February's Simple Pleasures... in Black & White, Plain & Simple (2.1.16)

Often, anticipation of significant life events, major milestones and accompanying celebrations get in the way of seeing the little gifts that come our way.  Several years ago I studied “gratitude and contentment” in depth and my eyes were opened!  It’s easy to become lackadaisical with time. Better outlooks and healthy routines have a way of subtly disappearing if not for intention and accountability. (Which is why the gym crowds from January are mostly gone now!)

Having kept a number of “gratitude journals” over recent years, I've known the personal benefit firsthand.  A handful of friends also caught on and implemented this same practice.  Ironically, here I sit, on the first of February 2016 – out of practice. 

“February” is derived from the Latin “Februarius”- which was a festival for Roman citizens. It was essentially a month of ritualistic purification baths.    (I had no idea until today, but find this an interesting piece of trivia!)  In a sense, I'm going to celebrate "Februarius" - choosing to once again take a whole month to focus on life’s simple pleasures, the little gifts that abound daily – the silver linings  often overlooked in the pursuit of something grander.  As with the Roman festival for which this month is named, I'll view this as a mental/attitude preparation for the coming months.  Having gone through many changes last year, and while “wondering rather than worrying”… I’ve neglected at times to live in the moment. 

From past “gratitude-centric” seasons, I know that overall – life felt better in spite of challenges. My outlook seemed more positive and there was an increased awareness of the hidden blessings in the sometimes mundane. This month my objective will be capturing one small, non-grandiose cause for thanks per day.  (No matter what is going on in your own life, there are momentary gifts…I encourage my friends to do the same.  In fact, the more challenging your season of life,  the more beneficial this exercise will be.)

So… the next 27 days may only have a black & white photo and a caption – but I’ll have at a minimum, captured something that makes me smile. It may be foolish to some - but significant in my mind. 

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You gotta love Georgia weather.  On Christmas night, I was wearing shorts and a tank top.  Last week we had snow on the ground (briefly.) Friends and family across the country get a kick out of Atlanta’s Snow days – but for this Georgia girl, snow days are a novelty! The days of powdery white accumulation are few and far between.  Who wouldn’t mind being snowed in a few days next week! It's fabulous - especially, if you've got the right people around you!  (Although, I've yet to determine what my GA counterparts do with all the bread and milk ... bigger priorities should be wine and cheese - it's Biblical.  Jesus's first miracle on Earth was turning water in to wine, not milking a cow.)     

I enjoy those rare snow  days... however this week we have temperatures in the high 60s. So, back to the here and now...

For today, February 1^st, my favorite simple pleasure was walking out of my house in my years-long favorite, comfy outfit:  shorts, a sweatshirt and flip flops.  

  

It felt great to run errands in my khaki shorts, Harvard sweatshirt and flip flops!
To me, this wardrobe combination has always implied "simple, comfortable, care-free and low maintenance!(I took the low maintenance thing to new levels with no make-up and a wet head...a hint of summer!)  

TGP: Day 2

Day 2

Aug 2, 2011

I'm grateful that we live in an age where communication with our loved ones is not delayed by weeks or months as was the case during U.S. -involved wars in the early to mid 1900s. I can't imagine going months at a time without hearing from my son while in Afghanistan or Libya.

whether 600 miles away from home on business...

We are very fortunate, having the  ability to not only hear, but to "see" those close to our heart but separated by distance!

...800 miles away at College

...and ESPECIALLY 5000 miles away on deployment!

The Gratitude Project - 08.01.11

When my son was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in 2009 - I was an emotional wreck.  While it's true that we are supposed to trust God's plan and not "worry" - I failed miserably in doing so.  Watching my "little boy" ride away from base, with 1000 or so other young 18-20 year olds, I learned what it meant to "let go".  To say it was hard is a gross understatement.  Fortunately, as is often the case - a dear, sweet friend from church came alongside and walked through the whole deployment with me.  Being the daughter of a US Marine, and the mom of a US Marine - she was/is quite the expert...and quite the encourager.  One thing she encouraged me to do was to read Linda Dillow's "Calm my Anxious Heart."  It's a wonderful little "read" packed with wisdom.  Since then, I've encouraged others to do the same. 

The central theme is contentment.  It seemed a bit odd to me that I was freaking out about my precious son going off to war and she wanted me to focus on contentment.  She knew what she was talking about - and she was exactly right. It was a fabulous "discipline" of sorts.  (By the way, the word "fabulous" is a powerful word in the midst of trials - whatever they may be.)

Along with deployments (on our second one now), our family has seen an unbelievable amount of change in the last few years - some good, some difficult.  Like everyone - we face the regular daily stresses of life.  Of course, if you turn on the television - very little of the local and national news is positive.  It's enough to make you want to stay in bed and hide under the duvet! 

An exercise suggested in Mrs. Dillow's book (as well as by Dr. Phil and others) - is intentionally making notice of the little things in life that are cause for gratitude. So, for the month of August - this is exactly what I am doing.  Every day, I'll find a reason - whether miniscule or magnificent...to be mindful of the blessings, big and small. (In no particular order of significance.)  Please feel free to join me in this endeavor and share those reasons for your joy in the midst of the mundane. 

    Day 1:

August 1, 2011

Lily & Bella

For seventeen years I pleaded for a kitten...on Easter of this year - my husband gave me two!  They are the sweetest little animals ever.  On the days that I am walking into an otherwise empty house, they greet me with nuzzles and purrrrs...bringing an instant smile, and keeping me company.