3 Good Things 💖

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Friday's Good Things:

• another messy weather day, but we managed to dodge the rain almost entirely
• visiting with a friend
• lots of houses in our neighbourhood still have their holiday lights up, still holding back the darkness as we race towards the equinox

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Saturday's Good Things:

• I got some cooking and some cleaning and some dishes done today. Not all of anything, but progress on a lot of fronts. And I remembered to charge my e-reader.
• YouTube's auto-syncing of subtitles worked beautifully for 4 of the 5 videos I needed to upload today.
• In spite of the forecast for lousy weather, we didn't make out too badly on the hiking front today. We've dodged the rain on all three of our walks thus far today, met a neighbour we didn't previously know and had a nice walk and chat with her, Shelby got treats from our realtor friends and from her friend Kevin, and we met up with some other friends who were also out walking this evening and had a good visit with them.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Sunday's Good Things:

• we are back on Daylight Saving Time! (I HATE standard time. I would love for my province to switch to permanent DST. But I would fight tooth and nail to prevent a switch to permanent standard time. Ugh!)
• we had lovely spring-like weather all day
• Shelby and I made good use of the nice weather to visit with friends in our neighbourhood

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Monday's Good Things:

• everyone's Girl Power Week success stories
• I had a frustrating experience this afternoon which prevented me from attending my Aikido class. This initially made me angry because the problem was caused by certain members of my family-of-origin deliberately, selfishly, callously, and cruelly mistreating me. But then I considered how minor the problem of the hour truly was, and the fact that missing Aikido wasn't all bad as it meant I got to spend the evening with my best friend Shelby. And this reminded me of an important truth: I escaped from a toxic situation with the two most important things: my health, and Shelby. It's easy to get swallowed up by anger when we are mistreated by individuals who society teaches us "should" be supportive of us. But the truth is: I cannot control anyone's behaviour but my own, and I can choose not to waste my energy on people who have caused me harm and instead focus on all of the truly amazing and wonderful blessings in my life now that I am finally (mostly) free from them.
• Shelby and I enjoyed a lovely late-night walk with very pleasant weather and many frolicking bunnies

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Tuesday's Good Things:

• Shelby and I went for an early (6:15 AM) walk this morning, and the robins were singing to us.
• I got groceries from the furthest away grocery store (that I can reasonably walk to) and still got most of my dishes washed and some food prep done.
• It was a rainy day. But Shelby and I managed to get three walks in during dry weather, and the rain that came down during my walk home from the grocery store was actually welcome. (It was so warm out, instead of putting my jacket on when the rain started, I actually took my long-sleeved shirt off and walked home in just a t-shirt.)

 

[Dyneti]

3 good things:
The fluffy yellowish blossoms of the willow trees popping up everywhere in my parents neighborhood
having a good thermos to drink warm tee on the trainride back home
looking back on this winter and realizing how much I have learned

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Wednesday's Good Things:

• another rainy day that was conveniently dry whenever Shelby needed to go out
• on one of our excursions we chanced walking a little farther to visit a friend and made it to her place just as the rain was starting up again. We had a nice visit warm and dry inside our friend's shed, and the rain had stopped again when it was time for us to walk back home.
• Shelby got treats from her realtor friends twice today and treats from her friend Kevin twice as well! It is good to be Shelby!

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Thursday's Good Things:

• I took some time this day to map out a plan for maintaining better scheduling habits going forward.
• I did a guided yoga practice for the first time in a while. It felt pretty good.
• We made it to bed on time!

Friday's Good Things:

• Shelby and I got outside in time to see the sunrise this morning. It was beautiful.
• I cooked with a new (to me) vegetable this day (rapini). It turned out great.
• We had a good visit with a friend.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Saturday's Good Things:

• What the Heck Just Happened. The more insane the world gets, the more I appreciate Heather and Joanne putting the insanity into context within the larger picture of history. Plus they always try to end on a hopeful note, even (and especially) when the events they're discussing are especially bad.
• It's winter weather here again, but at least Friday's snow had all melted from the sidewalks by this morning.
• I earned stars for every metric on my new Habit Tracker.

