catching the gratitude and the everyday

Today, I want to share one way that I'm using the lens of gratitude to catch a few of the everyday stories around here.

Back in April, I watched a live-streamed talk that Brene Brown was giving at Omega. In the talk, she mentioned that one common theme among people living wholeheartedly is a practice of gratitude. This might mean that they literally keep one of those gratitude journals that Oprah helped make popular in the 90s, but it could also mean that they are able to access gratitude as they move through the day-to-day stuff.

[I want to be one of those people. Even though sometimes the word gratitude bugs me. But then I remember how I've learned that gratitude isn't an invitation to say everything in your life is fine but it is an access point to joy.]

I've kept gratitude journals a few times in my life. Inspired by Sarah Ban Breathnach, the first Christmas after college I made gratitude journals for all the women in my life - from my close friends to my grandmother. In the first few pages of the journal I explained how to keep the journal (write down five things you are grateful for each day) and then I wrote a few pages of the reasons why I am grateful for that person. I remember being so happy to give them to my loved ones that I practically vibrated. They were my first truly handmade gifts since ornaments I made when I was 10.

When my grandma died, that journal came back my way. I'd like to say that she had filled the pages with her stories and everyday gratitude, but the other pages were still blank. This did not surprise me. I think this can be a difficult practice to begin and then maintain, even though the evidence is there that it can literally change your life.

Over here, when I am neck-deep in the toddler stuff and the life stuff, it can be a bit challenging to remember that sometimes moments are full of ease...that sometimes the day goes just the way I hoped...that often there is more joy than intensity. 

My mom keeps saying, "When you have a good time at a restaurant with Ellie, write it down. When she says, "Juice," write it down. When she tells you she wants to take a nap, write it down."

And when she's said this, I often think, "I'll get right on that. Right after I tackle all the other stuff that is on my list like planning next year's retreats, writing tomorrow's blog post, and trying to remember to take the clothes out of the washer before 24 hours passes and I have to rewash them."

Here's the reality though: My mom is actually inviting me to do what I already do, notice the simple moments and the beauty found within them, but to come at it with more awareness to how much Ellie is growing each day so that when the day has more frustration than ease, I can still see the bigger picture. (When you have a toddler, your world can get really really small.)

When I was having one of my "okay, maybe I could start writing this down in more of a mindful way" moments, I came across the new "documenting" section at Paper Coterie and found this "Daily" journal. 

At first I thought I might be making just be another excuse to get another journal (ahem), but the simple layout intrigued me as did the ability to personalize it. I added my own photos (there are a few different photo spreads inside like the one at the top of this post) and I was able to remove the quote in the inside cover and add my own words. 

And I've been using it for a few weeks now. I keep it out in the living room so I can grab it at the end of the day when Jon is reading to Ellie, and I just make a simple list of what today looked like. Everything from the bliss of taking a nap when she does to the joy of a meal with all of us together at the table to honest statements like, "Today was kind of crap as the electricians left a huge mess in the backyard, but I am one day closer to having my new studio." 

What I have noticed so far is that when I see the photos on the front and inside of this simple book and I turn to the page to make my list, my mind clears just a bit. I begin to breathe from my heart, and I come back to myself. Plus, the notes are a great place to find stories to add to Project Life.

Edited to add: And this is what I know: If you peek in over here at my site you know that I notice and document the everyday through my photos and words, whether on my blog, at Flickr and Instagram, and through other projects I do. It is kind of my thing (as my new website tagline suggests). But there is something about documenting in a simple list that is helping me, the mama of a two year old, drill down to the even simpler moments to celebrate: when she uses words, when Jon and I connect through just sharing a bowl of popcorn, when Millie rolls her eyes at Ellie...the even simpler moments that push me to know we are doing okay over here. Sometimes you just need a simple list.

Do you keep a gratitude journal or daily list of sorts? How? What do you use? I'd love to know.

