The Difference a Day Makes

I can’t tell you how many people I know have been having a challenging week, and I certainly laid claim to that as well.   I talked about my tender heart here.

I’ve certainly done journaling about it this week, but here’s a page from one of my visual journals that perhaps is most aligned to my process.

I love, and hold as truth, what Isak Dinesen said:

“The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea.”

I’ve never really been much of a crier, which frankly has always struck me as a bit curious, given how of my childhood and early adult years I struggled with severe depression.   But tears only come for me sometimes; and yet when they do they can be so cathartic.

But what I really like about this page is that it feels like the work of the tears has done the necessary clearing and I’ve moved on to see things from a different perspective.   Which of course is the whole point of clearing.  Isn’t it a delightful thought to imagine diamonds are tears of the gods – or better yet, splinters of the stars?   While in truth I’ve never really coveted diamonds, I wouldn’t turn down a river’s worth of god’s tears that were quartz Herkimer diamonds.  I love Herkimers!

But stepping back from my crow-like fascination with glittery objects…

Last night during a weekly conversation with a group of dearest sisterfriends it became so clear to me what a disservice I was doing by focusing with almost laser precision on the challenging parts of my week, which truth be told, were pretty darn minor.  With this riveted focus I was really denying myself the capacity to see all the really good things that my week held.  And poof, like that, an altered perspective arrived.

Here’s a peek at another page in my journal.

And that my friends is the difference a day makes.

It’s so interesting to me how sometimes it’s so very easy to slip into forgetfulness.  But then again, that’s why it’s good to have friends to talk things over with; why it’s important to leave the door cracked open so laughter can sneak in; and why having a gratitude practice that you consciously pay attention to can be so helpful.  I’m grateful to have all those things.

Today, being Friday, is an opportunity to Share the Link Love – that delightful challenge to post links to 5 blogs that inspired your week.  I invite you to head over to CraftyPod and check out the link love other’s are sharing. 

The theme for me this week was navigating the tender times, and these blogs get my thanks:

• Victoria Smith’s The Mojo Lab is about inventing a magical life, which of course is totally in line with my life mission.  Here’s an earlier this summer post about ideas for when applications of comfort and coziness are required.

• Next up is Courtney Carver’s blog Be More With Less, with a post on 3 20-minute or less decluttering projects.   I have to say that when I’m feeling anxious cleaning and decluttering can be really soothing to me.  I need to tackle another round of only-treasures-in-my-home soon, but these quick little dips into that clearing energy can be very helpful.

• Cereal is a food and travel magazine based in England. I’m linking to this photo blog pot about edible bouquets because it gorgeous and delights my heart.

• Rebecka Ryberg Skött’s blog Vintage Fairy Tales is a dose of whimsy that always makes me smile, and this post contains a monkey friend.  Enough said.

• And finally Lune’s blog has a little tribute to fireflies.   Nothing lightens the heart and adds a dose of magic to a summer’s night better than lightning bugs.

So there you have it – my course correction from dipping to soaring.  What about you?  Been more on the crying or soaring side of things?  Have any special tools in your toolbox for shifting your attitude?  If the gods were crying you a gemstone river, what would you wish for?  Have a special feel-good link you want to share?  Do tell – you know I love to hear.