Sunday's Good Things:

• Seeing my country's Prime Minister standing side-by-side with the PMs of the Nordic countries this morning: seven national leaders demonstrating actual leadership and the value of cooperation and diversity.
• Sunday morning board gaming with @'rin .
• Sunday afternoon visit with a friend in our neighbourhood.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Monday's Good Things:

• the chickadees were not minding the rain, merrily singing for us on our morning walk today
• I put in a good day's work on planning and developing my writing focus for the year
• I had a quiet evening at home with Shelby--so happy we were safe from the bitter cold and raging wind outside

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Tuesday's Good Things:

• I got treats from Shelby's realtor BFFs this day. (They're pretty nice to humans too!)
• Birds. So many birds. Saw a nice little flock of American Robins on one of our walks (at least seven birds), and a larger mixed flock of black birds (mostly grackles, I think, although there were some starlings in there too).
• Heard an Eastern Screech Owl singing on our evening walk.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Wednesday's Good Things:

• This is a good thing in the midst of a horrible thing, but I am nevertheless grateful for it, so I'm counting it: The home of two friends of mine was broken into last weekend by an obviously very violent person. Their daughter arrived on the scene on Monday morning to check on the place while the intruder was still there. Thankfully she saw what had happened without entering the place and had the wisdom to remain outside and call the police. I am grateful that, in spite of the horrible thing that happened to them, my friends and their daughter are all physically safe and unharmed.
• we were joined by Shelby's friends Gracie Lou (French Bulldog) and Ryder (Black Lab) for part of our afternoon walk
• my favourite cooking cheese was on sale this day, as were cucumbers, and the discounted apples were of a variety that should be good for the things I want to make with them

Thursday's Good Things:

• we visited a neighbourhood friend today, and the weather was nice enough we were able to meet outside in her garden
• today we were treated to the songs of Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, House Sparrows, and American Robins, as well as the industrious drumbeat of a Downy Woodpecker
• my neighbour's crocuses are blooming

Friday's Good Things:

• it's the Equinox!
• we managed to dodge the rain today, getting outside for two walks this morning before the rain started, then hiding out inside throughout the whole of the rainy hours, and heading back out late afternoon for our long walk in balmy a 11°C with sunshine
• we saw one of our striped friends on our evening walk. It was quite curious about us, approaching a few steps closer (but remaining at a safe distance) to sniff the air, tail raised up just in case. Super Shelby watched quietly, showing our friend that we posed it no threat, and our friend, satisfied, went about its business happily, unconcerned by our presence.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Saturday's Good Things:

• I have a light alarm clock which, if it fails to wake me by the end of its brightening cycle, also plays an audio loop of bird songs. It rarely gets that far unless I forget the alarm is set and leave the room without turning it off. I thought that had happened this morning. But when I went to check I realized the alarm was not on, we were being serenaded by actual birds!
• There were many people and puppies out and about in our neighbourhood this day, all happy to be enjoying the springlike weather. Shelby made many new friends.
• When I was stuck in the Booming Metropolis I wrote in my journals many, many times about how I longed to get out. The community was a bad fit for me. And I was often treated very badly at home. But I could not leave due to my shared responsibility for Shelby. (My mother refused to let me take her with me, and I refused to abandon her, knowing that my mother wasn't capable of taking care of Shelby without my help.) Now Shelby and I are both free from all of that, still together, and living in the best possible neighbourhood for us. (I could write this as three good things for both of us every day as they are, in fact, three of the most significant blessings we enjoy every single day now.)

Sunday's Good Things:

• Played a new (to us) game this morning with Rin and Twitchy (Settlers of Catan). It was fun!
• Saw a robin poking around one of our downspouts this morning, very interested in the real estate. I'm hopeful we'll get a nest nearby!
• When we returned home from our evening walk Shelby and I were greeted by an Eastern Cottontail that had been camped out on our front lawn, seemingly waiting for our return. (Okay, maybe not that last part. But it wasn't overly concerned by our approach.)

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Monday's Good Things:

• visiting with a friend
• the documents I requested from the CRA arrived
• I danced this day!

Tuesdays's Good Things:

• we made it to the realtors' in time for Shelby to get treats (we were too late on Monday, and I was definitely in the dog house over that!) and all of Shelby's friends were there!
• got a good amount of writing work done this day, including some pretty fun ideas for short stories
• more dancing!

 

[Jaylee.Frye]

Oh, this is something that for me is also really helpful!
Saturday good things:
* Successfully been there for a good friend.
* overall the day went surprisingly well
* travelled in the TGV for the first time!

 

[Dyneti]

Fridays good things:
- I managed to take care of a little bureaucratic thing that I had to do and it took way less time than expected.
- I got to enjoy the feeling of relaxation now that all the big tasks and deadlines of the month are behind me.
- In the afternoon and evening I spent time with friends and shared good conversations about all sorts of interesting things.

Saturdays good things:
- I cooked a dish with cabbage that I realy like but had not eaten this winter so far.
- I joined a workshop that I was invited to and recognized that I was too tired/overwhelmed to do the craft that was planned for us. I'm happy that I didn't pressure myself to continue, managed to communicate that and just chilled on the sidelines both alone and with some of my friends who co-organized the workshop.
- I tried a tasty indian desert (shrikhand) with lots of kardamom (lovely!) and safron (apparently not that much my thing).

