WHAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS WEEK | 11.17

Today is one of those days I really didn't feel like writing a blog post. Every once in awhile I struggle with writer's block or coming up with content, but today I'm just not feeling it. Over the past week I've found myself slipping into what I refer to as a "down and out" mood. It's melancholy- just feeling "blah." Sometimes I'm more emotional or sad, other times frustrated or anxious. There's a very high chance it has everything to do with Aunt Flo's arrival (TMI but ya'll know the struggle) however normally I can shake that after a couple days. Naturally I try to self-medicate myself on ways to feel better through the Google so that's where I found myself this evening. One thing led to another and lo and behold, I was inspired to make another gratitude post. I shared one of these several months back which I'll link here.

I guess I should add that my Google search started with "why do we just feel sad sometimes." Now obviously this isn't my first rodeo with being sad in life, lol. Writing that out feels absurd but it popped into my head so I Googled it. Anyone else do that? I'm often fascinated by why we experience the things we do, even the most seemingly basic ideas or the ones I think I already know. It's refreshing to read new perspectives + gain insight. I was starting to feel down about feeling down + I figured reading might help. One of the articles I came across shared all of these possible reasons for going through emotional shifts in life, however what I found the most inspiring was the ways to pull yourself out of a slump or sadness. Now again, this isn't my first rodeo so these really were just a great reminder of the things that I (and I'm sure you too) have heard before but may not always tap into. My favorite two from the list were taking a walk and making a gratitude list. I'll admit that I'm not always the most mindful when it comes to gratitude. I try to focus on the positive in my life and I'm grateful for everything I have, however it's easy to sometimes overlook it day to day. It also seems like sometimes we need a little bit of the feeling "bad" to remember the good.

When I think of what I'm grateful for, I always try to look at the micro level or the little things. Of course I'm always grateful for the big things-- God, my health, my family, loved ones, etc. To me those are the givens, the non-negotiables. I'm always thankful for them and they are at the top of my list, however I find the magic of gratitude for me is in the little things. The day to day happenings or good moments. Maybe it's the little moments of joy-- the ones that keep us going or remind us that life can be pretty great. A lot of those often involve the big things, such as having a great time with my family or a closer encounter with God. I think it can look different for everyone, however broad or specific you want to make it. On top of all the big things, here are a few of the little things I am grateful for this week! Hopefully they will remind you to look for the gratitude in your life if you need it-- I sure did today!

BRIGHT SPOTS OF THE WEEK

+ It amazes me the power that food can have. Something as simple as eating a favorite meal or going to a restaurant I love can instantly boost my mood. Today I'm grateful that I made the time to cook lunch at home. If you follow me on IG, you probably know that most of my meals are eaten out. I have a busy schedule and I also LOVE going out to eat, however I also enjoy cooking and baking. Whenever I do eat at home, it's usually just a quick wrap or something thrown together. Today I had the time so I made tortellini and homemade garlic bread. I put on some Dean Martin while I cooked, used actual dishes and even enjoyed cleaning up after. It was relaxing + therapeutic!  

+ We are officially in the heart of the busy season at work now. The holidays are always insane but I absolutely love it! It can be exhausting, but I'm always grateful for the energy and fast pace. As Black Friday and Thanksgiving are approaching, I'm feeling extra thankful for it this week and the greater sense of purpose it brings me. 

+ Alright James Bond has me feeling some type of way this week, ya'll. Ever since seeing No Time to Die last week, I've been IN IT. I don't know if it's the PMS or feeling bittersweet about the final movie but now I'm rewatching all of them again. I started with Casino Royale on Sunday and I loved it all over again. There's just something about them and Daniel Craig as Bond. I felt so good after finishing the movie and honestly, it might be the highlight of my week so far. Definitely grateful for that little bright spot and Amazon Prime for having the first two movies. Looking forward to Quantum of Solace next! 

+ MY CAR. Long story short, I thought I was going to need new brakes. When I took it in to get checked out, everything ended up being perfectly fine and I didn't even have to pay for the inspection!

+ CLEAN SHEETS!! I will forever and always be grateful for cleaning bedding and I will continue to talk about it!! ;) Best night's sleep ever!

Hope you are having an amazing week!

WHAT I’M GRATEFUL FOR THIS WEEK

At the start of this week, I challenged myself to keep some mental notes of little bright spots in my days. Things I enjoyed doing, positive experiences I had or moments of joy. These are the things I’m grateful for but often overlook. Those good, seemingly ordinary (and sometimes extraordinary) parts of our day. I find myself guilty of getting wrapped up in my day-to-day challenges, dwelling too much on negativity or just taking things for granted. It’s important to take the time to recognize and acknowledge them. 

*Full outfit post on this look here*

We can all use more positivity and gratitude in our lives. Hopefully this will inspire you to reflect on your own life and look for the happy moments. I’ve always felt it’s easier said than done but makes all the difference. Here are a few highlights of my week that brought me some joy and made me feel blessed. 

BRIGHT SPOTS OF THE WEEK

+ I’ll start with what I’m most grateful for from this week. To give some minor backstory, my dad has been cancer-free for 5 years now. Periodically he still has to get CT scans just as a precaution and for maintenance check-ups. Last week he had a routine scan, however we had to wait a few days until Monday to find out the results. The day of, I always feel this wave of uneasiness and worry. The anticipation and unknown of what is beyond your control is unnerving. Thankfully everything came back great this time which I am so blessed and always grateful for. 🙏🏻😭

+ Work has been busy & productive this week!

+ This one is going to sound silly but I can always count on Chick-fil-A to make my day. My location runs promos pretty often that give you free rewards when you order on certain days. Because I’m usually already there ordering, I love these! It’s so much fun getting random surprise rewards and always brightens my day. Not only did they do these twice this week, today I ordered and someone also put a free brownie in my bag! 🥺 I’m not sure if it was intentional or not but how nice?! I love their kindness & the little things like this in life.

+ My cat Eddie is a senior so every once in awhile he has off days of not feeling well. He went through some of them last week but thankfully seems to be back to normal and more energetic this week.

+ I made it back to the movies again this week on my day off which was so nice. I’ve been trying to enjoy more of my time off & my dad went with me this time too. ☺️ We watched the new Black Widow movie which was so good- definitely recommend if you like action/Marvel movies.

+ Good food is a good mood. I had the best salad for lunch & taco dinner eating out this week. I eat out regularly so like anything else, it can become just another part of your day-to-day or the food can be hit or miss. Taking the time to appreciate that I have the ability to eat out & that I had some extra delicious meals this week. We live to eat over here, ya’ll.

I’m constantly reminded and amazed by how the little, most simple things can make a big difference everyday. What are some positive moments that brought you joy or peace this week? I would love to hear about them!