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Finding joy in the west

Dialogues With Creators

Finding Joy in the Journey: What I Learned from My First Podcast

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When Barbara Tucker invited me to be a guest on her podcast, Dialogues with Creators, I thought I’d be talking about traveling in my motorhome, my quest to ride my bike in all fifty states, and writing my book Finding Joy in the West. But as the conversation unfolded, something unexpected happened: I heard my own story in a new way. I realized again that I was finding joy in the journey.

Barbara’s first question was about how I ended up in Georgia after growing up in the Midwest. After attending the same public school system from K-12, graduating from a well-respected Liberal Arts College close by, and earning a master’s degree from Indiana University, I dreamed of teaching in my hometown. A woman told me I would never get a job in the school system I attended. I believed her and subsequently followed my sister Sandi and my brother Tom to Georgia. Until recently, I hadn’t thought about how one person’s words totally changed the trajectory of my life. What a lesson for young people. “Don’t let anyone steal your dream.”

Barbara’s questions didn’t just ask where I’d been or where I was going. They touched on why I travel, what is so special about riding a bike, and how my childhood dreams of riding and writing had unfolded. In speaking those answers out loud, I realized on another level that I am living my dream. I am finding joy. And I am encouraging others to do the same.

I didn’t realize how far I have come until I listened to the interview. Being on the podcast wasn’t just a chance to tell my story. It reminded me that joy isn’t something we find once. It’s something we keep choosing. I have often written, “Keep finding your joy.” It’s something we need to remind ourselves of every day.

Thank you, Barbara, for asking questions that made me reflect on my journey. Your interview carried me back to where my dreams began.

When was the last time you told your story? I challenge you to share it with a friend. Your story might just lead you to finding joy in the journey too.

Joy M. Walker
Joy M Walker

Thanks for being a part of this journey!

If you enjoyed reading this blog, I’d love your support in growing this community! Please share this with your friends, family, or anyone who might find it interesting. Your shares help me reach more people to help them find their joy.

Joy M. Walker

Joy signing book

My Heart is Full of Joy

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My heart is full of joy! I’m still wearing the smile I wore last Monday night at my first book launch back home in Georgia. Yes, the number of friends and family who filled the upstairs room at the Harris Arts Center overwhelmed me. But what really filled my heart with joy was their engagement, enthusiasm, and genuine support. I saw the love in their eyes as I spoke, interrupted myself, lost my train of thought, and bounced from one story to another. They laughed with me, not at me, when I scanned the crowd, recognizing more and more faces.

What I thought might be a nice little get-together turned into something so much more—a celebration of family, friendship, and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Family and friends from so many of my circles filled the room. Fellow writers, gym buddies, former students and teachers, parents and grandparents of students, and neighbors sat (or stood) listening to me babble about my travels and my childhood dreams to ride my bike and become an author. The love in the room came from my sister Sandi, who, along with my brother, inspired the dream, but also from friends of friends who hadn’t even met me. It was an emotional evening from the moment the first guest walked into the room until I signed the last book over two hours later.

The energy overwhelmed me. Having so many people there made the struggle worth it. Thank you to all who helped to make the launch of Finding Joy in the West a success. And thank you to those who will continue to support me as I write my next book, Finding Joy in the East.

Writing is hard. I have much to learn. But on the flip side, I’m traveling, riding my bike, and writing about people I meet and places I visit. That’s what I have wanted to do since the third grade. I’m living my dream. Riding and writing fill my heart with joy.

So, tell me . . . what fills your heart with joy? What is your dream? Are you living it? If not, figure out what is stopping you and find what fills your heart with joy.

*Photo by David McEntire

Standing on motorhome with book

Finding Joy in the West

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Praise the Lord, my book is here. Finding Joy in the West is finally finished. And it could not have happened at a better time. My goal was to have it completed by December 31, 2024, but what joy is there in that? Joy comes from the challenges and the tests of our faith. It’s the climb to the mountaintop that makes the view more special.

And what a climb this has been.

Despite numerous self-imposed deadlines, I finally accepted that the book’s completion depended on God’s timing. However, I was still hoping I would finish it before I left on my trip to the Keys in late January.

As I prepared my rig for departure, a dozen inconveniences tried to stand in my way of getting to the Keys (See Finding Joy in the Challenges).

Once I got to the Keys, the real challenges began. Oh, what joy! Every day proved to be another test of my faith. The biggest test came when the proof copy did not arrive. I’m new to this, but I figured having a book talk/book signing without the books would be like having the wedding without the bride. My publisher placed a rush order, sight unseen. When the proof copy arrived hours later, I found mistakes. Though we’ve fixed them all now, I’m sure many more glaring issues exist. I hope you will forgive me.

Finishing Finding Joy in the West took about two years longer than expected. Then it took three months longer than my “realistic goal.” Life is like that sometimes. We have to keep on keeping on. I challenge you to keep working through the challenges life throws at you. No one told us it would be easy even when one is in the Keys living the Keyzee life. But the joy is greater for the struggle. Do not give up! The joy increases exponentially. In the end, let’s remember that finished is more important than perfect.

 Copies arrived in time for my first two book events. And thanks to many, many friends, I now have two Keyzee book talks under my author’s cap. I learned from the process and must say a BIG THANK YOU to all who have supported me in this adventure. Most importantly, I thank God for helping me to not just find joy in the west, but also to find joy in the challenges.

THANK YOU!

*Photo by Vern

Joy M. Walker
Joy M Walker

Thanks for being a part of this journey!

If you enjoyed reading this blog, I’d love your support in growing this community! Please share this with your friends, family, or anyone who might find it interesting. Your shares help me reach more people to help them find their joy.

Joy M. Walker