Saturday Gratitude #6

/ Jill Winski

rainbowsprinkles

Time for another Saturday Gratitude post.

So much to choose from this week — and I feel blessed to be able to say that.

1) So it was my birthday this past week.

And I’m not a big celebrator of my birthday. I never have expectations for it or anything. But something about this birthday felt extra-special, extra-celebratory. The day unfolded in such a lovely way — I spent it with some of my favorite people (and cats!) — and I felt so loved and appreciated.

And the funny thing was, I had decided to give myself the gift of a day away from the internet. And that felt so peaceful, so replenishing, so grounding. I needed it. But then, when I did return to the internet, there were all these lovely birthday wishes on Facebook, and some emails from good friends.

And I was reminded that so much love flows through the internet, too. I just need to balance my internet time with my “in the physical world” time, or I start feeling like a strange, cramped, distorted version of myself.

2) While writing and revising a short story this week, I made some discoveries about why fiction writing has felt extra-hard for me lately.

Interestingly, I had to step away from my main project (a novel) in order to make these discoveries. The short story actually served as a metaphor for the struggle of the novel — but it was easier to see and grasp because a short story is a less vast and unwieldy thing than a novel (for me, anyway. I certainly don’t mean to say that writing a short story is not hard or confusing.). Metaphor! It can make things so much more clear. (More on this is a future post.)

3) Finally taking action on something I’d been on the fence about for a long time.

And then the noticing that what unfolded after I took action was not nearly as scary or overwhelming as I’d feared. And that I can create safety for myself along the way, with each step of the continued unfolding. In other words, I have more control than I think I do. Good to know!

I’d love it if you’d play along with me, if that feels good to you. What are you grateful for this week? What comes up for you? Feel free to do this silently, on your own, too, if you don’t want to share. But either way, do notice how focusing on the good stuff creates more of it. It’s true!

Image is “Rainbow Sprinkles” © Cyrus Cornell | Dreamstime Stock Photos

8 thoughts on “Saturday Gratitude #6”

  1. I’m grateful for you and the Writer’s Circle and Jenna. I never thought I would want to “work” again because I was so burned out as a clinical social worker. I’m so glad I didn’t go through the rest of my life believing that all paid work had to be that way. I’m so glad I have been able to recommit to the craft of writing and have a community of writers to share the ups and downs with.

    I also LOVED your thoughts about what happens when you actually go through with what you fear, and your thoughts on the internet. Thanks for the great post!

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    • Mary, that’s so good to hear — and right back at ya! I’m so grateful for your presence in the Writer’s Circle as well, and so happy to know you. 🙂 I totally hear you about burnout, too. It’s definitely an “occupational hazard” of the helping professions. Thanks so much for sharing and for reading!

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  2. Gratitude? Well, I’m grateful for taking a few moments tonight to read through a number of your most recent posts. I hadn’t been to your site in awhile, but tonight you and your wisdom came to mind. So here I am, and I’m glad I spent a bit of time… I relate to your introspective, emotive self. 🙂

    Signed,

    The Meyers-Brigg “Introvert”, Danielle

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  3. Firstly, I love the photo of the colourful crayons! Great post Jill. I love the last one best, there’s something very empowering about just going for it, taking the action we know is necessary, and so often the story of possible horrible consequences doesn’t manifest! I’m grateful for…magic, feeling held and supported by a loving universe in so many little but beautiful synchronistic ways; I’m grateful for my new home which means I can (and must) walk to work which has mean well over an hour of walking every day and I can feel how much more balanced my whole system is; I’m grateful for daffodils – they just always make me smile:-) And they’re also a good lesson in impermanence, helping me to remember to enjoy the now. Have a great week! Love, Harula xxx

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    • Oooh, I love your list, Harula! Beautiful. I hope you are loving your new home. And I hear you about the walking — I used to walk to and from work every day, too, and it was a great way to transition between work and home and, yes, so balancing! Thanks so much for sharing. And glad you like the picture! I thought it was very cheerful. 🙂

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  4. First of all, Happy Birthday!!! 🙂 So glad you’re here in this world. And along with the beautiful sunshine today, which I am very grateful for, I understand too about taking action and realizing you have more control than you think. For me, it’s because I am more ready than I think I am, more prepared- and that I’m learning (or re-learning, as life so often is about) I can trust myself to find what I need, when I need it. All in all, very good things!

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    • Kathryn, I love your thought that you are more ready and more prepared than you think you are! That is so often true for me, too (but I forget!). And trusting yourself to find what you need, when you need it — yes! So good. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing, I love it when you do! And thank you for the birthday wishes! 🙂

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