2020-09-29 — Happy 6 Months!

So it’s been six months. My first daily journal entry was March 29th (this time around, anyway. I used to be a daily writer in times past). Pretty cool, eh? That’s one of the commitments I’ve kept since the beginning without missing a day 😊.

So… on that positive note, let’s do a gratitude day 😁.

#1. I’m grateful that when I lost an easy-paying job today, I was able to shrug it off pretty successfully. I was a bit bummed at first, but then I was like, whatever. I’m good. And I was 😊.

#2. I’m grateful for good friends. Have had some great group conversations with Cory and Brittani today about impatience and love and whatnot. Good stuff. I’m trying to focus on choosing love over every negative emotion that could come up in response to others. If you have any suggestions or would like to relate the kinds of self talk you use to help you choose love when choosing something else might feel easier, I’d be grateful. Comments, comments, comments. 😊

#3. I’m grateful to have plenty of work for both my tech and me. It’s been busy busy busy. I keep thinking I don’t have that much, and then I go to do the schedule, and I go… wow. Okay. That’s a lot to try to squeeze in.

#4. I’m grateful for my desires to eat more healthily. I’m not gonna do my frozen burritos anymore! I looked in the freezer and realized I have some left, so I’ll finish them off, and be done with them.

#5. I’m grateful to have warm blankets. Been keeping the house a lot cooler lately… 50s in the morning, heats up to 60s during the day. Cheap time of year for electricity doing it that way. Nice to have warm blankets. I love me my cold face and warm blankets. Soooo nice. (though my room being upstairs doesn’t get as cold as the downstairs, so it’s not really cold face, but I do love that, nonetheless.

#6. I’m grateful for opportunities for growth. Today I was thinking about impatience and how it’s a manifestation of pride for me. It’s like “I shouldn’t have to deal with this.” “This is a waste of my time.” Etc. The implicit assumption being that I’m better than whatever the situation or person on the other end is. That dealing with it/them is beneath me. It’s been helpful today as I’ve found myself getting impatient. I recognized it, and I was, at least once or twice, able to actively change my focus and perspective and let go, I think. I’m not better than that situation/person, and as Brittani mentioned, the very fact that I am impatient demonstrates how absolutely true it is that I’m not what I’m feeling in the moment that I am.

#7. I’m grateful chaptstick. The season is changing, and my lips are a little chapped today.

#8. I’m grateful for hats, so I don’t have to make my hair look presentable before going to work.

#9. I’m grateful for blenders and smoothies. Note to self, though, my smoothies don’t hydrate me very well. All the sugar in the fruit seems to lead to water retention or mal absorption or something? Just thinking about Sunday when I went over the edge. Still, I’m grateful for them. Good nutrition. And… being a lazy eater… it’s nice to drink my food. 😁

#10. I’m grateful for solid principles to guide my life by.

#11. I’m grateful to feel again like I’m making progress.

Well, my lovelies. I’m late again. I can’t seem to get that part of me disciplined. Why is it soooooo hard for me? 🙃

Loves and hugs to all you wonderful people, you.

Lift the World.

~ stephen