Thankful (plus, bonus graphic for you)

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I am so grateful for you reading this blog and being such a big supporter of Upcycled Education and Hello, Strategies.

I am off to enjoy a little time outdoors before heading to my in-laws for a Thanksgiving gathering.

With love,

Jen

PS - If you want a to use the image I made above, go to this link to find it.  I made the Thanks graphic on PicMonkey, which is still my graphic design crush even after all of these years. 

PSS - See you back here on Black Friday for our first ever Black Friday through Taco Tuesday Sale at our new Hello, Strategies Etsy shop!  Yay!

Profound Gratitude

This weekend I am celebrating my birthday and also completing another {life} coaching class.  The focus of this class is being in the present moment.  Last night's surprise, intimate gathering for my birthday gave me a fantastic opportunity to practice being in the moment.  I didn't waste the opportunity.

When I woke up this morning, I thought, why not continue to be in the moment?  Here it goes.

At this moment, I feel a profound sense of gratitude.  The image that comes to mind is the Grand Canyon.  Every time I've seen the Grand Canyon in person I am in total awe.  Could it really be that vast?  Expansive?  Magnificent?  Radiant?  Astonishing?  And quiet?

The gratitude I also feel is related to abundance.  It goes on and on and deep and far reaching.  I'm standing right now and I feel all my emotions shooting through my feet like roots of a tree in a time-elapse video. This profound sense of gratitude is literally anchoring me to the earth.

From this vantage point, I am seeing possibility.  And, holy moly, my eyes cannot believe what they see.   If you were here with me (in my kitchen), I would call you over and say, do you see that?  Do you see?

.....I just released a gigantic sigh......

It's like what you want.  What anyone wants.   And what the world needs is right there.   Feeling this evokes calmness, delight, and awe.

....Is this a dream?.....

Oh, there it is.  The ugly side.  The this-really-is-a-dream-side-and-doesn't-exist side.  The side that likes to sabotage moments or thoughts like these.  Gosh forbid there is this beautiful land of possibility and gratitude and abundance.  What if there isn't enough?  Or I fail?  Or get hurt?  Or go unliked?  What then?  I'm shaking my head.  Again?

....That stupid story again?  Ugh.

This is my birthday.  I am over four decades old.  I didn't invite the saboteurs and their stupid story to this party.  They are not welcomed at the Grand Canyon in my mind.  This is my land (and yours?) of possibility.  I am grateful they remind me how fragile life is.  I'm grateful those saboteurs show me how high the stakes are. But, they don't serve me anymore.  In fact, they box me in.

So, right now.  In this moment.  I am noticing a take-back sense.  A "this is my life" feeling.  A "do you see this?" feeling.   A profound wave of gratitude that is as exuberant and as expansive as the Grand Canyon, indeed.

...If you could see me in person right now, you'd see this inquisitive and mischievous look on my face with a gigantic splash of awe.....

I like the mischievous part best,

Jen

Simple Gratitude

Sometimes I can be a real stick in the mud.  Can you?  Recently, Lil O had an idea to bring a family member (who hasn't been feeling very well) a big, colorful balloon and instead of me saying, Great idea!  How fun!  I said something to the effect, What if they don't like it?  How much is that balloon?

I mean, come on.  Who doesn't like a big, colorful balloon?

Two things. Sometimes the simplest acts of gratitude are the most meaningful, right?  And how come I have to learn this life lesson from my wee one?

Thank you, Lil O.  You teach me more than you know.

Love,

Mommy (aka:  Jen)

A Delayed Attitude of Gratitude

There is something our family is not good at doing in a timely manner.  Writing thank you notes.  We are horrible.  We typically write them months after the actual event or gift was received.  I am usually so embarrassed that it has taken so long that I will spend half of my note saying, "This thank you is long overdue...."

This whole issue must be genetic, because Lil O is pretty delinquent, too.  Ugh.

Do you have any tips to help us?  

My grandmother would be appalled if she was still alive.

Embarrassed,

Jen

PS - As you can see from the photo above, we do like to handmake our thank yous.  At least, we can be proud of something, right?

Gratitude Gift {from Under the Sycamore}

Two things....

I love reading this blog, Under the Sycamore.  I read it daily.  I would say it is one of my favorite blogs.

I love Ashley Ann's free printable to encourage gratitude each day.  Lil O and I will share one for 2014.  I think it will a lovely bonding experience to be grateful together.

Photo from Under the Sycamore

You can print one yourself and keep (or gift to a friend) here.  Plus, how cute is Ashley Ann's wrappings?

Clever woman and neat soul,

Jen

World Bike {Giving Back}

Mr. UpCyclist will do just about anything that involves biking.  Plus, as my students have heard me describe, he is a complete kind-natured soul and a true 6er - ed psych students, that one was for you!  Hence, Mr. UpCyclist volunteered at the Green Fest event in our county.  For hours, he and puppy Jedi took off the pedals of donated bikes.  Evidently, the donated bikes are headed to Panama and with their pedals off, the bikes fit more nicely in the cargo container.

Yay, for World Bike (the organizer of the bike donations) and nice work, Mr. UpCyclist.  Lil O and I are proud of you and Jedi.

If you want to get involved with World Bike, click here. 

Happy,

Jen

Attitude of gratitude

Let's play truth or dare.  Dare!  I dare you to make someone else's day today.  Write that person a note, leave something sweet for them, send them a random "you're awesome" text or just give them a hug for no reason.

Just embrace an attitude of gratitude.

Feels awesome, huh?  Post your random acts of gratitude below in the comments section - you might inspire others to follow in your footsteps.  Then, if you really want to shout out your random act of gratitude to the world, visit 365 Give to "share your give." 

I love that.  Give your share, share your give.

With gratitude, fabulous blog reader,  you rule.

Jen