tgif + a giveaway
Burma's democracy leader and political prisoner, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, once said, "If you're feeling helpless, help someone."
As I've been struggling with feelings of scarcity and exhaustion these last two weeks, I've tried to apply Suu Kyi's wisdom. I'm trying to overcome feelings of scarcity by practicing generosity and gratitude.
In my efforts to be generous I've paid for the car behind me at Starbucks twice this past week. During one of my generosity-gratitude efforts I noticed myself feeling very self-conscious about the whole thing. I was at this painfully hip, urban Starbucks. The people who worked there were tattooed and pierced and so cool it hurt. The two guys in the car behind me looked like the guys from Flight of the Concords.
When I pulled up to the window I started to question myself. The shame chatter was, "They'll think I'm naive and silly and really, really uncool."
I took a deep breath and remembered the Guidepost from my research that reads:
Cultivate laughter, play, song, and dance.
Let go of being cool and fitting in.
I paid for the coffee (mine and the super cool guys behind me) and drove away happy and smiling.
I'm giving up on cool. I'm boycotting "cool" and the languate that goes along with it: Lame, loser, uncool, boring . . . all the teenage words that still hurt and keep us from being our most uncool, wonderfully goofy selves.
Nice rocks. Always has. Always will.
To celebrate, I'm giving away my favorite "Anywhere Notebook" from Compendium, Inc.
Isn't is wonderful! This is one of my favorite quotes of all times!
In order to win the "YES" notebook leave a comment answering the following questions (before Monday):
Who/what are you trusting today?
Who/what are you grateful for today?
Who/what is inspiring you today?
Here's mine:
Today, I'm trusting kindness.
I'm grateful for courage.
I'm inspired by all of the people who let their freak flags fly!
I'll pick two winners on Monday! Can't wait to read your TGIFs!
Brené Brown
Congrats to Terri Fischer and Lorie Hartman!
Send me your addresses so I can get these adorable notepads to you!
09.25.2009
Reader Comments (128)
I am trusting that the love and sharing with my one true love will always be there.
I am grateful for great and creative friends- who are super un-cool and love to laugh.
I am inspired by all the courageous women who pour their hearts and souls out so that the rest of us don't feel like "we're the only ones!"
super duper happy weekend to everone!!!
who/what are you grateful for... that the ears of my ears are awake : )
who/what is inspiring you... people of all kinds of faith who bring beauty + laughter into this world.
who/what are you grateful for... the friends who picked me up from the pits of despair this week
who/what is inspiring you... people who have left their old story behind to create a new story -- I can't wait to join them
I'm grateful for my friends and their support.
I'm inspired by this woman.
http://motherofshrek.blogspot.com/
I am grateful for an honest conversation
I am inspired by the fearlessness that is born of pain
(and BTW, I had never even HEARD of Flight of the Conchords till watching the Emmy's this past Sunday. If being "uncool" is a competitive sport, I am a serious contender!!)
I'm grateful for my happy, healthy, smiling and employed teenagers .
And I'm inspired by the beautiful, artistic blogs I read and learn so much from!
So today I'm trusting in the chance to help someone embrace their passion and talent for writing....
I'm grateful for wisdom and guidance so that I may speak the truth in love and be an encourager...
I am inspired by the talent and the passion this person has, that I've always known was there, and now getting a glimpse that there is the possibility that they will finally see it in themselves and be courageous and bold enough to follow their dreams.
Thank you, thank you for the inspiration!
* I am grateful for my grandmother, Helen... with whom I spent the day being all of me.
* I am always inspired by others who want to know you your lifetime and in turn, allow you to share theirs.
I am trusting myself today, something I don't do very often
Who/what are you grateful for today?
I am grateful for the family I have at home
Who/what is inspiring you today?
Beckoning of the Lovely - Amy Krouse Rosenthal, she's got it going on!
I'm grateful for K still being here, stable and strong as ever. The one who never makes me feel bad or shamed or small.
I'm inspired by the new Pearl Jam album!
Who/what are you trusting today?
creativity
Who/what are you grateful for today?
community
Who/what is inspiring you today?
me, who i have become and who i am becoming
I am grateful for true friends, who don't let me get away with anything and help make me achieve my goals. Such as finally planning my 40th birthday party and getting the invitation out...today!
Believe it or not, Dan Brown's new book, the Lost Symbol is inspiring me today. My grandparents were masons and I have just realized that my belief system has strongly been influenced by their teachings and actions. It's making me re-discover myself, which is really neat.
i am trusting magic.
i am grateful for magic.
i am inspired by magic.
I'm grateful I have more strength than I realized.
I'm inspired by the creativity of others!
Who/what are you grateful for today? I'm grateful for my health. This week I was working with a client when she had a major Angina attack. I realized how lucky I am with my health.
Who/what is inspiring you today? I'm off to scrapbook, so Ali E is my inspiration tonight! Taking one of her books with me!
I'm grateful to be alive,
I'm inspired by the beautiful fall colors outside right now.
Today, I'm trusting that someday I'll be ok with just myself.
I'm grateful for my husband.
I'm inspired by a good friend.
Today I am grateful for my super, genuinely nice, loving and lovable son, Phil
I am inspired by all the incredible, caring people I have to come to know over the last three years.
P.S. I just love e.e. cummings!
I am grateful for those who stretch me to love more and worry less.
I am inspired by the laughter of my daughters, and their genuine appreciation of my endeavors.
Today I am trusting that I can survive these feelings of vulnerability and a heavy heart -- that this too shall pass.
I am grateful for... this post, actually! I want to have "Cultivate laughter, play, song, and dance. Let go of being cool and fitting in." tattooed on me:)
I'm inspired by all the fabulous stories about people's amazing time at Squam. Maybe one of these days I'll get brave enough to go!
