#wonders if ill have the motivation to write all 30/31 days.....

[someonedefinitely]

starts to prepare for my first sicktember early since the entire first half of the month is occupied by mid terms

[kategrainger]

Suggested Solutions for Those Who Struggle with Self-Love

Happiness can be a fleeting thing, especially if you’re tired or over stressed. Today in this busy world it is ever more important to take the time for self care.

Neglecting and ignoring your needs is not noble. It’s not a badge that you should wear proudly. Putting everything and everyone else above your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health is a sign of martyrdom, low self-esteem, and workaholism. It is not selflessness or a good work ethic.

We need to teach ourselves how to care for our needs. Why? Because no one else is going to do it for us!

Self-care means taking steps to look after yourself and your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs.

Self-care starts with the acknowledgment that you are responsible for your wellbeing.

Self-care is an integral part of self-love which is the practice of being kind and compassionate towards yourself.

Here are signs to identify warning signs that you are neglecting self-care:

• Constant tiredness and fatigue • Irritability (little things annoy you) • Poor sleep quality • Muscle tension • Chronic illnesses (e.g. colds, flu, infections) • Anxiety and worry • Paranoia • Neglecting family or friend time • Obsessive rumination (mind won’t shut off) • Constant low-grade depression • More dread than excitement • Disconnection from your body • No time to do what makes you happy • All work and no play • Feelings of emptiness • Negative and self-sabotaging thoughts • Low self-worth and insecurity

There can be many other signs, but determining if you experience any of the above is a good place to start.

Why are we resistant to self-care?

You’ve probably heard it before. “I’m too busy to do that,” “I have too much on my plate right now,” “I’m inundated with work.” I’ve been guilty of using these banal excuses more than once, let me assure you!

Self-care, to many people, is also unfortunately associated with selfishness. There is an old and outdated perception that taking care of your needs first equals being self-centred. How are we able to take care of others if we cannot take care of ourselves?

Poor self-esteem is another reason why some people are resistant to self-care. The belief that “I’m not worth it” is so pervasive in our society that it’s an epidemic. Inevitably, poor self-worth results in self-neglect, sometimes even as a form of self-punishment. So I encourage you to practise the self-care ideas below. The more you incorporate them into your life, the better you will feel about who you are - at a core level.

Self-care suggestions for those struggling with self-love

If you struggle with stress, feelings of being overwhelmed, a mind that just won’t turn off, grapple with low motivation, negative mindsets, self-defeating habits, tend to be cynical, neurotic or highly-strung … this list is for you.

The best advice I can give you is to take it one step at a time. Don’t rush. The advice presented below is the work of a lifetime – not the work of a week. So be realistic and do the best you can.

Self-Care Ideas for the Body

1. Sit somewhere in nature. Feel relaxed by the scenery, the fresh air, and the birds singing.

2. Have a soothing bath. Put some essential oil in the bath to unwind and let go.

3. Take a deep mindful breath. Oxygenate your body, reduce the tension, and refresh your energy.

4. Have a nap. Find a comfy place and drift off into dream time. Set a timer if you’re worried about sleeping too much.

5. Make yourself some delicious food. Eat a tasty salad. Cook some comfort food. Make something just for you.

6. Dance to your favourite song. Get in touch with your playful side and enjoy a good workout while you’re at it!

7. Drink some herbal tea. Make yourself a soothing brew with whatever tea you have lying around. If you like experimenting, try holy basil, damiana, chamomile, and lavender.

8. Give yourself a massage. There are many self-massage techniques which you can easily find online that require nothing but your hands. For a deep tissue massage, you can use an old tennis ball and roll out the kinks in your muscles.

9. Eat your leafy greens every day. Nourish your body with the vitamins and minerals found in leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, and kale. If you don’t like the taste, add them to your smoothie or soup.

10. Take a walk in the sun. Get some vitamin D. Clear your mind. You’ll be exercising while you’re at it.

11. Create a physical space that nurtures your wellbeing. Get rid of the clutter, dirt, and dust around you. Create order in your environment as this will create more order in your mind.

Self-Care Ideas for the Heart

12. Give yourself a big hug. Stand somewhere quiet and hug yourself. Feel held and comforted.

13. Have a good laugh. Watch or read something entertaining even if that means a silly video of baby goats in pyjamas on YouTube.

14. Have a good cry. Let out all your feelings. Watch a sad movie. Have a tissue box and a blanket to snuggle in handy.

15. Show gratitude. Find something to be thankful for in your life.

16. Look at yourself through the eyes of a loving parent. Be the best mother or father to yourself that you could possibly be. Treat your inner child with love, gentleness, and respect.

17. Say kind words to yourself. When you’re angry, sad or scared, gently tell yourself, “It’s OK,” “I understand,” “I forgive you,” “You can do this,” “I believe in you.”

18. Learn how to self-soothe. Feeling anxious or upset is normal. Find little rituals or practices that make you feel calm such as drinking a cup of cocoa, heating up a hot pack, listening to music, colouring-in, or cuddling a soft toy.

19. Go on a date with yourself. Go somewhere special and spend a day with yourself. Spend time thinking about the qualities you most love and appreciate in yourself.

20. Check in with your heart. Regularly explore how you’re feeling on an emotional level. Does something feel uncomfortable or wrong? What emotions are currently dominating your inner landscape? By gently acknowledging these emotions you’ll be able to practice self-care.

21. Spend time around people that support you. Find people who believe in and uplift you. Keep away from those who seek to drag you down and infect your life with negativity.

Self-Care Ideas for the Mind

22. Feed and expand your mind. Learn something new. Read up on different topics and open your mind to new perspectives. Enrich your understanding of the world.

23. Journal and self-reflect. Record your journey with self-care and write down your key discoveries. Reflect on your progress and feel proud.

24. Still your mind. Find a way to calm your mind each day. Meditation or mindfulness are two excellent practices. Pay attention to the present moment and get out of your thoughts.

25. Take a break from social media. Clear the stream of your mind for a few days. Give yourself a break from the comparison, egotism, and drama that stems from social media. Delete social media apps from your phone and spend time doing something else.

26. Create a routine for your day. The mind thrives with structure. Create clarity and order by setting in place clear habits and routines. Just ensure that you are flexible and allow these structures to shift and evolve through time as need be.

27. Create an achievements folder. Whether on your computer or in a physical folder, set aside a place where you can record all of your proudest moments. What obstacles have you overcome? What projects have you completed? What struggles have you managed to learn from? Record all of your successes to reflect on when you’re in a funk or feeling like a failure.

28. Simplify your to-do list. Ask yourself, “What is actually necessary?” Identify the things on your mental (or physical) to do list that are wasting space. Not everything is vital or important to do. Minimising what you have to get done can reduce a tremendous amount of stress. Use a technique such as the Eisenhower Matrix to assess what is vital vs. unimportant.

29. Put your phone on airplane mode. Airplane mode stops all calls, texts, and annoying distractions from interfering with your life. Free yourself temporarily each day from the mental slavery of perpetually checking your phone. For example, after 6 pm take a ‘mini holiday’ from your phone until the next morning.

30. Set yourself small, manageable goals. Set yourself one or two major things you want to accomplish each day that will bring you a sense of success or fulfilment. This could be as simple as cooking a nice meal to as big as writing a chapter in your book. Simply feeling like you’ve achieved one of your goals is a wonderful feeling that you can experience daily!

31. Do something outside of your comfort zone. Even if that means going a new route to work or walking your dog along a new street! Enjoy the sense of self-confidence and empowerment that comes from knowing you can do something a bit uncomfortable and different.

32. Set clear boundaries. Stand up for yourself and say “no” even if your voice shakes. Set clear limits on your time and energy. Safeguarding your energy is a form of self-care and self-respect. Give energy only to that which you consciously agree to invite into your life.

Self-Care Ideas for the Soul

33. Light a candle and watch the shifting light. Indulge in some relaxation with a scented candle. Watch the flickering of the light against the wall and connect with your inner self.

34. Ask for help and guidance.If you’re feeling confused, lost, sad, stressed or depressed, reach out to someone. Asking for help is a sign of courage and intelligence. Find a trusted friend, advisor or professional to help you out.

35. Connect with your soul’s guidance. There are countless ways to interact with your soul essence. Prayer, meditation, visualisation, oracle reading, and dream work are all fairly simple ways to get back in touch with your core.

36. Be receptive to beauty. Beauty opens and expands the soul. Beauty can intoxicate and fill you with awe. Find at least one beautiful thing every day to enchant you. Nature is an easy and nourishing place to find all things beautiful and wild.

37. Connect with another person. Find someone to have a heart-to-heart conversation with, even if that person is online. Express your deepest thoughts and feelings and reciprocate that with another who is on the same wavelength as you. Human connection, when it is authentic and raw, is uplifting to the soul.

38. Be your own best friend and soulmate. Treat yourself as you wish to be treated. Enjoy spending time with yourself and fall in love with who you are. Celebrate your messy humanity and divinity and the strange paradox of who you are.

39. Creatively express your deepest feelings. Write, draw, sculpt, scrapbook, paint, sing or dance your rawest feelings. Creatively express yourself in whatever way feels most appealing and natural. You don’t have to be an artist to do this! Self-expression and creativity are universal balms for the soul and have tremendous healing energy.

 How to Use the Suggestions Above

Some final thoughts on the self-care suggestions I’ve just shared: pay attention to any that jump out at you. When reading through this list, which ideas tug at your attention? Focus on those first. Remember, there’s no need to rush! That would be contrary to the point of this article. So go at your own pace. Do as much or as little as feels comfortable to you. Most importantly, be consistent. Self-care is a habit and with a little stubbornness, it can become a wonderful way of life.

© Kate Grainger 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

[marcusssanderson]

50 Quotes With Life Lessons to Help You Move On

Our latest collection of quotes on life lessons on Everyday Power Blog.

It’s easy to go through life living in regrets and focusing on the negative things of the past. It can be a challenge to shake off what has held you back and move forward towards a bright future.

But as long as you focus on the negative baggage from yesterday, it’s going to keep you from getting to where you want to go. Focusing on your past mistakes, what hurt you and what didn’t work out can only stop you from the bright future you envisioned.

To start afresh and move forward, there are a lot of things you are going to want to drop. Whether it’s a betrayal, bad childhood, divorce, or bad job, you have to let it go and move forward.

You cannot do anything about what happened in the past but you can do something about your future. Your past is not as important as what’s ahead; so you cannot let it poison your future.

There’s a lot the world can teach us. Here are some powerful quotes on life lessons to inspire you to live a happier, healthier and more meaningful life.

  Quotes with life lessons to help you move on

  1.) “‎Though nobody can go back and make a new beginning… Anyone can start over and make a new ending.” ― Chico Xavier

  2.) “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” –  Seneca

  3.) “I do a good job of staying positive and just moving on.” – Katie Taylor

  4.) “You can only lose what you cling to.”— Buddha

    5.) “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” ― Maya Angelou

  6.) “Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.” – Og Mandino

  7.) “You only struggle because you’re ready to grow but aren’t willing to let go.” – Drew Gerald

  8.) “It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I’d much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure.” – Ernie Harwell

  9.) “Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.”– Raymond Lindquist

  10.) “It happens to everyone as they grow up. You find out who you are and what you want, and then you realize that people you’ve known forever don’t see things the way you do. So you keep the wonderful memories, but find yourself moving on.” ― Nicholas Sparks

  Quotes about life lessons and moving on

  11.) “The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence; the past is a place of learning, not a place of living.” ― Roy T. Bennett

  12.) “Letting go does not mean you stop caring. It means you stop trying to force others to.”– Mandy Hale

  13.) “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” – Robert Frost

  14.) “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.”– Lyndon B. Johnson

    15.) “Every day is a new day, and you’ll never be able to find happiness if you don’t move on.” –  Carrie Underwood

  16.) “Think of each failure, each heartache, and each loss in your life as a lesson in courage and resilience.” – Kate Anderson

  17.) “Anything you can’t control is teaching you how to let go.” – Jackson Kiddard

  18.) “You can’t move forward if you’re still hanging on.” – Sue Fitzmaurice

  19.) “Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.”– Guy Finley

  20.) “Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.” ― Deborah Reber

  Inspirational quotes on life lessons

  21.) “If there’s a single lesson that life teaches us, it’s that wishing doesn’t make it so.” ― Lev Grossman

  22.) “My greatest life lessons have not come from any achievements I have attained but rather from the failures, heartaches, and setbacks that I have experienced.” – Dr. Marshall Hennington

  23.) “Sooner or later we’ve all got to let go of our past.”– Dan Brown

  24.) “It’s not the mistake that matters, it’s how you interpret the lesson.” – Michelle C. Ustaszeski

  25.) “Letting go isn’t a one-time thing, it’s something you have to do every day, over and over again.” – Dawson’s Creek

  26.) “Why let go of yesterday? Because yesterday has already let go of you.” – Steve Maraboli

    27.) “I am learning to love the sound of my feet walking away from things not meant for me.” – A.G.

  28.) “Your past does not equal your future.”– Anthony Robbins

  29.) “Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.” ― Nicole Sobon

  30.) “You don’t have to let that one thing be the thing that defines you.” ― Jojo Moyes

  Quotes about life lessons and mistakes

  31.) “We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.” ― Rick Warren

  32.) “Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on.” – Les Brown

  33.) “Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.”– Herman Hesse

  34.) “Most people claim that they feel like they’re trapped in a rat race, without an exit. While we can all feel this way from time to time, it’s important to know that there is a way out.” – Debeena Harris

  35.) “Only the dead have seen the end of war.” ― Plato

    36.) “You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.” ― Richard Branson

  37.) “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” – John C. Maxwell

  38.) “We all make them, the difference is what we do after we make the mistake, how we see the mistake – a learning experience or a failure.” – Catherine Pulsifer

  39.) “You make mistakes. Mistakes don’t make you.” – Maxwell Maltz

  40.) “There is no sense in punishing your future for the mistakes of your past. Forgive yourself, grow from it, and then let it go.” – Melanie Koulouris

  Other motivational quotes on life lessons

  41.) “The great courageous act that we must all do, is to have the courage to step out of our history and past so that we can live our dreams.” ― Oprah Winfrey

  42.) “We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”– Joseph Campbell

  43.) “Over the years I’ve come to realize that mistakes are just lessons, life lessons almost like school. Once you’ve learned a lesson in class, you move on to the next lesson because now you know it. Well mistakes are exactly the same.” – Rashard Royster

  44.) “One of the most courageous decisions you’ll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul.” – B. Nicole

  45.) “Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.” ― Steve Maraboli

  46.) “You’ve gotta know when it’s time to turn the page.” – Tori Amos

    47.) “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”– Alexander Graham Bell

  48.) “There comes a time in your life when you have to choose to turn the page, write another book or simply close it.” ― Shannon L. Alder

  49.) “A very wise man once told me that you can’t look back-you just have to put the past behind you, and find something better in your future.” ― Jodi Picoult

  50.) “I’ve been burdened with blame trapped in the past for too long, I’m moving on” ― Rascal Flatts

  Which of these quotes on life lessons was your favorite?

Although life can throw a sucker punch at you, you have to stay on course and remain focused on where you want to go. Success is waiting for you; so you cannot live a life limited by fear, anger, ill health, or self-imposed barriers.

Love is all around you. You just have to take the time to feel it for life itself. Hopefully, these quotes have inspired to move on and live life without limits.

Did you enjoy these quotes on life lessons? Which of the quotes was your favorite? Tell us in the comment section below. We would love to hear all about it.

The post 50 Quotes With Life Lessons to Help You Move On appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.

[tgaoe]

Andy’s 2017 Television Report

I love watching good TV. I still feel there’s a stigma associated with watching as much as I do, but I’m trying to own it. I love TV. I would much rather watch an old West Wing ep than go on a hike or do basically anything outdoorsy. So there that is. And here is an exhaustive list of everything I watched this year.

Not Enough Time and/or Motivation to Watch/Finish Ranked by Level of Intention to Watch/Finish

10. The Vietnam War 9. Godless 8. The Young Pope S1 7. The Handmaid’s Tale S1 6. Search Party S2 5. Rick & Morty S3 4. Halt and Catch Fire S4 3. You’re the Worst S4 2. Better Things S2 1. Broad City S4

Disappointing/Bad The Americans S5 Starts strong, has some nice character development, but the main story was inconsequential and frustrating, as were several side stories.

Preacher S2 Has cool moments and I still love the three leads, but the main plot left me cold. Not even close to as good as the debut season.

Sherlock S4 Stupid and infuriating.

Seasons I Liked, Ranked by Favoritism 32 Curb Your Enthusiasm S8 Same old show, wearing a little thin but still enjoyable.

31 I Love Dick Obtuse, intentionally discomfiting, wonderfully acted; Kathryn Hahn is a goddess.

30 Stranger Things S2 A fun time and not much more, which is fine.

29 Veep S6 Somehow exactly the same cruel, cynical show despite a somewhat significant premise shift.

28 Silicon Valley S4 More of the same. Not sure how much longer this show can sustain the whole “awkward tech bros overcoming impossible odds” premise. Hoping for some risks next season.

27 Vice Principals S2 A hilarious, surprisingly emotional comedy that will always be stuck in the shadow of its predecessor.

26 Love S2 Rock solid cast, writing with a nice balance of comedy, drama, and romance.

25 Bojack Horseman S4 I like this show less than everyone else who likes it, feels like. Still, no other televised depiction of depression rings truer, and remains funny without making light of serious mental illness.

24 Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Manic, inspired inanity.

23 Brooklyn Nine Nine S4/S5 Comfort food. Love everyone on the show. Every episode is the same and always will be and who cares.

22 Legion S1 In a year that hadn’t also included Twin Peaks: the Return, this would have ranked much higher for its crazy formalist experimentation, dazzling visual style, and sustained weirdness. Wish it had been more character-focused, and I hated the coda. Almost dreading season two.

21 Easy S2 Warm, human, real. Love the whole notion of a serialized anthology.

20 GLOW S1 Spending time with these characters just feels great, even when they’re behaving awfully. It’s the kind of show the predictability of which is a positive.

19 Big Little Lies S1 Reese Witherspoon projectile vomits pure green goop in this show. It rules.

18 Crashing S1 You love Pete or you don’t. I love him, have for years. The show is just more Pete.

17 The Good Place S1/S2 Quite possibly the most imaginative, innovate half-hour sitcom of all time; inspires equal investment in the characters and the ever-expanding mythology and mysteries, which is quite a feat.

16 Top of the Lake: China Girl Full review.

15 Fargo S3 By far the weakest season of the show, yet still one of the year’s best. Willfully disgusting and perhaps a bit too writerly, the last few episodes redeem some early rambling and formlessness. Ewan McGregor was not great in his role(s), and Carrie Coon’s performance was done a disservice by her appearing here and in The Leftovers simultaneously. But Mary Elizabeth Winstead and David Thewlis kill.

14 Ozark S1 Every 2-3 episodes contain enough plot for a full season of most other shows. It is wild. Characters at once inhabit archetypes and subvert them. I love how the main means of circumventing trouble is simply telling the truth.

13 One Mississippi S2 The best pure romance story on TV this year.

12 Future Man S1 Starts rough, slowly gets great. Consummately derivative sci-fi comedy. Couldn’t love it more.

11 Mindhunter S1 Spent most of the season deciding whether Jonathan Groff is terrible or magnificent here. Landed on magnificent, for the way he oscillates between ego states in response to story turns, negotiating his perceptions of both the concept of deviance and his sense of his own masculinity.

10 Dear White People S1 The number of characters this show balances is a miracle, and how it engenders empathy for all parties while maintaining its slick, ultracool visual style and exploring sensitive themes with the utmost nuance.

9 Mr. Robot S3 A vast improvement after the letdown of season two. Takes some weird risks that attempt retrofit current events into the show’s 2015 setting, and while not all of them work, the ones that do pay off massively. Plot mechanics are secondary to atmosphere, character, and theme. The cast is great as ever, and this year Bobby Cannavale joins the fray, which is never a bad idea.

8 Insecure S2 Continues to use top-notch production values and writing to explore lifestyles and perspectives previously ghettoized on TV, relegated to peripheral channels and the lowest of low budgets. Issa Rae’s performance is reliably loveable despite her character’s constant questionable decisions, but Yvonne Orji truly makes the show. Somebody cast her and Tiffany Haddish in something together asap.

7 Better Call Saul S3 Slow, methodical, pulpy, consistent. Another solid season of intricate, character-driven puzzle-piece storytelling.

6 American Vandal S1 The funniest entertainment of any type I consumed all year, and surprisingly thematically resonant as it progresses toward its conclusion.

5 Master of None S2 As funny, romantic, and charming as its creator. Tackles some surprisingly heavy subjects, has gained significant poignancy after cultural shifts that came later in the year.

4 The Deuce S1 An even seedier iteration of David Simon’s expansive storytelling style than The Wire, the period details of this show are casually perfect; unshowy and lived in. The Deuce convinced me that James Franco is one of our greatest living actors, on the level of someone like De Niro in his prime. Franco plays twins, and though they look and sound exactly alike, his slightly varied physicality always makes it clear who each is.

3 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel S1 Such fun. A romantically stylized 1950s New York period piece starring a woman who should be, and might yet become, our biggest movie star. Nicely balances light comedy and light drama. Watching feels like cuddling up in a warm blanket.

2 Twin Peaks: the Return Mystifying, hilarious, infuriating, horrifying, wonderful.

1 The Leftovers S3 Not just the best season of television this year, but one of the greatest of all time. I have never been more satisfied by a finale. I refuse to write more lest I spoil anything. If you have not watched this show, watch it. The first season is flawed and difficult. The second is perfect, and so is the third. If this show’s premise even remotely appeals to you, watch it.

Favorite Episodes 12 “Amber Waves” The Americans S5E1 Bold start to an ultimately weak season. Features a ten-minute sequence during which a group of characters silently and methodically dig a hole, and somehow it is almost impossibly dramatic and exciting to watch. Here’s hoping the show picks up again for its final season next year.

11 “Chicanery” Better Call Saul S3E5 A courtroom episode rife with familial drama and series history exploited to maximum effect.

10 “Prodigal Daughter” Easy S2E6 A small, deeply humanist story of a high school girl discovering what she values, and how she wants to manifest those values. Lovely.

9 “Chapter V” Dear White People S1E5 Builds tension to a fever pitch using dialogue, editing, and camera techniques  downright orchestral. Directed by Barry Jenkins, of Moonlight fame.

8 “Part 8” Twin Peaks: the Return Several professional writers called this David’s Lynch’s Tree of Life, and I can’t describe it more succinctly than that. Lynch traces the origin of evil in his universe in a way no person who ever lived would except him.

7 “Who Rules the Land of Denial?” Fargo S3E8 For the bowling alley scene alone.

6 “eps3.4_runtime-err0r.r00” Mr. Robot S3E5 A bravura, (faked) single-take episode that brilliantly uses transit time to build tension.

5 “eps3.7_dont-delete-me.ko” Mr. Robot S3E8 The opposite of bravura; Elliot walks around with a young boy for most of the episode, and it is even more kinetic and exciting than the one with the single take.

4 “Amarsi Un Po'”/“Buona Notte” Master of None S2E9/E10 Heartbreaking. Aziz Ansari’s tribute to the Before Trilogy, and, let’s be honest, the Elevator arc from Louie, is brutal in its exposure of emotional truth. The chemistry between the leads makes the whole thing work.

3 “Part 18” Twin Peaks: the Return The finale. Mystifying, infuriating, horrifying, wonderful. Decidedly not hilarious.

2 “Thanksgiving” Master of None S2E8 A deeply-moving short film exposing a type of hardship so specific that I’d never seen it depicted before. The ways Ansari marks the passage of time throughout this story… just astounding.

1 “The Book of Nora” The Leftovers S3E8 Perfect. There is a monologue here with more story and gravitas than entire seasons of other shows, great ones. Watch The Leftovers.

[sarahburness]

50 People Write a Tiny Thank You Letter to Their Younger Self

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t always held my younger self in high regard.

There was a time when I looked back at the person I once was and judged her for being needy, insecure, weak, inadequate, and fundamentally flawed. I focused on everything I thought I did wrong—all the mistakes I made and the people I hurt—and failed to recognize and celebrate everything I did right.

And I tried to completely eradicate that broken creature through the rigorous pursuit of personal growth, hoping I could prove to myself, and to others, that I was someone worthy of love.

Even when I began focusing on self-love and self-acceptance, I still believed I needed to be better than my shameful former self to deserve it.

Then one day I realized my younger self deserved a lot more credit than I was giving her.

She wasn’t needy because she clung to people; she was just looking for the approval she hadn’t received growing up and didn’t yet recognize her unhealthy patterns.

She wasn’t weak for struggling with depression and bulimia; she was strong for finding ways to cope—unhealthy though they may have been—when it would have been easier to give up.

And she wasn’t inadequate or fundamentally flawed; she was human, and despite her shortcomings, she always did the best she could, based on where she’d been and what she knew at the time.

We’ve all always done the best we could.

We’ve all been hurt, lost, confused, and scared, and we’ve found the strength to go on in spite of it.

We’ve all tried to learn from our mistakes so we can be kinder, better people.

And we’ve all done a lot of good, for ourselves and others, whether we realize it or not.

We may have had lessons to learn, but that’s the thing about this crazy, messy journey called life: We’ll always have room for growth. At any time we look back we’ll recognize things we know now but didn’t know then. And that’s something to celebrate, because it means we’ve allowed ourselves to evolve when it would have been easier to stay stuck and stagnant.

Since I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I appreciate about my younger self, I decided to include this as one of the prompts in my newly released gratitude journal.

I shared this on Facebook this past weekend and almost 500 people responded:

Dear younger self,

Thank you for…

What struck me most about the responses was how universal most of them are. Odds are, you could say a lot of these things to your younger self. And if not, your future self very well may say these things to the person you are today.

So, whether you’re looking for a reminder that younger-you was pretty amazing or seeking a little motivation to be someone future-you will appreciate, read on…

Dear Younger Self, Thank You For…

Self-Care

‪1. Ana Henke‪: Taking care of yourself physically and spiritually, and for trying things that were scary but that made you a stronger and wiser person.

2. Abi Franklyn: Not smoking, doing drugs, or breaking the law. Oh, and for looking both ways before crossing the road, every time.

‪3. Lisa Margaret‪: Working out, stretching, and lifting weights. My middle age body is much better for it.

4. Sallie LeBlanc: Staying out of the sun!

5. Claire Freer: Looking after your skin.

Strength

6. Peggy Willis: Not giving up. For trudging forward even in fear. For getting back up and back on the path when you did fall down. For putting your hand out to others even when you didn’t have anything else to offer.

7. Katie Towers: Pushing through the depression while going to school, working, and being a single mom, with the help your awesome family.

8. Sophie Harris: Sticking it out, even when you really didn’t want to or feel you could!

9. Panos Alexiu: Not succumbing to hate and abuse. For keeping the faith that love and freedom are stronger.

10. Clare Brown: Finding the strength to keep your chin up even when it felt like the simple act of breathing was more then you could manage.

11. Julie Hagigeorges: Not crumbling in the face of devastating illness. Because now, life is good.

12. Catherine Nowlin: Surviving long enough to get sober and sane.

13. Kristabel Hilton: Hanging in there and not killing yourself cause things got better and life is worth living. It would have been a crime not to bring my awesome son and daughter into the world.

14. Jc Ervin: Being stronger than you think. I know you’re scared, hurt, and confused right now. But you’ll make it through a strong and beautiful person. I love you.

15. Tanya Liversidge: Getting through to the other side. It’s not easy but you do find a magnificent dreamer who works hard and is there for you. Remember to be there for him too.

Experiences and Mistakes

‪16. Patrick Jaberg‪: The experiences, no matter if good or bad ones. Both are valuable to me today because I grew in character from them.

17. Debbie Chamberlain: Being adventurous.

18. Ralph Paul Klar: Being stupid and naïve, for I wouldn’t have learned and grown strong had I not been.

19. Jennifer Brown: Surviving all the bad times and always picking yourself back up and trying again. Thank you for always being resilient and learning from your mistakes.

‪20. Karen Sedor:‪ Making those mistakes early—you know, when bones heal faster and hangovers only last a few hours.

21. Emily Carroll Hartley: Having as much crazy fun as you could before you settled down to have a family. And thank you for that little bit of crazy fun that made you who you are today.

22. Alana Taylor: Making so many horrible decisions that led me to the greatest happiness of my life today. I would not be here if I had made any other decisions in the past.

23. Joseph Wooldridge: Pushing the envelope on having fun but staying self-aware and knowing when to say when.

Taking Chances

24. EllenandDan Feeney: Taking healthy risks and having the values I still hold dear today.

25. Caroline Adair Freeman: Taking the trips you thought you couldn’t afford; sticking with school even though it took forever to find the love of learning; not quitting the Peace Corps after being medically evacuated; going on a second date with that tall guy who wore the ugly earrings.

26. Patricia O’Keefe: Not always playing by the rules. Some of the best experiences I’ve had were the result of bending the rules a bit.

27. Shelly Nagata: Rocking the boat. Change and progress don’t happen without it.

28. Sherri Campbell Uecke: Defying convention and being brave enough to take risks. Those risks have paid off in so many ways.

Love

29. Jason Hoy: Hooking up with the girl at the bus stop in college. You’re going to spend at least twenty-two years together and have three kids that will turn out all right.

30. Maria Ribaulo: Spending time with Dad. I miss him terribly but I have a lot of wonderful memories.

31. Katherine Pike: Having the courage to forgive and love big even though you’re hurting.

32. Susan Obieglo:‪ Having four children. The work paid off; they are all wonderful adults.

33. Rachel Kaufman Ginsburg: Finding great people in your life through school, work, community who have stuck with you and can make you laugh even when you feel like crying.

34. Janice Peters: Never giving up on others or yourself, always finding humor in the worst possible situations, remaining curious and willing to take some risks, and trying if not always doing the right thing.

Planning Ahead

35. Chris Ramsbottom Pampling: Starting that savings plan when you were nineteen, a student, and living on a grant. Forty years later that savings plan has paid for me to create my holistic therapy center and help more people than I could ever have known.

36. Cindy Ingersoll: Being smart enough to stop drinking and partying, finish a Masters degree, and commit yourself to raising beautiful children. Oh, and the savings toward retirement. Thank you!

37. Erica OBrien Bush: Spending the first half of your twenties in school and the second half building a career and a business. Sacrificing time and freedom then so that some relative freedom and wiggle room can be enjoyed now, and into the future. You will reap what you sow.  The only time you’ll find success before hard work is in the dictionary.

38. Darci Davenport: Going to college even though everyone tried to talk you out of it.

39. Peter Grevstad: Dropping out of business school to study English, and eventually start a post-secondary teaching career.

40. Rebecca Jones: Getting an education, saving up, and knowing a good guy when you see him. Thanks also for all the things you didn’t do, and all the people you didn’t hang around. High standards paid off nicely.

Being True to Yourself

41. Megan Gentry: Always remaining true to yourself. Standing up for the underdogs of the world. And being firm in your morals and principles.

42. Mike Taylor: Always maintaining your integrity.

43. Donna Noelte: Trying to view life from a different perspective, rather than taking the misconceptions and beliefs that you were taught, and choosing your own way to view things!

44. Rebekah Breun: Becoming better, and not settling for being the person you were raised as. You were never meant to be judgmental or hateful. You did so well figuring out who you are supposed to be instead of who you’ve always been told to me. And thank you for loving yourself when everyone around you told you that you have to be better than you really are.

45. Jeni McKenna: Never giving up on figuring out who you really are and what you really want so you could live an authentic life during the second act.

46. Sherri Dave Phillips: Not following the crowd, being vulnerable, and going through all the pain that made you fierce!

47. Tina Byrd: Being true to yourself. No matter if it meant losing people you cared about. And believing in yourself and your beliefs.

48. Debbie Moore: Subconsciously realizing kids were not what you wanted and not bowing to parental/societal pressure.

49. Maii Chris Bockting: Never listening to what others expected of you.

50. Brooke Larrabee: Being exactly who you needed to be at every moment prior to this.

Dear younger self,

Thank you for…

How would you finish that letter?

You can read more about Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal (which includes 15 coloring pages) on Amazon here. If you already have a copy, I’d very much appreciate a short review! 

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About Lori Deschene

Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha and Recreate Your Life Story, an online course that helps you let go of the past and live a life you love. Her latest bookTiny Buddha's Gratitude Journal, which includes 15 coloring pages, is now available for purchase. For daily wisdom, follow Tiny Buddha on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram..

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The post 50 People Write a Tiny Thank You Letter to Their Younger Self appeared first on Tiny Buddha.

from Tiny Buddha https://tinybuddha.com/blog/50-people-write-tiny-thank-letter-younger-self/