Usually I would take some time to myself and re-center my thoughts on gratitude before writing. Today I decided F* it, this blog is about authenticity and sometimes people wake cranky. So instead, I decided to write out the process of my return to gratitude.
I look at the calendar and it shows a full schedule but also that today is National Ride the Wind Day. Sometimes I wonder who comes up with these things. But I do find some humor in this as I am basically riding out my feeling this morning. It's fitting. I give a little laugh. It is fake.
I try again. It is nice that I have a light to turn on so that I can type my blog at this early hour. Nope. That doesn't feel grateful because it brings back my frustration at being awake. But at least the sun is rising now which makes it feel like daytime at least. It's a start. I'm grateful for the sun.
I pause to add a picture to this blog. I get a little giggle when I see the picture of the snake. A bear would be more fitting but I don't have a picture of a bear. I would like to see a bear and get a picture but given the only real chance for that would be while I am camping... I'm grateful I don't have an up close picture of a bear. I give a little laugh. It is genuine but small.
As I laugh I notice my jaw is sore. I must have had it clenched over night. Stress can do that to me and I make a mental note that I really need to do more stress reducing techniques throughout my day today. I'm grateful that I know a smorgasbord of techniques. I'm grateful I was able to use the word smorgasbord today. I'm grateful that one of the things on my agenda today is teaching a Stress Reduction Class. I'm grateful to know I will have time before that to relax too, because my mom is coming to watch the baby. I'm grateful for all my mom's help. And really, my kid is pretty great too...I'm grateful for her.
I realize my jaw isn't sore anymore. I am smiling. I laugh because this was kind of fun narrating my process to you. The laugh is genuine so I do a couple goofy Laughter Yoga type laughs. Now I laugh because I can picture my friends saying I am crazy. I don't mind. I'm good with crazy if it is happy-crazy. And just like that I am back to my cheerful self. Today will be a good day.
What do you do to help pull yourself out of a funk? What do you do to "ride the wind" of different emotions?
May today remind us that being human isn't so bad. May we find some humor within the day and embrace a little bit of happy-crazy. Have a beautiful day and thank you for allowing me this space to be authentic.