I tend to isolate myself when I have anxiety and shame. I disconnect. Something I've always struggled with is the idea that my weaknesses will be discovered, I have a hard time writing any of this down because I'm afraid someone will find it. I disconnect, keep my vulnerability a secret.
In an effort to connect with my husband about it, I told him that I have been anxious this week and emotionally exhausted and that I felt it was starting to improve. It was met with silence, I think he hears me but doesn't know what to say. I want him to be the one to trust with this I might have to look elsewhere and let our relationship be strong in other ways right now. I understand his position, I do not fault him for this. It's hard to hear the person you love talk about painful stuff when you really want to "fix" it but you can't.
I thought I'd share a bit of my story today, thanks for this book Brene.
I AM TRUSTING: That my anxiety will lift soon. The knots will release, the nausea will pass, the dry throat will go away.
I AM GRATEFUL: For continued learning, for the opportunity to read your book
I AM INSPIRED: By the stories of ordinary courage
Who/what are you grateful for today? I am grateful for my job. Not only because it pays the bills, but because it is a JOY to work with the people that surround me weekly.
Who/what is inspiring you today? Other women doing their own thing. Being themselves and Shining their Lights!
I am grateful for all my feelings, I know I am fully alive
I am inspired by my 8 yr.old who wrote me a note that she loves me and knows it is a "tuff" time!!!!
I am grateful for this blog. It somehow brings me back to myself.
I am inspired by Robindro shongeet that I am listening to right now. Its the music that Rabindranath Tagore wrote and composed. I love his music.
I am grateful for the journey I've begun with new friends and old on PNN.
I am inspired by the ability to laugh in the face of despair.
I am grateful for flowers - they were the perfect pick me up at a roadside stand
I am inspired by those that keep up the dedication it takes to maintain a small roadside stand... :)
I am grateful for my boyfriend who just asked me to spend the rest of my life with him!
I'm inspired to create some change at work.
I am grateful for the tea party today with my 4 year old, and that she let me wear the tiara.
I am inspired by President Obama, who continues to face unimaginable challenges with courage.
I am grateful for a lovely home, supportive husband, and lovely kitty cats.
I am inspired by a man who survived horrendous violence and overcame the odds to recover and influence the lives of those around him. Some people just breathe resilience and a can-do spirit in spite of the tremendous adversity they face. He inspires me to let no obstacle stand in my way.
Who/what are you grateful for today? I am grateful that last night's disagreement was caused partially by the pregnancy hormones. (No, not mine).
Who/what is inspiring you today? I am inspired by the open communication that I have with my friends and am trying to use that courage to talk with family members.
Who/what are you grateful for today? Being part of the MB community for the past 5 weeks.
Who/what is inspiring you today? Every MB dreamer.
Today, I'm trusting kindness.
I'm grateful for courage.
I'm inspired by all of the people who let their freak flags fly!
I'm "copying" you not because I don't have my own TGIs, but because you and I seem to be on the same path lately in some ways, and I totally dig this post. And I also dig that you know Flight of the Conchords. :)
HUGS! :)
I am grateful for...the little things
I am inspired by...the revealing of daily treasures
Those are almost the exact thoughts I had this week. I decided to listen to them and gave up on the opportunity to show kindness. You're right, I would rather be kind than be cool.
I am trusting my intuition and will try to act on it.... often.
I am grateful for someone who is so patient with me.
I am inspired by people who are authentic.
Who/what are you grateful for today? I'm grateful for Grandpa living downstairs.
Who/what is inspiring you today? Your blog post about not following the "cool" crowd.
I am grateful for my little boy's sixth birthday today and the huge smiles he gave us all day.
I am inspired by the Gary Go song, "Wonderful." "Say, I am wonderful."
I am grateful that I have people I can talk to when I am feeling anxiety over things I really cannot control and I am also grateful that I can be that person for others.
I am inspired by people who make every effort to follow their dreams without fear of what that may mean.
Today I am grateful for laughter and friendship. I love my workplace and my work:)
I am inspired by the time I shared with friends to honor the life of an inspirational, courageous friend that passed this week.
Today I am trusting that I can learn to be less reckless with my heart in every relationship in my life.
I am grateful for my daughter Lauren who is my daily reminder of all that is good and right in the world.
I am inspired by you, as I see you as such an accompolished woman, yet you have such a simple heart and deal with the same issues that face so many of us. You seem to handle them with such dignity and grace.
I am grateful for the ability to redefine our perceptions and the difference it can make in the day-to-day.
I am inspired by stories. mine. yours. everyones.
thanks for another awesome giveaway. tgif.
Grateful: for my daughter's response today that school was "awesome!" & that they both wake up every morning and can't wait to go to school
Inspired: by that notepad! (i am a serious paper addict. there really should be a support group...)
Who/what are you grateful for today?....the change of seasons in a new place, new landscapes to explore
Who/what is inspiring you today?
golden rod and sun flowers, orange maple leaves and vines drying up, grab those tomatoes and stir up some beautiful red sauce to pull out in January for a wiff of this last summer...
ps John Gorka is the very best, listen to Love is our Cross to Bear on one of his first releases
i'm GRATEFUL for second chances.
i'm INSPIRED by the sun which rises every single day, regardless of the weather.
The scary part? I'm getting back ENTHUSIASTIC replies. They want to do this, they are excited, and willing to try something new. And now I'm trying really hard to trust that I do have something to give. Trying to keep the negative talk at bay.
Who/what are you grateful for today? Health
Who/what is inspiring you today?Anyone that has the courage to face the new day- good or bad!!
Thank you!