Joyful June
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So thankful for any advice you can give on my current situation. My parents divorced when I was 3 and never spoke ill of one another in front of me.
I'm behind on my days so I'll do it all now lol
June 3- 3 things I'm grateful for
1. my beautiful girls
2. my continued health
3. the support I am receiving from my doctors, several therapists and friends during my very difficult situation
June 4- I signed a petition regarding the change in the law regarding sexual assault and the excuse that alcohol was involved- they're trying to reverse the law saying it's okay if alcohol was involved.
June 5- I waved and smiled at my neighbour. I always try to be pleasant.
June 6-Upsides during the lockdown- one big upside is we're saving money because we can't shop or eat out like before lol.
It certainly makes me appreciate my family and friends more and realize their importance in my life.4 -
I am enjoying reading your joyful posts!
Another vote for the regional differences in smiling and chatting with people. Try living in New England! It took me five years to meet my next-door neighbors. People are so reserved and respectful of boundaries here that it can be construed as not caring. Which is not at all the case. But it is a HUGE difference from when I lived in Virginia and in Mississippi.
But I did make an effort to thank people and smile at them. Although I didn’t see too many people.
Upside of the lockdown? Mostly related to working at home. I’m saving an hour on my commute and walk from the parking lot so I splurge a bit and don’t set an alarm. I like that I can throw in a load of laundry whenever I want or take the dogs for a quick walk. Some task can be done on my iPad as I sit in our outdoor screen house listening to birds. Lovely! And I’m still getting my work done. But I do miss my coworkers!
Unrelated to work, the biggest upside is my extended family is having weekly Zoom visits a
For today’s challenge, I took my dogs for a slightly longer walk than usual today. Mosquito population has fallen quite a bit the last couple of days and it’s much nicer being outdoors.3 -
@jlperiard I'm sorry that I have no advice for your family situation, but I thought I'd just say that back in the 70's I thought divorce was a sign of weakness and failure. I now am of the opinion that it is a sign of strength and growth. We don't always know what's right for us until we figure it out. I would just suggest letting your girls talk about whatever they're feeling even if is hard to hear. Really listen to them and try to understand them from a little girl's perspective. I am happy for you even though I know things are diffictult right now and wish you all the best.4
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@themedalist I'm glad you are having unexpected upsides to the lockdown. I think many people have appreciated not having to commute to work, a real savings of time and money. I wonder how things will look in a year or two now that so many people have been working from home and companies have made the necessary changes to make that happen. One of the first best things I enjoyed when I retired was not having to set the alarm
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June 7 - joyful physical activity- I kind of fell down on this one today. I did take a walk this morning and it was an absolutely beautiful day, but I was pretty stressed. I did do a qigong this evening and that really helped with the stress. So perhaps that was the joyful activity I needed.2
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June 7 was very hot and windy - 96 degrees and 25-30 mph wind. And my knee hurt...no more digging for a few days. But I went out and watered 3 small shady areas and enjoyed hearing the birds. I also love the sound of wind in the cedar grove so I still had joyful physical activity.2
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So much to make me smile on this thread! I'm in!
I agree with regional friendliness also. I say hello and smile at everyone I see. Some respond in kind, and others do not. But I want to spread joy and kindness and can only control what I do. So I continue... Our area is very friendly and I remember when my stepson moved here from south Florida years ago. He went with me to the grocery store, and I greeted and smiled at people thinking nothing of it....finally he looked at me with wide eyes and said "Do you know all these people?" I said "no. why?" He was astounded that I said hi to strangers and that they returned the greeting because "this sure wouldn't happen where I lived..." I remembered feeling sad that he grew up like that!
I also agree with @77tes about this being a good trial run for retirement! Being home with my husband full time and living on less income has given me a good peek at the future....I have to admit, I don't even want to return to work anymore at all. I want to retire now! It's heavenly. But I just turned 60 in March so....