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Wednesday's Good Things:

• got some good scores at the grocery store this day
• Shelby and I had a pleasant evening walk, even though it was raining a bit, the air temp was warm enough that the rain felt nice
• I have room to dance in my home and can do so whenever I want to!

Thursday's Good Things:

• Thursday was mostly a rainy day. But Shelby and I got out for a good long walk in the sunshine early morning before the rain started. We were serenaded by many birds, saw a friend who was also up early, and Miss Shelby got a very yummy looking treat from a new friend.
• The afternoon rain was not too bad, so we still made it to the realtors' so Shelby could visit her friends there.
• I defeated the lure of the sunk cost fallacy and reset my workout plans to include only activities I'm enjoying* (*in the case of the push-ups this is still mostly a love-to-hate sort of enjoyment)

Friday's Good Things:

• hoofed it to the farthest away grocery store this day for some more good scores
• had a good visit with a friend later in the day
• humour & comedy. Some days laughter is necessary for surviving this world. I'm grateful for the people who can make me do it.

Saturday's Good Things:

• met up with a friend on our midday walk this day
• had dinner with friends
• their cockatiel danced with me! (to a Weird Al song, no less!)

 

[LiteraryMatcha]

Highlights of the day:
-I drank a delicious cup of coffee, and later on, a delicious cup of tea. I took my time, enjoying every sip and the quiet around.
-my cats' cuddles.
-the scent of my perfume.
-the workout I did today, plus the lovely shower after.
-I joined this forum.
-I learned a lot today.
-I got to live another day, and my loved ones are all stable, healthy and alive.

I know the post states we should put 3 positive things, but honestly, today was a fantastic day. I hope you also had a good one.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Sunday's Good Things:

• a good day visiting friends
• I completed 100 push-ups in a day
• I danced 5 days this week and significantly increased my VPA over recent weeks. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum!

Monday's Good Things:

• The friends I was helping move house this day were very well organized for the event. When I arrived to help, everything was already packed, and all boxes and crates were labelled with where they were to go (in text large enough I could easily read without glasses).
• The three of us who did the bulk of the heavy lifting (one of the people who was moving, myself, and the aunt of the other person who was moving--a woman well into her 60s who couldn't handle the heaviest items, but there was a lot she could lift, she knew her limits, and she kept going ALL DAY) are all experienced movers. We are all adept at 3D tetris, know when and how to step in to help and when to StFOotW, and how to navigate around one another while hauling large and heavy items up and down stairs (many, many stairs) and through other narrow passageways. I'd never worked with this crew before. But we operated like a well-oiled machine and got the entirety of a substantial move completed in one day. (BONUS: Nobody had any breakdowns. Not even the cat. I hate it when I'm helping somebody move and they fall apart. Yes: moving house is stressful. But you've got to suck it up while your moving crew is there. You can cry later.)
• It worked out for us to have dinner in Wortley, which meant Shelby was able to join us for the dinner break. (It is always a good thing for Shelby to get out to see her friends and make new friends. But it was especially important this day as she was otherwise home alone for much of the day.)

 

[SevenDeadlyExes]

Bank Holiday Mornings

Coffee and Crosswords

Curiosity & Inspiration

 

[Dyneti]

• Planting things (strawberries in todays case)
• Banana bread
• Reading stories that make me feel all the feels

 

[SevenDeadlyExes]

• Planting things (strawberries in todays case)
• Banana bread
• Reading stories that make me feel all the feels

Oh nice! I'd love to grow strawberries!

 

[SevenDeadlyExes]

Getting a long lie when I'm tired
Zine making
Helping to clean up in my community

 

[JJakaSquirrel]

3 more to add
• Free qigong/king fu videos
• a family that helps me out
• helpful coworkers

 

[Dyneti]

I'm gratefull for
Singing with both friends and strangers
living in a city and neighborhood with a good amount of large trees
the medical treatment that has really improved my daily life for the past year or so

 

[LiteraryMatcha]

I'm thankful for:

-my loved ones and I living another day.
-peace and quiet.
-the mango curry with jasmine rice eaten, and later on the delicious cup of teas enjoyed.
-being able to exercise.
-being loved by my cats.
-darebee existing.

 

[SweetPotato]

I'm grateful for

• long, quiet morning walks
• the scent of blooming wildflowers on said walks - it's intoxicating
• how immersive the book I'm reading is; I love a story that makes me feel like I've escaped

 

[SweetPotato]

I'm grateful for

• an EXTRA large cup of coffee on this lovely Thursday morning
• the desk plant I was certain I'd murdered bloomed again! Huzzah!
• the great majority of the paperwork on my desk is, at this point, ready to be shredded (which is a strangely cathartic activity)

Happy Friday Eve, everyone!