bringing in ritual: gratitude {self-portrait challenge}
the ritual of pausing to spend a moment alone drinking tea, pausing to think about ways in which i am grateful.
this year, i am making it part of my day to spend time thinking about what brings happiness, excitement, joy, laughter, calm, truth, color, peace, light into my life. what makes up this life i lead. what resonates deeply and what just brings a little sparkle.
each day i am pausing to have a moment alone, usually with a cup of tea, and then i am capturing that moment with a polaroid. i then write a little paragraph about this moment in a journal, followed by a list of things i am grateful for that day. if this moment alone is earlier in the day, i add to the list before i go to sleep.
i am collecting these snippets, the polaroids and my words, over on my not-so-secret blog called seek gratitude.
i have always thought of myself as someone who is always just a tad bit lonely and often just a wee bit melancholy. pausing to really notice the good stuff, this is one way to shift this perception of myself a bit. to really see what this life i lead is truly filled with.
the good stuff.
(see more self portraits over at self-portrait challenge)
self-portrait
Reader Comments (21)
i always thought of myself like that too!
now?
not so much.
not at all.
my highest shining rapture magnificent self, the true me, ain't like that at all.
ding dang, thanks for that, that's a huge lesson.
i love L.E.
(i need THAT on a tee)
xoxox
lizonie
It's the little bits of awareness that we add to our routine that make a difference! What a delicious collection of polaroids and insights you're gathering! I have not experimented with self portraits yet. A brave step I need to take. As you said earlier: Time to begin. Thanks for the inspiring seek gratitude site.
i love your polaroid and i LOVE this photo of you. it is storytelling.
that is a great idea!
Yes, when we thaw out, let's meet up! I miss you.
That's a lovely ritual. I suspect a lot of bloggers feel a wee bit lonely (if we had lots of real life friends, we'd be too busy to blog, wouldn't we?)
You are on such an amazing path my friend, I'm so proud of you and I wish I was the person on the other side of that polaroid, having tea and laughing as we take snaps. xo
that is a great idea...
the seek gratitude blog,
the polaroid,
perfect...
:)
ahhhh...i've missed your words!
i love this idea...
i ended up buying a second planner and have been keeping a list of gratitude things on each day...how loverly will it be for each of us to reflect on the bountiful blessings of the year?!
bless you, lovely.
You look so beautiful and pensive, and I think that taking that time out like you are for gratitude is going to enliven and enrichen (is that a word?) your days immeasurably. We all should be taking your cue. And btw, after you read Early Morning in your queue, you have to tell me how you like it!
too funny, i just wrote about gratitude and then came here to see this! :-)
It's so strange that the first thing I felt when I saw this picture was a gratitude that someone else was surrounded with creative chaos! :-D You look like the wonderful peace in the middle of a whirl of motion and ideas.
You were my inspiration for seeking gratitude... and as I looked, I found even more than what I thought I might...
Thanks, dear Liz...
Great pic and awesome post! Thanks for sharing :)
I love this picture...and a very thoughtful post.
dearest sweet liz...
it has been too long since we spoke. I am incredibly moved by your post and I look forward to throwing my arms around you at Artfest. We must must must... set a date to meet.. have a cup of tea.. and talk.... send me an email....
ps... i would LOVE for you to visit my latest blog post. I thought of you and the piece you purchased at vendor night while writing this particular piece. I remember your bright shining spirit coming to my table. You were a beacon in a sea of faces and I can still see your smile.
xo!!!
oh, liz...
i just love you. i hope one day that i can bring you a gift of my favourite tea and my favourite beeswax candle and the healing lip balms that i can make so i can tell you in person...
you are simply wonderful. i love that you are reminding yourself and others to make ritual a part of the every day.
Liz~ This is a beautiful, peaceful photograph of you. I adore it. I also adore your daily ritual and documenting both the moments that you take this quiet time, as well as the gratitude that you are acknowledging while doing it. This only needs to take a few minutes; however, I would imagine that the end result is profound. This is a gentle reminder that it only takes a few sacred moments to really gift ourselves clear perspective.
Love to you,
J
xoxoxo
i am grateful for access to your inspiring, bright light.
xoxoxo pix
I photo of you taking a photo of yourself - way cool! And I liked getting a glimpse of your sewing machine. :-)
I love, love, love this picture of you. This is the kind of picture that people write stories about. This is a picture that tells a tale.