There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy. – Ralph H Blum
I’m sitting back this Sunday evening and basking in the quiet joy of gratitude. I’m grateful for everything that makes my life what it is at this very moment. There are days when I feel a little frustrated with myself or with some situation, but those days are becoming less.
Earlier this year, I decided to take a divorce from drama and I found that it’s helping me be more grounded and grateful.
I’ve also deliberately cut myself off from certain individuals who while certainly not being bad people, tend to be sources of negative energy in my life.
This week I’ve enjoyed my blogging – writing, commenting and connecting. My thanks to all those who read, comment and share my posts. I’m always grateful.
We spent the weekend doing some necessary shopping and also using up some credit notes that I had been gifted. Thankfully, the weather was dry and we were able to do this without any hassle. I don’t like shopping – so it’s always a chore for me – and the fact that I pushed myself to do this, makes me grateful.
One of the things we bought was a travel set of Othello
I finally managed to do some creative journaling after two months and wondered why I had stopped at all. So much quiet joy to be found in playing around with paints and pens. I’m planning to sign up for an online course too, just to learn some techniques – the beginner’s mind in action here! 🙂
My YouTube watching this week included a serial about the FLDS cult. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you might know that cults fascinate me. Watching young men and women attempting to break from the mental shackles imposed on them, made me more mindful and grateful for my freedom and education.
While we seem to be surrounded by bad news at times, I love the many positive stories I’ve read this week. The two that come to mind are the story of the Egyptian millionaire, Naguib Sawiris, who is contemplating buying an island in Greece to accommodate Syrian refugees and Malyk Bonnet, the teen who saved a woman from kidnapping.
I’m also grateful to a be a part of various positive blogging outreaches including the #1000 Speak initiative.
Linking to the hosts of Ten Things of Thankful : Considerings, Amycake and the Dude, A Fly on our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Finding Ninee, Getting Literal, I Want Backsies, The Meaning of Me, Thankful Me, Uncharted, The Wakefield Doctrine.
Last month, I revived #AnythingGoesOnSunday – an invitation for you to add yours link for your Sunday posts to the linky below. No theme, no prompt – anything goes! However, I’d appreciate if you left a comment and visited at least two of the blogs linked before yours! The linky is will be open for the whole month.
My father and I used to play Othello together. I still have the board, but I could never quite interest my boys in the game. Perhaps the next time my parents are over for dinner, I’ll challenge my dad to a game.
I guess children these days prefer video games? I hope you get to play a game with your Dad soon.
I guess board games are not as exciting as video games, Vanessa? I hope you get to enjoy a game with your Dad soon.
I loved your title. There is a confidence in that quiet joy. I, too, have made similar commitments this year and it is paying off. Sometimes it is not easy to divorce drama and it takes courage – but so necessary to live a peaceful life. Thank you
OMG I used to adore playing Othello with my nephews! What a great game! creative journalling… I love drawing and pasting things in a journal! Have a great week!
I like the “divorce from drama”…I’ve been trying to do that too. I also loved your graphic
Enjoying family games and getting away from negative people is a sure way to improve the joy and gratitude in your life. Your post gives me a calm feeling. The quote is lovely, and so true. Have a good week.
Love that quote. Keeping drama and toxicity out of my life is important to me. I’m shocked more people don’t give it a try.
Enjoyed reading the post. Cutting off from negative people and thoughts help us a great deal in overcoming hurdles in the mind and life.
Good that you enjoyed weekend. Shopping is a chore for me too.. i can’t stand and roam for long time, want food and relaxation in the middle :p So, can’t go on a shopping spree for more than 2 hrs.
I am interested to know about creative journaling.. looking forward to that course 🙂
this speaks so strongly to me Corinne – it could be my life you’re describing – it’s all about gratitude and friendship and realizing how blessed we are at this stage of life – great post!
I agree that being around negative people can be draining. Part of me wants to somehow try to uplift people though and that can be a delicate balance sometimes if someone is overly negative. One has to take care of their own emotional health as well.
Cults, gangs, or any other group that takes away the freedom of an individual’s right to choose for himself/herself is something to guard against.
My family is big on board games. The kids love monopoly (not my favourite) but I enjoy trivial pursuit and scrabble and we play that often before bedtime. Board games rock.
Since there’s only two of us, options are limited, Suzy. I’ve heard of Trivial Pursuit but never played it. I remember lots of crazy Pictionary sessions too. So much fun!
S and I love playing chess together because we are equally bad at it 😀 We were looking for a nice chess set and board for quite some time… It’s good to engage in something that keeps us away from the computers and phones for sometime atleast….
Oh and yes I’m also divorcing the drama gradually Corinne 🙂 And it feels great!
I wish I could play chess, but I can’t, Naba. I saw a magnetic one yesterday at Landmark but didn’t look at it too carefully. Presently, Jose is still reading the rules of Othello! Hope to beat him at it tonight.
My all time favourite is Scrabble, but our board is still in Mumbai. Will bring it here on our next visit back.
Drama – that’s an entirely different board game! 😛
It is scrabble for me too…. I do these single player games… and leave the game on for a long time … trying ot make the best possible combination to derive the most points 🙂 …. A blissful feeling in the end..
Thanks to power cuts I am enjoying many mini breaks! Board games are the best. Even today, we can go for hours with the simple snakes and ladders and have a really good time. Then the word games.
Enjoy your life!
“To thine own self be true”
I am honestly addicted to card games, especially those made by a company called GameWright. They produce innovative, imaginative games that make you think and spark the imagination. They draw you into their fantasy world in some cases making you think not only analytically but to marvel at imaginative worlds that seem to come alive with the beautiful imagery as you play.
