It’s so easy to get bogged down with work and life, and perhaps feel frustrated, exhausted, overwhelmed, and even irritable. The littlest things can set you off when you’re in one of these states. I’ve been there. In fact, I still go there sometimes! To be honest, seeing people airing grievances on social networks kind of gets me down sometimes.
I just need a tiny break from –> People fighting over opinions re: vaccinations vs. anti-vax, the positive aspects about farming vs. being vegan/anti-GMO/anti-gluten, etc…and then there’s that dress everyone has been talking about! Just kidding about the dress part. People weren’t fighting over what colour it was, but those who have had it with the dress were pretty vocal about it.
Has social media allowed us to forget our manners and how to communicate with one another? I don’t know.
If only we could infuse the social feeds with positive thoughts instead of focusing on negative things, pointing fingers or arguing. I guess the good thing about social networks is that you can pick and choose what you want to see and you can mute conversations or, in extreme cases, choose to unfollow people.
My Dad, in his infinite wisdom once told me years ago, “Don’t stress over what you don’t have control over.”
He’s right. Sometimes letting go of things you don’t have control over can end up being so liberating.
#ThankfulThursday: Appreciating the small things in life
One of my best friends gave me a journal when I was seventeen. In it, she wanted me to write five things I was thankful for and I had to do this every day. It was a practice that made me realize how blessed I was. I don’t know why I stopped writing my “five things I’m thankful for today”, but I think it’s time to resume!
The things we are thankful for can be anything from being thankful for a roof over our heads and food on the table, to a day filled with sunshine and blue skies.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to write in my journal every day, so I’ll be posting 5 things I’m thankful for every Thursday. In effort to creating a peaceful, healthy lifestyle, I do believe showing gratitude and being aware of what we have are important. If you’d like to join me for #ThankfulThursday, link up below. I’ll make sure to visit and comment!
Before I sign off, here are my five things I’m thankful for this week:
I’m thankful for
- Our new puppy! She’s been a great distraction and she is teaching our six year old about responsibility. I’m also thankful that Cupcake is so smart! We’ve only had her in our home for a week, and she’s already house trained! I’ve even taught her how to sit, come, fetch, drop and give paw in less than a week!
- Our big boy, Chance. He’s twelve years old now, and for an old boy, he sure is patient with the puppy. He is so good with her. We’re so lucky!
- My daughter starting to like doing homework. To be honest, homework was a battle for a while. She’s now a bit excited to do homework with me.
- Hubby’s new tractor. It’s hard to operate a farm when you’re limping along with old equipment. The breakdowns and repairs, and the time spent fixing when you should be farming are not conducive to “getting’er done”. Hubby bit the bullet and got a new tractor. I’m glad that it’s heated and has a covered cab. The harsh Winter conditions are tough to work in. Plus, no more freezing for Hubby. He used to work with icicles dangling from his face!
- I’m thankful for work that enables me to telecommute/work remotely. Doing community management, project management and other work for clients are all things I love and am passionate about. I’m thankful I can do this from my home office on Manitoulin Island.
Oh! I’m feeling exceptionally grateful. I need to add that I am thankful for being able to spend time with Mairlyn Smith last week. She is one of the loveliest, funniest, most intelligent ladies I know. You’ve gotta try her “Bum Blasters”! They’re good for you!
I’m also thankful for surprises in the mail. Thank you Bonnie for gifting me your beautiful tea cups. I was not expecting that! Thank you, Dave Lackie for the random presents for Little One and me. You sure know how to brighten up a girl’s day!
What a great way to find ongoing gratitude in your life. I am going to look at doing the same!
What a lovely idea (and an adorable puppy!) I try to let the bickering on social media roll off of me, I know I won’t be disconnecting but if I let it get to me I would feel pretty down too. So I just read the things that interest me, scroll by the things that don’t. I do like catching up on the positives, so thanks for adding to that!
I am so with you on the social media fights. It seems like everytime a friend post something everyone who believes the opposite jumps down her throat. I used to make a list of things I was thankful for when I was in highschool and was going through issues. I needed something to remind me of what was good in my life. Oh and your new puppy is SOOOO CUUTTTEEE!!!
This is a great idea and something we should probably all do from time to time to make us realize all the good things we have in our lives 🙂
Just when I didn’t think I couldn’t love you any more…..LOVE this post!!! Your positivity is contagious – thank you.
I love your outlook Christine and totally agree on that sentiment about people sharing their grievances on social media. Frustrates me to no end! Thanks for sharing what your thankful for as well. It helps to put things in perspective and I may just join in..
What a perfect post!! I’ve had a rough week and I have definitely been in one of those irritated moods! This post cheered me up! I do have a lot to be thankful for and I definitely need to be reminded to focus on them rather then the bad! I am thankful for my family and my kids, my supportive husband, my health, my job, and for amazing social media people like you!!!
This post makes me so happy~ glad to see such wonderful things happening in your life, Christine <3 I am going to aim to do a Thankful Thursday post from this day forward and perhaps it will lead to some enlightening in my life too. Such an inspiration!
Thank you, lovely! So important to take a step back and give thanks for what we have, right? 🙂