The Peaceful Restaurant- Gratitude Journal- Day 6

Gratitude Journal- Day 6- October 15, 2016.

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โ˜† Having too much of a headache, I was unable to try to make any dinner but I was hungry. I decided to go out to that restaurant nearby that I was at the other night- The Peaceful Restaurant. Yes, that is it’s actual name! And it turned out to live up to its name each time. A warm, soothing bowl of chicken soup noodles, a glass mug of earthy green tea, and quiet music in the background, like a lullaby had me on the road to recovery. Even the tension in my shoulders loosened with every sip of tea. And I felt as if everyone around me was relaxed and using the place as a resting spot as well. Now I know where to go for some R and R while filling my stomach.

โ˜† Glow– by Jessica Maria Tuccelli – This book definitely picked me. I had never heard of it and was not looking for it. It just whispered “Buy me”, and wow! I had no idea what I was in for. I am only a few pages in and it has got me crying, laughing, hurting, hoping and appreciating. And the descriptions and language are gripping. I could learn a lot from this kind of writing, about how to improve my own writing.

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โ˜† Boston Pizza- brings back good memories of eating out with my mom and brother when we were so young. I don’t remember what we talked about, but I remember always ordering potato skins and my mom liking pizza with ground beef, green peppers and mushrooms. That was our signature family pizza order always. ๐Ÿ™‚

โ˜† Eating a mini vegee pizza today and having my own booth in the corner to dry off and contemplate life at. Or maybe I just was appreciating down time away from the constant buzz and bass of today.

โ˜† Dancing to that bass once I was reenergized from my Boston Pizza and Glow reading break.

โ˜† Sticking around, meeting new people, catching up with the ‘oldies’, and not feeling guilty about saying no, or at least knowing when to walk away and say thank you,… but no thank you.

โ˜† Dancing for my mom, and being aware of the actual moment when i realized that’s what I was doing, that that is what I just have to do. Dance YOU free. Dance for your peace. โ™กโ™กโ™ก

dancing-free

Write On!- Gratitude Journal- Day 3

Gratitude Journal- Day 3- October 12th, 2016.

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โ˜† Waking up to a bunch of new followers on my writer’s blog! Thank you! This hasn’t happened in a long time as I haven’t been writing on it steadily. Buy this new feeling of support from strangers from all different areas has motivated me to delve back into it. Today is going to be a full of writing day for me because of you! ๐Ÿ™‚

โ˜† Impromptu movie date with Wendy!ย  I don’t know what I thought of the movie – Paterson.ย  But I like how it completely refused to stick to any of the usual cultural stereotypes and sort of toyed with the audience in that sense, in an eye opening way. I love movies and theater and the arts- the way they all take me to another place for awhile. They allow me to explore someone else’s world even if for a short time. And I always come out of any of those shows looking at my world a little differently- more open and grateful.

In this case, it had me craving cupcakes, thinking that I should pick up a guitar again and excited about colours other than black and white (You’d have to have seen the movie to understand).ย  Also, the main character ‘randomly’ gets a new blank notebook from ‘a stranger’ to nudge him to start writing new poems again. I took it as a sign to dedicate some more time to writing today.ย  “Aha!” said the old man playfully, or knowingly, as he walked away. ย  Reminds me to be open to ‘random Aha’ moments in my own real life.

paterson-movie

โ˜† The deep and meaningful conversations I had recently with a couple of really supportive friends. Michelle, Renee, and Wendy- you guys are my therapists! ๐Ÿ™‚ย  I love you so much for being there for me. Your belief in me, and allowing me the space to express and be heard means so much to me and makes such a big difference.

โ˜† The guy walking through the alley playing his harmonica in the middle of the day. I was so drawn to the music, wondering where it was coming from. And I look out my balcony and there he was, just like it was an every day occurrence. No big deal. Thanks for the music, sir.ย  Put a little skip in my step even while I was in my apartment.

โ˜† The pigeon walking so carefully, but confidently, along my balcony railing. I loved watching him, his purple tuft of feathers glimmering with an almost metallic sheen to it as his head turned a little catching the rays of the sun.ย  Pigeons, puppies, and authentic smiles seem to bring me into the present moment a lot recently. I can’t help but to stop, stare and feel, rather than think and worry, when I am in their presence.

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โ˜† The guy looking for empty bottles and cans in the alley the other night.ย  He moved aside for me, to give me more space to drive through the alley and he smiled. And then I stopped, unlocked the passenger door of my car, which he was closest to. As I was reaching over to open the door, he opened it instead. I trusted him. He trusted me. I gave him the bottle I had in my car. And he thanked me and wished me a good night. The mutual trust and compassion was what touched me the most.

โ˜† Mom- what are we going to do today? Who should we meet? What are we going to say? Where are we going to go? I refuse to continue this journey without you, so I am counting on you to guide me from here on out. Thank you for being my Angel Mom. โ™ก

*Please note: the picture at the very top of the page is not my own and is definitely not my own journal. I found it on the internet and thought it was absolutely beautiful and so fitting for this post and for many of my own ways of thinking. Thank you to whoever is the original owner and designer of it. It is inspiring me to think of ways I can create and design my own journal pages as well now. So much for my no more paper goal! ๐Ÿ™‚ When the muse calls, you gotta just go with it.

Thanksgiving- Gratitude Journal -Day 1

What better day to start a no-paper Gratitude Journal than this Canadian Thanksgiving?ย  I do love putting pen to real paper and handwriting my journals. But God knows I already have so many journals and notebooks. And I barely have space for the old ones, let alone for any new journals. So, let’s see how the online journaling goes here. I have this blog. Might as well get full use out of it right? And like it says, Scribble It Down. Here goes!

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Gratitude Journal- Day 1- October 10th, 2016

โ˜† The crazy cawing of what sounded like a million crows waking me this morning. I am happy to say that I have actually come to appreciate crows over the past few months. And I now have a completely new and more compassionate view of them. They are actually quite caring and emotional themselves.

โ˜† The beautiful view from my balcony- the firehall and trees and quaint neighborhood streets make me feel like I am in a little town that is safe and at times, magical.

โ˜† Memories of Kizomba last night. I am so glad I went out. Also got to experience a short lived- but worth it- Kizomba Krush! Only lasted 4 minutes or so and then the feeling was gone. Haha! But oh, what a feeling it was ๐Ÿ˜‰

โ˜† Listening to the mindfulness CD by Michelle Morrison again before going to sleep last night. Or maybe I fell asleep in the middle of it. Either way, it was soothing and calmed me a little as it played in the background.

โ˜† Living in a space on my own. It’s small but it’s all mine. I love the freedom that it instills in my head and heart. I know every corner of this little place because I arranged everything in it the way I wanted.

โ˜† My mom, my mom, my mom. You will always be my number one reason to be grateful, Mommy. โ™กโ™กโ™ก