@themedalist After some health struggles I've had, I can honestly say trying to find my "new normal" has been one of the hardest things I've ever done. It's been over 8 years and I still do not accept it and still strive to return to the "old me". I think maybe the fact that I have not accepted it keeps me fighting for a better life than I'd have if I gave in... But I don't have the anger I used to, and that has helped a lot. I hope your dad has or can get past the anger of the change he never asked for. (((HUGS)))
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6/1: Even on difficult days, I have been looking for the good. Most days it is that I have the day off work, since I'm furloughed currently.
6/2: I worry about whether I will be called back to work or not, and I now reframe the worry to "I'm not going to worry about it. If they call me to come back, I will return. If they do not, I will find a way to retire at 62. God will see me through."
6/3: I am grateful for warm weather after a long cold winter. I am grateful for me, my husband and our family's good health. I am grateful for time off in the summer, which I do not normally get, having worked 43 years now.
6/4: I made my husband his favorite dinner for helping my mom by working on the house she just bought near us.
6/5: I smile at everyone I see, and I'm surprised they can tell when I'm wearing a mask in the store. I think my eyes must squint or twinkle.
6/6: The upside has been that I have been able to be home since March 16, first working from home and then furloughed. I always wanted to see what it would be like to be able to be home every day and I love it.
6/7: I spent the day outside in the yard reading some of my inspirational books and listening to podcasts. Then I took my dog, Maddie, for a walk around the neighborhood and by a park. Was a beautful day.
6/8: Today, I will send a card to my former director/friend who retired a few years back. She was such an inspiration and mentor in my life and I will never be able to thank her enough. I will also send one to my ex-mother-in-law who was always more like a mother to me than anyone else. I want her to know what she has always meant to me.
Peace and joy, y'all! :flowerforyou:
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@nebslp Thank you very much for your advice. It was very helpful and thank you for your encouragement. I definitely felt the same way about divorce when I was a child. I have gone through a lot of therapy and had bariatric surgery, so I have changed myself and my mind so much and my needs are different. I have finally realized that I need and deserve to be happy.2
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June 7- Find a way of joyfully getting more active inside and out. I am enjoying blaring my music and dancing while I'm going through old clothes. I haven't done it yet, because I need more earphones, but I'm going to walk while listening to music as well.
June 8- Well it was a thank you text to my neighbour who has continually messaged me to check how I'm doing once she found out that I was going through a lot right now. These neighbours also sent out letters to help anyone in need during this pandemic and they gave plants to the neighbours as well.1 -
June 7= I was active here at home since it was raining all day due to the Tropical Storm Cristobal. I did laundry, clean the floors and spent some time in my porch.
June 8= wrote a thank you post card to the hospital nurses that took care of me while I was hospitalized in January.
June 9= I love music. I watched some old episodes of Austin City Limits that I have not seen in a while.2 -
Find the joy in music today: well I have been listening and dancing and singing to music a lot more since this virus. Today as I folded laundry and sorted socks, I listened and sang to my music and loved it.3
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June 8 - it actually took me a couple days to get this one accomplished because I planned on sending something by snail mail. I decided it would be better to send the thank you electronically than not at all.
June 9 - I enjoyed my drive to the park with my radio blasting the oldies station and my windows rolled down
June 10 - Some of you may remember that I rescued some rose bushes back before Easter. One bush (or is it two?) is doing quite well. It is right under my bedroom window, so I can check out the blooms each morning.
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Don't know if you'll be able to see this but. It's a picture of a jewellry box my daughter made for me and it's my girls that bring me joy
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@jlperiard , that jewelry box is delightful!1
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@77tes looks like you got a twofer in the rosebush(es)!? Beautiful! and it’s lucky for both of you that you were there to rescue them.
@jlperiard what a wonderful gift from your daughter❤️2 -
Say positive things in my conversations today:
1. My oldest made mashed potatoes for the first time and did an amazing job and I told her that
2. I also told that man I'm talking to that he is sweet and just how special he is.1 -
@jlperiard, what a lovely gift from one of your daughters! And that was a precious gift of encouraging words that you gave to your eldest daughter today 💖 .