***

This weekend, Paper Coterie is having a pretty incredible "Christmas in July" sale on gift cards; the intention being that you buy gift cards now knowing you will be purchasing holiday gifts (like cards or other fun things) in a few months. You can use them for anything on their site. I'm thinking about creating a few new gratitude journals and sending them out into the world to my kindreds this holiday season. 

Note: Because I'm using several of their products almost everyday, I decided to become an affiliate for Paper Coterie, which means the links to their site are affiliate links. 

curled up (with a good book)

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I would be sharing more about the poets + poetry books that I love and turn to again and again. I am going to turn this into a new series where I share about the books we are all currently reading over here (the "summer of books" is on our in-progress summer manifesto), the books I turn to when I need to listen to the words of someone else, and of course poetry recommendations.

On my nightstand (or rather on my kindle app):

I am devouring The Presidents Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy like a John Grisham thriller. It is so so good. It is about exactly what the title suggests: The club that current and past presidents make up as they are the only ones who know what the others know and have experienced. The idea that they let go of party lines to get advice from another who has been in their shoes inspires me deeply. BUT then there is Nixon. Well and the feud between Eisenhower and Truman. And then...oh my goodness it's good. I might start devouring presidential memoirs next.

I'm also reading Anna Quindlen's new book Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake: A Memoir. It is beautifull written and funny and full of wisdom. I wish you could come over and we could talk about it over tea + cupcakes.

As I pack up books of poetry for the Your Story Retreat in my vintage suitcases, the three collections that are a must include: To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue, Poetry Speaks Who I Am edited by Elise Paschen and Dominique Raccah, and What Have You Lost? edited by Naomi Shihab Nye. 

Recent favorite from Jon:

11/23/63 by Stephen King: A little bit of history, a little bit of time travel, a lot of Stephen King. Jon loved it!

Ellie's current favorites:

Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: This book is delightful! The story is deeply inspiring, the illustrations are adorable, and the language captivates Ellie's attention. Jon and Ellie read it before bed every night.

And the one she can't get enough of that we read on repeat while in the bathroom throughout the day: Potty by Leslie Patricelli. (It is really good and has gotten her very interested in her potty and how it "works.")

And our houseguest and favorite chickadee Kelly Barton's recommendations:

Current read = The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and so far she really recommends it.

A favorite she turns to again and again: Wacky Chicks: Life Lessons from Fearlessly Inappropriate and Fabulously Eccentric Women by Simon Doonan. Kelly says, "It's a book about women who've forged their path on their own terms." Nice.

What's on your nightstand right now?

You can see more of my favorites over in my Amazon shop that includes a "Poetry: Start Here" section.

a weekend giveaway!

poem note postcard on my studio altar this morning

Happy June!

During the last week of May and first week of June, we have three birthdays around here. Geminis...all of us...can you even imagine?

So today, as a way to invite you over for cupcakes and pink lemonade, I want to do a weekend giveaway! And I want to tie it all in to celebrating the upcoming Inner Excavate-along that begins June 11.

Two people will win a copy of my book Inner Excavation (and I'll mail them out Monday so that you hopefully get them in time to play along or give to a friend who wants to join in).

Two people will win a set of my Poem Note postcards from Chickadee Road

Two people will win a set of Kelly's Studio Wisdom postcards from Chickadee Road.

One person will win an I am Enough locket from my Etsy shop.

One person will win a Trust tattoo and a Tell Your Story tattoo from Chickadee Road.

To play along, please leave a comment sharing one of your favorite words (later, I'll add these words to a word list I'll share during the Inner Excavate-along).

To enter more than once (up to three times total), please share a link to the Inner Excavate-along info page on your Twitter, Facebook, or blog (just come back here and let me know that you've shared it by leaving another comment).

The giveaway will close Sunday at 9PM PST.

PS If you don't see your comment appear right away, never fear, it is just awaiting moderation. Sometimes certain comments seem to get caught up in the moderation filter. I will get to it as soon as possible (so no need to write the same one multiple times). Thanks!

UPDATE: Comments are closed as the giveaway has ended. I'll announce the winners on Monday!

a little sneak peek

So so excited to share this wee sneak peek of The Gift of This Moment!

