustain us. Simple pleasures.

We will need to be generous towards and supportive of those who face deportation and it will bring us joy if we can be helpful and make a difference. But let’s not stop cheering for our favorite teams. Great advise.

Expand full comment
author

Indeed, Jim.

I'm thinking there are some great organizations doin the Lord's work who could probably use some volunteers right about now. Time for all of us to step up to the plate and make this a better world, no matter who is in office.

Expand full comment

Good morning, Bob.

Your words this morning echo my feelings after Tuesday's frightening election defeat. I just never realized or maybe didn’t want to admit to myself, that there were so many illiterate, aggressive, and spiteful adults in America. I want to stop reading the news, and substacks. I am so old that my main objective is to spread only joy, kindness, and love for my remaining days. Gardening, travel, and spending time with family, friends, and pets will help. Thank you for all you do to help us through these turbulent times.

The sunrise on Wednesday in Merced brought me joy as did the crescent moon last night!

Expand full comment
author

My oldest daughter shot that photo and it's beauty gave me chills. And great joy.

Expand full comment
founding

"illiterate, aggressive and spiteful adults?" What a horrible characterization of fellow Americans, simply because they see the country differently than you do. In fact, that arrogant, condescending, false sense of superiority is one of the key reasons the Democrat party has alienated and lost favor with an unlikely, ever-growing coalition of voters. Comments such as yours, and the defiant,, belligerent comments by Kamala Harris following her resounding defeat, by a "convicted felon" no less, bode ill for the future of the Democrat party. People who can't learn from their mistakes will continue to lose. And what joy is there in that?

Expand full comment
Nov 8Liked by Bob Dunning

As long as it causes no harm to others, nobody needs to apologize or feel guilt in seeking joy. It is the purpose of life itself, a reason for getting up in the morning. Yes, there are people who have no joy in their lives and call-out those who seek and "enJOY." To those few folks, we reach out to them as well and help them re-find or discover the joy of life itself.

Expand full comment
author

You said it perfectly, Phil. Thank you.

Expand full comment

Erin's photo is fabulous. Thanks, Erin. You helped to start my day on a positive note. Keep taking pictures. You have a gift.

Expand full comment
author

Indeed she does. Many, many gifts.

Expand full comment
Nov 8Liked by Bob Dunning

It is joy we need to recall. Family, friends, the freedom to choose who we vote for, and the freedom to make choices based on our values and beliefs. God bless us all .

Expand full comment
author

Amen

Expand full comment

Thank you Cousin. I've decided to lean-in on joy, this beautiful world and love. I will try not to let fear and anxiety of the known and unknown take up space in my brain. Beautiful photo Erin Dunning!

Expand full comment
author

Cannot believe that photo. Looks like an artist's joyfully rendering of heaven

Expand full comment
Nov 8Liked by Bob Dunning

Exactly. While we all grieved for those who will be harmed as a result of the election results, our group of 11 friends gathered on Wednesday for a preplanned birthday party, to joyfully celebrate life, friendship, and be grateful for our many blessings.❤️

Expand full comment
author

Well said, Robin. It's up to all of us who may be harmed and help them in any way we can

Expand full comment
Nov 8Liked by Bob Dunning

Thanks for clearly stating something I have been fumbling with on my own.

Expand full comment
author

We're all fumbling, Steve.

Thanks for the kind words.

Expand full comment
Nov 10Liked by Bob Dunning

Great perspective Bob…meanwhile, the sun has risen five consecutive days since Tuesday. I think we’ll make it. If change is desired, then it’s time we get back to work…n’est-ce pas? Shall we start with some joy, eh?🙏🏼

Expand full comment
Nov 9Liked by Bob Dunning

Thank you, Bob. And I always remember my sadness decreaser: this, too, shall pass!

Expand full comment
author

Straight from the Good Book, Jan

Thank you

Expand full comment
Nov 9Liked by Bob Dunning

Amen brother Bob. Those who bring joy to others cannot keep it from themselves. (Stolen from a paper place mat used by the Symposium restaurant way back in the seventies. The Symposium place mat used the word sunshine in place of joy.)

Expand full comment
author

Symposium has brought so much joy and sunshine to so many people.

One of my all-time favorites.

Expand full comment
Nov 9Liked by Bob Dunning

Amen, brother. I'm tired of feeling so sad about things I have no control over. You're right. We all need to find (and give) joy in whatever ways we can.

Expand full comment
author

Amen to you, sister. Thanks for all you do to make our wonderful town what it is today.

Expand full comment

Yep. The late great Senator Everett Dirksen once said. I want to wake up to good news, so I read the sports page first.

Expand full comment
author

Wow, I love that. An Illinois legend speaking the truth.

I was in Rapid City in 1973, shortly after George McGovern was creamed by Richard Nixon.

As my buddy Brett Stone and I sat down in a diner to order our breakfast, in walked George McGovern with someone I believe was his daughter.

He had a very large Sunday edition of the Rapid City Journal under his arm and there he was, sitting within 18 inches of us.

As we watched, George pulled out the sports section first. Brett's photo was on the front page of sports for a dramatic tennis win he had the previous day in the Black Hills Open.

Expand full comment
Nov 8Liked by Bob Dunning

Beautiful photo. And, I definitely sang the words to the Three Dog Night song in my head! That alone brought me joy. 🎶

Expand full comment
author

I Love it, Rachel

Expand full comment
Nov 8Liked by Bob Dunning

Thanks for this column. Joy is an often used verb at the Gregg household, and much needed in our nation right now. And Erin’s lovely photo brings me joy!

Expand full comment
author

I love that photo. Thanks a million, Carolee

Expand full comment

Judging from that one picture, I think Erin and I share the gift from God of getting joy finding the incredible, ever-changing beauty in His creation. Whenever I'm feeling a little down but even when I'm really up, I take time to get out into world and find the beauty all around me.

As for the election results, I can tell you that "the other side" has naysayers coming out about the plans Trump's team has released so far. I had to write in another Substack's comments: "It's only three days since the election; give the man a chance to breathe."

Expand full comment
author

We all need a chance to breathe, John.

Expand full comment