Today I made sure to thank my husband for mowing etc both yards, especially after he had a longer, harder work day and it was late into the evening already.
🤠🌺
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Make a plan with friends to do something fun together:
Well we're still in Phase 1 of reopening because of Covid but drive-ins reopened last week, so I'm going to the drive-in Sunday night with a friend.3 -
June 11 - I try to say positive things most of the time, but on Thursday I tried extra hard. I also stopped myself from saying negative things, which is probably even more important than saying the positive things. 😊
June 12 - I worked on planning my daughter’s birthday which is next Saturday. It’s hard to think of an adequate way to celebrate when in lockdown. Any suggestions would be appreciated.2 -
@77tes I don't know if you're planning to actually be with people or if you'll be celebrating "long distance" but I'll share what my son and his wife did today. They celebrated both of their kids' bdays together, one was May 6, the other June 10. Everything was outside and it was supposed to be a 3 hour party (of course it ran longer🎉) but very few people went in to use the bathroom. Attending were 3 of my kids and 2 spouses, 4 grandkids, and 4 grandparents as well as one other couple...total of 15 people. They have a huge deck and put up two tent like awnings and we were able to spread out, not 6 ft but almost. Very few of us have had contact with others for weeks. Purell was used freely. I don't know how safe it was, but it was so needed. We hadn't all been together since Christmas and I think it was worth the risk. Our state never had an actual lockdown but most people I know are staying home when they can. Gatherings are so important these days, even if it has to be on Zoom. Good luck! Gotta enjoy every year we're with our loved ones😍3
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@nebslp , that sounds lovely! I’m so glad you were able to get together with your family. 💕 I was thinking about your family’s get-together, and I thought that since my daughter’s birthday falls on the solstice this year, I’ll make it a midsummer party. I’m thinking garlands for hair. Maybe an image of Stonehenge. Maybe watch either the play or opera of A Midsummer’s Night Dream .
June 13 - “Is there nothing so rare as a day in June” We had absolutely perfect weather - cool breeze, high of 80, clear skies. So I took my hand sewing out and sewed under the shade of our cherry tree.1 -
@77tes your party ideas sound wonderful! It’s so fun to plan things once you have the theme figured out. Ours had a beach theme and the colors were so bright and cheery and the heat (90’s) and wind (almost 20mph) were very beachy. My hair is long enough now to blow wild and free in the wind! It was one of the best parties ever, or maybe it just felt so good to be together again. Can’t wait for your update!2
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June 13- celebrate the joy of nature. Today was a beautiful day, so I sat out side and watched the cardinals
June 14- Do 3 things to bring joy to other people-
1. I hemmed my daughters out fit so she could wear it to a party
2. Texted a special someone a sweet message to make them smile
3. Told a friend how amazing and sweet they are3 -
June 14 - 3 things
1. Talked with my husband about happy memories - he is processing the loss of his brother in March and his sister a few weeks ago, so treasuring those good times is important.
2. I couldn't loan a set of books to my daughter because I had decluttered the physical copies, so I loaned her my old Kindle.
3. I intentionally sang around the house - it may not be great music, but it is cheerful.
Now on to today's assignment.0 -
June 15- Rediscover a fun childhood activity that you can enjoy today:
I found Yahtzee for my phone and I loved to play that game. Another thing that I did yesterday that I loved to do as a child is go to the drive in.2 -
June 15 - The childhood activity I did was coloring. I did lots of coloring back in the day.😊 🖍1
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Ask a loved one what they feel grateful for at the moment:
My youngest daughter is grateful for her health, family and friends.1 -
June 16 - I prompted my husband and he came up with a long list of things he is grateful for - it was a good exercise.
June 17 - Be kind to yourself like you would a friend. Today we went down to my BIL’s house to work on cleaning it out, so I gave myself a day off from my workouts. I’ll still meditate and do an easy yoga before bed, but I’d tell a friend the cleanup project was enough, so it is enough for me. ☺️2