I will be sharing more details soon, but I am so delighted by these postcards showing all the pieces of this project (which is really a home retreat kit) and simply had to share right now! Jen Lee is producing this project (and has gently held my ideas and hopes throughout this experience), and Liz Kalloch has made everything look so beautiful. 

I can't wait to hold all the pieces in my hands and share them with you. 

Over here: The Create Space classroom is ready, the students are gathering, and today I'm creating my personal altar I'll use and share during this session. Ellie Jane's new favorite game is asking me to put at least eight and sometimes twelve barrettes in her hair (and mine) at one time (evidence here). I'm planning to rest today as much as possible since a cold seems to have grabbed on to me during the trip home. Lots of mugs of tea in my future. I'm hoping a movie date might be part of our Sunday. (Seen any good ones?) The rhododendrons are in full bloom everywhere in our neighborhood (gosh how I LOVE them). I am filling a Smash journal with notes to myself (and using my new lovely Washi tape from Freckled Fawn and some fun designs I found from the Recollections collection at Michaels [can't find a link on Michael's site but found this great blog post about this new line of tape]). I am planning to begin The Best Day The Worst Day: Life with Jane Kenyon by Donald Hall while drinking the previously mentioned mugs of tea. And I know I will be soaking up the joy of hearing a little girl giggle as she dances with her daddy (life can be so so hard but joy still arrives when I choose to see it).

And what are you up to in your corner?

May your weekend be full of rest and joy and hopefully some time out in the sun...

Blessings and light,

Liz

a little more about my business coach Nona Jordan

a photo because oh my goodness look at all those shades of blue . lake superior

Since we started working together almost a year ago, I have mentioned my business coach Nona Jordan a few times here on the blog. Simply put, working with her has pushed me to own that I really am making it happen over here when it comes to running my business and growing it beyond what I imagined while working from home and taking care of Ellie.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that Nona has pushed me to own that I am a warrior when it comes to all the roles I play in my life.

One big piece of this has been talking about money. (Oh how I did not want to talk about money.) Through our conversations, I moved from saying, “Well, I have this little creative business…” to sitting at my computer after adding up all the money that came into my business in 2011 (which was the first year my income came solely from my own business and not in addition to my “before Ellie arrived” full-time editing job or any freelance editing) and saying, “Every cent that came into my bank account was from someone who believed that what I am sharing with the world was worthy of being part of their story.”

Wow.

And here is where it gets even crazier.

I was excited to pay taxes.

Nona has taught me to see taxes as evidence that my business is growing. And owning that felt freeing because paying taxes didn’t come from a place of fear but instead from a place of believing in myself and what I have to share with the world through my work. So I was actually smiling when I wrote the check. I was also smiling because it was a bit less than my guesstimating math had thought it would be. Still, seeing taxes as evidence of my business' growth was an entirely new way of thinking for me. (It feels like I am rewriting my money story over here.)

And she has taught me that a piece of all of this is having clear conversations with people in my life when it comes to money and boundaries about money or the role I will play in collaborations etc. Two pieces of this have been:

1)  Noticing the areas of my life where I have “fuzzy boundaries” and calling me out on it.

AND

2) Asking me my favorite question “Liz, whose yoga mat are you standing on?” when I start saying the reasons why I don’t want to make an idea a reality or not charge as much as I think something is worth and so on. This question is her gentle but firm way of reminding me to let go of the “Who do you think you are?” gremlins that plague me sometimes and let other people take care of their feelings and assumptions.

Big stuff. Good stuff.

In a couple of weeks, Nona will be guiding a small group of women through her incredible program “Get Right with Money.” It is all about knowing you are worthy, investigating your mindset around money, and one of my favorite tools she has taught me, “to know what you truly want financially and learn how to get there.” She is also incorporating some tools around having bare conversations in this curriculum, and shares her first-hand experience with one of her own conversations in this incredibly honest blog post.

She is a good egg, this one. And she is someone I think you should have on your radar if you are thinking about or already running your own business. Learn more about Nona’s Get Right with Money program and her one-on-one coaching services over on her site.