The past few years, I’ve followed this Instagram prompt by @positivelypresent. It’s a great way to reflect on the year.
The past few years have been very challenging, but finding time to be grateful is just as important in tough times as they are in good times. So let’s get started! And stay tuned. I’ll be publishing these every Friday in November.
Day 1: Self-Care
I think a lot of what we see online in terms of self-care is going to the gym, putting on a face mask or getting a massage. While these are all forms of self-care, this year I’ve found that self-care has taken the shape of really listening to myself and my body.
At times, self-care has meant laying on the sofa and reading all afternoon or taking a long walk. Sometimes it’s finally buying that record I’ve been thinking about. It changes all the time, but I feel I’m more in tune with what I need than ever.
Day 2: Nature
Every year for the past 20+ years, my family travels up to Winter, Wisconsin. It’s a great way for us all to hang out together in a lo-fi way. We spend our days playing cards, floating in the pool and snacking.
We also have the opportunity to enjoy the lake there. This summer, my sister and I kayaked on the Chippewa Flowage. It was incredibly peaceful at dusk—though we did see eagles and a beaver! Taking some moments to be still and enjoy these waters is a real joy. I’m grateful I made the time to get out on the water like this.
Day 3: Optimism
Life is tough! My mom is very ill, and that’s something that’s really challenging to find brightness in. But my family is really terrific about finding silver linings, good news and highlights. Every time I see my mom beat my dad in a game of cribbage or read a recipe or pick up my FaceTime call, I get a jolt of good vibes and a peek at the bright side.
I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Stay tuned and please join in if you’re so inclined! You can use #gratitude30 on Instagram (where this challenge is really taking place).
Leave a Reply