Quick note to subscribers: Sorry there has been crickets in the whale belly lately. I am posting daily on my social media about thankfulness and one of my subscribers asked if I could send them via email. So I am going to do a “weekly roundup” that includes all my thankful jar posts for that week and send it on Saturday nights at 7pm. I appreciate each one of you for subscribing–more than you know! Thank you for your support!
30 Days of Thankfulness
Day 1: Thankfulness
When a difficult season with my son was dwarfed by struggles my friends faced with their kids, which in turn was dwarfed by natural disasters in Vermont, Hawaii, and conflicts overseas in the Ukraine and now Israel…in the middle of the chaos, my response was to grab an empty mason jar, some post-its, and a pen and start filling it with things I was thankful for–in complete defiance of negativity’s magnetic pull.
It was filled within two days.
Because the practice of thankfulness just naturally leads to more thankfulness.
And when things are overwhelming, thankfulness sucks out the venom of fear and anxiety.
And I have found that once the distraction of fear is removed, I see more clearly to know what to DO about these things. It clears a path for more focused, helpful action.
So, as I did last year–I feel a new tradition coming on–I am inviting you into my thankfulness process. Each day I am going to post one thing I am thankful for. And you can feel free to join in the comments or in making your own thankful jar.
Or just huddle close with me over a warm mug of coffee or tea (I am currently thankful for Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend) and take a moment to fight back by focusing on the positive.
For day one, I am thankful for thankfulness. How about you?
Kindred Spirits and L.M. Montgomery
30 Days of Thankfulness
Day 2: Kindred Spirits and L.M. Montgomery
As I walked in the crisp autumn breeze through our beautiful town park, I came across this heart in the middle of a red tree skirt of leaves and had to take a photo.
Later, on our town Facebook page, among the politician petitions and offers of free furniture, was a photo of the same heart with a quote from Anne of Green Gables.
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers!” L.M. Montgomery
I was already having a great day, but this put it over the edge. So refreshing to see someone not only pausing to celebrate the beauty of nature in our town, but adding to it and spreading the love.
So here’s to kindred spirits and the genius of L.M. Montgomery.
What have you seen recently that inspired you?
Don’t Quit Your Daydream
30 Days of Thankfulness
Day 3: My “Don’t Quit Your Daydream” Hobby
We all have those seasons where the activities we love have to shift to the back burner for a while. For me, I halted my writing, both blog and picture book, during the summer months to spend more time with my son.
But I found that I still needed an outlet, something that was just for me.
I had always wanted to paint, so I took a class from Suzanne Allard for $27 and got the most basic supplies.
I think I took the plunge because of the price and the fact that the instructor was self-taught and started at age 51.
Picking up a new hobby later in life brings you back to when you were six years old.
First you copy your teacher. You have your first, feeble attempt, knowing nothing about composition or brush strokes, or anything, really.
Then you get a little better at copying.
Then you find out that acrylic is NOT your medium and you really just want to paint Totoros and birds you find on Pinterest. With watercolor. And no matter what the path looks like, it’s all good. Because there is no imposed rubric, it is just for you.
I set up a table with the supplies express-lane style so I could breeze by and spend 3 minutes painting, then jump back into crossing off that daily checklist. [A lock box for the paints prevents my son’s Pete the Cat acrylic renderings from appearing on my white walls.]
I noticed a palpable change in my attitude, outlook, and stress level. Even after 3 minutes.
And as an added bonus, I got to join the class’s Facebook page. So my feed is now peppered with paintings on all skill levels–from people just dipping their toe in the water like me, to professionals who are selling their artwork. And no matter what a person’s level, the comments and feedback are all positive, encouraging.
It reminds me that I have control over my Facebook feed–what I choose to fill it with and focus on–and I have the same control in my life.
So today I am thankful for painting, something that I do just because the act of doing it brings me joy, with no pressure to perform.
And because it taught me how to open the spigot of peace in my life just a little more.
What is your “Don’t Quit Your Daydream” Hobby?
The Walk Home
30 Days of Thankfulness
Day 4: The Walk Home
Raising a kid with autism has its unique obstacles. As my son progresses at his speed through the gestalt language learning process, I have to come to terms with the fact that conversation may still be a ways off. Sometimes I can get a “yes” or “no” that is accurate when I ask closed questions about his day at school, but that’s all.
But this thankfulness exercise has me thinking less about what I don’t have with my son, and more about what I do have.
It only takes ten minutes to walk from school to home, but I look forward to it every school day. It is time Caleb and I have, just the two of us, with no competing electronic devices. It is a chance to walk side-by-side and experience the world together.
Upon seeing me, he runs up and gives me a huge hug. He doesn’t like to hold hands anymore, so he holds onto my arm and skips and laughs as we walk.
He remarks on the sound of the school bell— “Bell loud! 3:00pm!”
He postulates that the teacher will be doing the same thing we are—”Miss Courtney bye bye school, home sweet home!”
He speaks all things contrary— “School sweet school!”—which you are supposed to counter with the truth, which cracks him up.
He doesn’t like to say thank you (no idea why this is suddenly taboo) so he says “I love you!” instead to the crossing guard, which elicits a huge grin.
He points to the house we pass—”Chandelier! House! Living room! Sofa!”
And sits on the grass to quietly watch workers do renovations, converting a single story home to two stories.
It’s short, but packed with goodness, and for that I am thankful.
What part of your routine do you look forward to each day? (or Who do you look forward to spending time with?)