Weekend Gratitude || 11.3.14

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|| And the Party Never Stops||

My birthday weekend in a word -- awesome. Lying in bed eating chocolate for breakfast, dancing until the clock turns and a bus full of strangers sing you Happy Birthday, gifts wrapped in paper towels, and skyping with my momma -- couldn't have asked for a better birthday weekend to end my teens and start my twenties. Such a shock -- ending my age in a -ty rather than -teen ... I've had the same ending for the last seven years of my life! What ... change is difficult : - ) . I've never felt so relaxed being myself before. Does that make sense? Just not letting others get in the way... it seems easier now, even though it's only been a few days of this new age. It's as if being a teen gives little authority. Anyone else feel that way about a different age? I'll be writing more about this over the course of the week -- I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'll be working on making up work, holding meetings, staying calm, and loving on my friends because of how supportive they have been lately. And then I'll be graduating this weekend from my yoga teacher training ... wow -- 8 months already! What are you up to this week?
I'd love to hear how you all are doing. How was everyone's weekend?

|| GRATITUDE ||

I am grateful for friends that have become family. I am grateful for bright water bottles that make me excited to drink water. I am grateful for road trips and heated cars. I am grateful for messages of love and hope and inspiration. I am grateful for Gilmore Girls. I am grateful for my own company. I am grateful for life, for aging, for being one hundred percent real. I am grateful for all this and more -- overflowing really -- there isn't enough room.

What are you grateful for?

xxoo

[weekend snapshots by emily friend]

The Peace in Gratitude ||10.29.14

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This was originally posted to There's Beauty in Recovery last week... jump through to the site at the end of the excerpt to read more...

Mantra: “I release all that does not serve me. I harness all the good that lives within.”

One day a year, we dedicate our conversation and thoughts to all that we are grateful for and all that we have to give thanks. Just one day. For the rest of the 364 days, we go around lost in our pain and stories of suffering, forgetting how every minute of every day always, there are things to be grateful for are floating around, waiting to be caught and held close to our hearts. It’s easy to get caught up, our brain naturally leaning towards negativity or anger; we might forget the cherished words we spoke of the very thing we now detest, or we might find that our brains no longer tolerate what we once loved. But on that one day each year, we speak of our plentitude and our gratefulness. Why don’t we do this everyday?

To be grateful is to give thanks to all that is present in our lives. It is the turn of events that make us smile, the hugs that keep our heart warm, the laughter that keep our souls young. Some days it is gratitude for the plentitude of natural resources; the water that flows freely from a tap in the kitchen, the rain that lulls us to sleep at night, the sun that adds just another protective layer of warmth to our chilly days. Other days, there is gratitude in our desire to learn, in our ability to read, in our movement of limb and use of mind. From the smiles we receive from strangers to the long talks we have with those we love, gratitude can be found everywhere. Anywhere, any day, any time we can spot a few things in our day to send gratefulness towards.

[keep reading]

We have Gratitude Mondays here on the blog... what are some things you are grateful for?

xxoo

[Vancouver, BC when I ran the half marathon in 2013]

Contemplative Gratitude || 10.20.14

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|| Last Monday of October||

My weekend was spent alone, sharing my time with my computer, my bed, a brisk walk on Saturday morning. I recipe tested for you all this week -- not as satisfied as I wish, but sharing with you none the less. I spent a lot of time writing and thinking, though. I think some weekends need to be about that kind of solitude -- just connecting with yourself until it clicks and you realize something needs slight tweaking or a huge overhaul.

Two exams this week, meetings, and activities galore... is it Friday yet? Juuustt kidding... don't wish your life away. I'd love to hear how you all are doing. How was everyone's weekend?

|| GRATITUDE ||

I am grateful for peace and quiet. I am grateful for binge watching TV. I am grateful for writing and crumpling it up, not pressing the delete button. I am grateful for patience, for I feel I need some more, but I'm sure I have enough. I am grateful for memories as long as they don't keep me stuck in the past. I am grateful for time alone, for one day I won't feel so lonely. I am grateful for life, for the use of my limbs, and for all around me that is available. I am grateful for the stars, the moon, and the sun, for at least they are consistent.

What are you grateful for?

xxoo

[weekend snapshots by emily friend]