The Story Behind Speckles of Joy

Welcome to my new blog, Speckles of Joy!

I wanted to give you a little glimpse into why I chose the name “Speckles of Joy”. I am sure this page will transform over the coming months, so I hope you are ready for the adventure with me!

I have always loved writing & sharing my stories with others. If you are lucky enough, you may have followed me through some of my old blogs. Unfortunately, I stopped writing for a while, but I am not letting it stay that way! After a year of loss & deep grief, I have taken some steps in my life to further my own personal growth. Through counseling, coaching, & the support of a faithful group of friends & family, I am ready for my next step & believe Speckles of Joy is one of them. I have personally struggled with anxiety, depression, self-doubt, etc, and often it is hard to find the joy in my circumstances. I value authenticity/vulnerability & I want to share my reality with you through the thick and thin. I believe that even in the worst of situations, there is joy to be found… although sometimes it’s a little more difficult to find.

So… why Speckles?

A “speckle” is defined as “a small spot or patch of color”. Like the good nerd that I am, I had to go on to research “speckle patterns”. Follow me here… Speckle patterns typically occur in “diffuse reflections”. A “diffuse reflection” is the reflection of light (or other waves or particles) from a surface such that a ray’s incident on the surface is scattered at many angles rather than at just one angle. In more common terms, the light is spread out over a larger area, not concentrated to just one spot. Speckles are diffusely-scattered light. I love that!

I love it when I get a window seat on an airplane & the sunlight is shining directly onto my lap, reflecting off of small shiny objects nearby. Sure, my neighbors may not love it when I reflect the light off my iPhone into their eyes... No, I actually do not do that but I felt it would add some humor to give you the visual since I’m sure we’ve all had that happen to us at some point in our lives. But, I will often wiggle my hand around so I can see the speckles on the walls/ceiling from the diamonds in my wedding bands. It’s like a mini disco-ball right in the palm of my hands.

I also love sitting in the shade under a luscious green tree on a warm sunny day. Not only to be relieved of the heat of direct sun, but I love watching the sunlight reflect through the leaves of the tree. Watching the speckles of light trickling through to the ground below. Watching the speckles move around as the wind blows through the leaves. That visual brings me such peace!

I love that you may not always know where the speckles will appear. They may be large, bright & clearly recognizable OR they may be super tiny & tough to see. You may even have to put some effort in & move around a little bit to reflect the light properly. But, I believe we can always find them if we practice some patience & take a moment to glance around our surroundings. You never know where speckles of joy are waiting for you.

Thank you for all of your support in my new endeavor. I would love for you to subscribe to my blog using the form at the bottom (or the side) of this page! By doing so, you will always be the first to know when I have a new post published, yay!

Much Love,
Carmen

Reflection: Do you have more imagery of speckles in your every day life that brings you joy? Comment below because I would love to hear about it!