2021. Phew. I don’t know about you, but I’m glad it’s over. It was a difficult year in many, many ways.
It’s over, and we can start completely over, fresh, like new.
But here’s the thing: if we do that, we lose all the momentum of good things that we’ve built up to this point. If we start over, like nothing happened, then what? Not all that happened in the year was bad. Maybe it’s a hike we took, or a walk, or a meal. Something good, if we look for it.
Okay, so how do we know that? How do we focus on the good stuff, keep the momentum of the good going, without drowning in the bad?
Try this: Mia Rose, a psychologist and coordinator of the popular women’s group SoulWoman Circles, suggests we try looking in our phone. Call up our pictures that we’ve taken over the year. Look through them and see what you focused on. Is it family? Meals? Natural surroundings? Through that, you can find the positive threads that occurred last year for yourself.
I love rhododendrons. Locals call them “rhodis.” They grow wild here in Washington State and Oregon. They bloom every spring in an explosion of colors – whites, pinks, fuchsias, reds, yellows, oranges, even multi-colored ones. We bought a home in Duvall, WA, right at the end of 2020; it’s our first home. We have a rhodi out front by our mailbox, and she bloomed in Spring and it’s just gorgeous.
This is a shot of Rattlesnake Lake, a natural area outside of Seattle. It’s just down from a water reservoir. We took ourselves off there with the dog, wandering around the perimeter of the lake (no rattlesnakes, which disappointed my husband). It was interesting to go and wander, without expectations, and without demanding anything of the place.
What about you? What good things, even little tiny ones, did you do last year?
~ Maurice Chevalier
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Thank you for having me!
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Thanks for the idea about looking through photos I took last year. I volunteered to be a mentor for aspiring writers and helped the church where I’m a member reorganize after a very acrimonious split with our pastor.
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Looking through my photos which are mostly my Grandchildren I see how each has grown & changed in the past year. One went to first grade, riding the bus to school….a whole new experience. The other actually started walking the beginning of the year…which gave him a whole new take on things. There’s much more that happened & looking back I don’t think I’d want to start this year as if those things didn’t happen. Love your pictures you’ve shown here.
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I love that you’ve shared this. Looking through my photos. I’ve realized I adore photography. It’s my therapy. I’m able to find beauty in ALL things.
I also realized that I truly believe teaching children through art is a passion of mine.
I’ve decided to pursue Early Childhood Education…
Pray for me now… to all the gods & Goddesses
~v
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@Anna Good for you! Those are great things!
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I love that! Kids keep us grounded in the present.
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Thank You for this engaging reminder, I definitely will find the positive through the photos I have taken and thank you for sharing your photos – so sweet!!!!! ❤️
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Thank you, Kendra! So kind of you. 🙂