After facing a deep disappointment, dealing with a new allergy development, and really feeling the overall bleakness that is January, sitting down to compose a gratitude list is in equal parts challenge and welcome reprieve. It’s challenging, because who wants to take the time to look with a positive eye at all your blessings when all you really want to do is wallow (for a little while) in your misery? But at the same time, a gentle but forced push out of one’s little puddle of misery is a welcome reprieve from that not-so-productive desire to wallow.
Does that make sense? I guess what I’m trying to say is that developing the habit and practice of gratitude is a good thing, and I’m especially glad in weeks like the one that just passed that I continue to make it a part of my life.
In no particular order, here is my own gratitude list for this moment in time. I hope that after reading it you’ll go on to write and share your own!
- Having both the ability to read and the love of reading (the latter of which has recently been revived in me after a bit of a slump).
- Books in all their forms – the ones sitting on my shelves, the ones waiting for me at the library, the ones available for purchase, the ones in audio form on my iPhone, and the ones tucked quietly away on my Kindle ready to be discovered. Such wealth!
- That I was immediately able to identify the source of my latest allergic reaction – beeswax in my eyeliner and mascara – because of my previous discovery that I am allergic to beeswax/propolis in lip balm. It’s certainly not fun having allergies, and a pain in the neck to source products that don’t contain problem ingredients, but I’m grateful that this time I didn’t have to go through months of frustration and was instead able to address the problem right away based on my earlier experience. (And yes, from now on I’ll be reading the ingredients on every single cosmetic product I buy – no more beeswax/propolis for me!)
- A generous friend who went out of her way to stop by my house and drop off a HUGE bag of magazines for me to use in collages and art journaling.
- Getting caught up on a couple of tasks that have been hanging over my head for awhile.
- Moisturizing lotion on winter-dry skin.
- My blog readers – and in particular, this week, the ones who took the time to comment on my posts. You really encouraged and supported me on the days when I’ve felt down, and I greatly appreciate your kindness and friendship.
Now it’s your turn!
How to get involved in the Gratitude Linkup
Note: This linkup will be open for the entire month, so feel free to add as many gratitude posts as you choose to write in January!
- Write and post a gratitude list in your own blog.
- Click the “add your link” button below and share your gratitude post.
- Click “get the InLinkz code” below and add the linkup code to your post.
- Visit and comment on some of the posts listed in the Gratitude Linkup.
P.S. – Here’s some background on why I started the Gratitude Linkup.
Twitter: shakastudios
January 18, 2015
Oh this challenge has my name written all over it. I’ve already posted to my blog today but you can bet your buttons that I’ll be making my list first thing tomorrow morning. Thank you!!
GratitudeGeek recently posted… Michelle Bowers, Fiber Artist Interview
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 19, 2015
Excellent – you are always welcome! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
Twitter: jolope
January 18, 2015
Sorry to hear you got less than desirable news. While I think being grateful is a good thing, I think we should be careful about railroading our feelings. It you want to have a pity party, have one – just don’t let it go on for weeks. It probably won’t, either, if you truly let yourself feel whatever you are feeling. I have found that being willing to go into those places is much more effective than struggling to move around them. I have no idea what you have done (only the person who is dealing with something truly knows) but I wanted to add my few cents in this regard. I suppose, too, I am a bit sensitive when it comes to stuff like this because often others are attempting to railroad my feelings for me. It certainly has its place. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Elizabeth recently posted… Pretty Much Every Day
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 19, 2015
Very good point, Elizabeth! Feeling your feelings is so important – I just never want to get caught up in wallowing far past the point where it’s doing me any good. Thanks for sharing your perspective – much appreciated!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
Twitter: RamblinGarden
January 18, 2015
I was grateful for a quiet Sunday afternoon where I was able to finally plan for a vacation. I am always grateful for moisturizing lotion, especially one I recently discovered with shea and coconut oil. It smells so good!
Alana recently posted… Civil War Sunday – The DNA of History
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 19, 2015
Mmmm… sounds lovely!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
Sorry to hear of your disappointment-somehow it is never easy. Remember when one door closes another window opens.
I too have many books-isn’t wonderful to have so many ways to read whether if be on an e-reader or a book.
Thank you for providing this link-up.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 19, 2015
Thanks, Kathy – much appreciated. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
Twitter: shyvish
January 19, 2015
Good thing you eliminated the allergens, Laurel! Hope you are fine now. I love the idea of Gratitude. I find the same true when I count my happy things for the day. This word of the year was such a brilliant concept!
Shailaja V recently posted… On its Axis- #yeahwrite #gargleblaster
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 19, 2015
That’s excellent – so glad it’s working well for you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
Twitter: shilpaagarg
January 19, 2015
It’s good that you were able to zero down on the allergen soon enough. Sometimes, it takes a long time to find the cause of allergy and till then it is a harrowing time. Hope you are fine now. Take care, Laurel.
And yes, I have a lot to be thankful for the books too.
Shilpa Garg recently posted… Never-Ending Winter
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 19, 2015
Pretty much totally better now, thankfully! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
Twitter: obsessivemom06
January 19, 2015
I love your reasons for making out this list specially after a bleak period in life. That’s when you least feel grateful yet that’s the time you most need to feel gratitude. Cheers on identifying the allergens.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 19, 2015
Very very true!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
It is a lot harder to find things to be grateful for when nothing is going your way. Kudos to you that you were able to find something despite life’s disappointments.
Kathy recently posted… Never Ending Winter
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 19, 2015
Thanks, Kathy. Gratitude is a great practice. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
Laurel – sometimes it seems like all we can be grateful for is that one particular week is over. Gosh those allergy struggles are hard ones – and always the underlying anxiety not knowing when one will erupt. I’ve pretty much stopped using all makeup, and use only hypoallergenic skin lotion, but this summer I had a bad reaction to a 20-proof skin screen when the 40-proof of the exact same screen works just fine. Go figure!
I hope this week is one with some reading in it!
Sammy D recently posted… Cadence Meets Keyboard in 2015
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 19, 2015
Allergic reactions are AWFUL. I was about ready to scratch my eyes out the other night! So annoying.
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
Twitter: nabanita21
January 20, 2015
Wonderful Laurel…For me the last week has been about a wonderful laid back vacation in Goa 🙂
nabanita recently posted… Come live Quikr in Bangalore!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 20, 2015
Oh, that sounds lovely! Lucky you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 21 – Sans maquillage
So glad the source of your allergic reaction was easily and quickly identified and remedied. Also glad you found something that works for you. Yes, it is hard to have an allergy of any kind. Especially if it really affects you and might be a little difficult to avoid.
I have eczema which only got worse than its ever been after having Baby Boy and nursing for about 6 months. It wasn’t until mid to late 2014 Hun and I put 2 and 2 together in part of the terrible ongoing flare up being a lack of fats/fatty acids.
Although it’s not gone, it is better. But, we having been staying away from grains as much lately and I think it’s triggering my eczema more :/
Nonetheless, you’re so right about creating a gratitude list especially when having a rough go of things. 🙂
Life Breath Present recently posted… A Quality Toothbrush
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Allergies are just no fun at all. It’s always a relief when you can find the source quickly and easily, and work towards making things better. Hope you solve the eczema problem for good, soon!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
Trackbacks: