A Return to Thankfulness
It has been a very long time since I shared any words here on the blog.
My last post was well over a year ago now and to be honest, sometimes it feels like so much longer. When I wrote that story, I had no idea it would mark the start of an unintentional hiatus from blogging. Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about getting this space active again. Somehow, though, I just never quite make the deadline for the linkups or don’t quite get around to finishing (or starting) a blog post I have in mind.
Timing is everything, I suppose, and for a very long while my timing has just been…off. It happens. Life happens, which is the main reason I haven’t been seen around these parts for a while. Eventually, though, circumstances change and timing falls into place again.
When I saw the announcements that the Ten Things of Thankful link-up was celebrating six years, it felt like just the right time to get back to some blog writing.
My relationship with the Ten Things of Thankful crew began with just that kind of coincidental timing. I’m not entirely positive, but I think the first time I wrote a post and linked up with the Ten Things of Thankful crew was back in August of 2013. I happened upon the linkup through one of the “regulars” via another linkup party – I think – and joined in. Why not, right? And then I stayed. I stayed for a very long time, posting TToT lists fairly regularly, sometimes off-and-on for over three years.
The TToT found me at just the right time. Life was a huge pile of change for me back then, not all of it positive. I was frustrated and angry about so many things. I was trying to figure out what the next chapter of my life might look like. It was so easy to get bogged down in all the things that felt wrong. Taking up the regular practice of focusing on a handful of things that were good seemed like a very good idea.
And it was.
I started making a weekly list of just ten positive things in my life for which I was thankful and sharing them with the TToT linkup. I started reading the lists posted by others. And you know what? It was life-changing.
I know how trite that sounds, but it’s absolute truth. I was able to see through the muck of all the transition in my life and get to the root of what was good. That gave me something to build upon. I was able to read the lists of other participants and see the good in their lives, but also read the stories of their struggles mixed in. I was not alone. No matter what you go through in life, it always seems helpful somehow to know that others have done similar things. It’s helpful to know that they, too, have made it through. I made some virtual friends through the TToT – friends I would claim count as “real life” friends, too, and who I am happy to have stayed connected to for these last several years. I admit that I’ve become a bit (a lot) absent in the online world, but I’m hoping that will change again as I move forward through this next chapter in life.
I’ve said on more than one occasion that the TToT saved my life. It sounds dramatic, but it isn’t really. The TToT and its people found me at a time that I needed to connect with something and that’s exactly what happened. It was a little bit of magic, so to speak, just when I needed it most and it was something powerful. It still is. I stopped doing the regular posts at some point a while back, but I haven’t stopped the practice of remembering to find the small moments of joy in the midst of the stuff of life. It makes a difference.
I don’t have a list of specifics here, but I am most definitely thankful for the many blessings in my life. I am very thankful for the Ten Things of Thankful crew – old, new, retired, and more – and that this little linkup is still doing its wonderful thing six years later.
I wish us all another six years of thankfulness and beyond!
Check out the rest of the party links over at the Ten Things of Thankful blog! Click here.
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10 Things was a wonderful experience for me too and really started my gratitude journey even in the midst of a personal tragedy.
I hear that. So glad it was a lovely thing for you, too! May our journeys continue…
Welcome back! And wonderful to count one’s blessings whenever they occur–and realize how many there are to count! <3
Thanks, Liz! It’s true. I just said in another comment that I thought of several other things I could have added here. Perhaps that’s another post!
Nice to see you back on the pen.
Thank you, A.J.! Nice to be back.
I’m so glad you joined us and became part of the gang. Also so glad life has become far better beyond the transition x
I’m very glad to have found all of my wonderful TToT friends. And yes, life is moving us along little by little. xo
Glad to see you back on here! I enjoyed reading your post, a wonderful perspective on it all. Sometimes it’s so hard to find the time to put those mental blog posts on to “paper” isn’t it? Hope you’ll find some time to share on here again sometime soon.
Thank you! After I posted this I realized I had quite a few specific things I could’ve included. Didn’t. Maybe I’ll get back in the TToT habit again. At the very least, I’m hoping to get back to posting something here regularly again.
I’m so glad you joined us–both years ago, and today! It’s been nice to have so many bloggers reflect about the benefit of thankfulness. Thanks for sharing your perspective, and feel free to join us again anytime! 🙂
Thanks, Kristi, and thanks for keeping the link open for us stragglers! 😀 I haven’t been around to read all of the other posts yet, but the ones I have seen are just lovely. What a great reminder of how lovely the TToT is!
I am so happy to see that you’ve joined us for the lovely anniversary celebration! Like you, I seldom do written lists of gratitude anymore, but I have incorporated the practice and mindset into my life so that I am reminded many times daily of how blessed I really am. I think the TToT came at just the right time for many of us, and the friendships forged have been one of the biggest resulting blessings! I hope you do drop by with a post for your blog now and then, even if it’s not tied to bloghops with deadlines. And I wish you every blessings in the weeks and months ahead. Hard times don’t last forever, and one day you look back and realize you’ve come thru to the other side! XOXO
Thank you, Josie! I’m glad I made it in for the anniversary party, too. And I couldn’t agree more about the TToT being just the thing at just the right time. Those bonds of love and friendship have sent so many of us off into the next phase of our lives bolstered and encouraged. Definitely the most amazing part!
I really do plan to get back on here more and hop around to see some other blogs again, too. xo
I wish us all here as well, and can’t tell you how much happiness it brings me to read your words. I miss you.
Miss you, too! I haven’t had words on this page in so very long. Working on getting back to it – doing this was a good start!
Welcome back. Wishing you a lot of success
Thank you!
I was rereading some comments on some of my old blog posts and saw one from you. It made me realize I’ve not seen much from you on Facebook or blogs . Hoping all is well and your holidays were happy.
Hi, Paul. Yeah, I haven’t done much here in quite a long time. And I hate Facebook, so I’ve changed my habits there. LOL Hope to be posting here again very soon. Holidays were good – hope yours were, too!