I’m still working on the cutting out negative people in my life, but I’ve made some headway. It’s been so peaceful since I made that decision.
Great piece Corinbe! Nothing like a little gratitude to start the week off right!
That’s right, Rena. I hope you’re having a good one.
Thanks for the post. Never underestimate the importance and power of gratitude!
We’ve been enjoying Agricola lately, and it can be played with only 1 person–though I haven’t played it with fewer than 3.
Divorce from Drama – love that term! Reading through your post, I realise it fills me with a sense of peace – I really see that too: to feel grateful for what I have brings me happiness and peace in my everyday life. Wonderful post, dear Corinne- thanks:-) And happy for you and the changes you made in your life:-)
I am going to attempt creative journaling on our month in Santa Fe. I just packed up colored pens and pencils & a glue stick!
I’m definitely all about getting rid of drama and negativity in my life. I also think it’s great you got to unplug a bit. We’re so device driven these days that it’s important to make the effort to unplug and enjoy family and friends the normal way,lol.
We lived near an FDLS compound in western Montana. These ladies and girls are kept under a stern, watchful eye of a militant elderly woman when they come to town for shopping. I’m a smiler, I smile at everybody. Smiling at these ladies was like smiling at someone who can’t stand you, they quickly turned their heads. I too am thankful for my freedom.
I need to cut out the drama and have more calm in my life. I agree that breaking from those that bring negativity in your life is a must. Although right now it’s my teens that are the issue…lol.
It’s always great to try to live a life of gratitude. Taking a break from all of the “drama” definitely helps. It’s amazing how drama can change our focus so quickly and can bring us down. I used to write down a couple of things I was grateful for each night before going to bed, but I’ve gotten out of that habit. I need to get back to doing that. Thanks for the reminder.
I loved your statement: divorce from drama!! I made up my mind a long time ago that there is no place in my life for drama and/or negativity. The most difficult part of that decision is that most of the people I encounter are either drama and/or negativity motivated which leaves me walking alone most of the time. That is OK with me because I know that I am a happy, positive and drama free person!!
That is a great idea to detach from media before bed. How are you divorce yourself from drama? Thank you for the reminder to be grateful for every reader that reads a post.
I loved that you Divorced yourself from Drama! It’s gotta be like that at times. Great post.
I’ve never heard of “creative journaling” until today–thanks! I’m going to look into that. I love journaling in general. And I love the title of your post–there is a quiet, yet deep peace and joy when we live grateful and content with what we have and where we are. Thanks for the reminders!
Ahhhh Grrrr! Thanks for your post. I have been thinking a lot along those lines. I seem to be surrounded by a lot of drama and I need to rid myself of some people. Now implementing a strategy of ending those relationships is the hard part
that is so true – but i have yet to sit still long enough to do any kind of creative journaling thing – but the gratitude….. 😀
It is so easy to get caught up in other people’s drama and negativity, and I think it’s so great you are distancing yourself from that. I have definitely had to do that, and of course it isn’t always easy, but I think it is so worth it.
I wish I could take all of the drama out of my life… right now it seems like most of my drama is work related. So short of getting a new job I just have to hope it gets better! Either way I’m glad you’re doing better, sounds like you had a very productive week!
I adore your quote! It is so true. Also, thank you for the linkup!
I guess this is in reference to your divorcing drama post, but I had a work environment for a year that was so bad that I was developing a lot of chronic health problems. I was stuck because of my contract, but I knew when I left, I would never allow myself to be abused like that again. I timidly applied to grad school without any confidence left and it has been amazing to become my own person again. After having that work situation, every other situation doesn’t seem that bad and I am so happy for my jobs even on bad days.
After I began building up my confidence again, I began making boundaries for people who hadn’t been healthy for me etc. It has been really amazing how the decision to quite that job has impacted my life! I’ll forever be grateful!
Eliminating the negative in your life can be freeing, but be careful not to cut too many ties. We have a relative who cuts people off at the slightest offense and now he isn’t talking to anyone in his extended family.
So proud of you for divorcing drama! It is so important to live a happy and healthy life.Thanks for the great post, I enjoyed it!
Love it!! I am on a “divorce from drama” too! I still love certain drama queens but I love them from a distance instead of letting them in my heart! Freeing isn’t it?
A Divorce from Drama…I love that! A long time ago, I purposely cut myself off from people who love drama. It is so freeing to be out of all that! I also love doing board games with the family, something we don’t do enough of. We did that on our camping trip but since we’ve been home, no board games. Hopefully that will change soon.
I was always considered odd in college for trying not to surround myself with drama and negative people, but by the time 4 years had gone by I had become well respected for it! Great post!
Love it! Sounds like we have a lot in common. I ‘divorced myself from the drama’ a long time ago and life is much better. 🙂 I also love looking for things to be grateful for throughout my day and try to seek out positive news stories. XOXO, Erin
I love the idea of divorcing ourselves from drama. I’ve been involved in a lot of drama lately with my softball team, and I’m so over it.
Gratitude is so foundational to our lives and our happiness. I like to switch it up a bit and inventory my life. What do I want? I WANT to be married and I am. I WANT to be a mother, and I am. I WANT to help people and I do.
There is a lady who I follow on Periscope who’s handle is “Gr8tefulChickRis” and she is daily giving life tips & reminding the world to be and say what you are grateful for!
I love the idea of divorce from drama! I am signing those papers today :)! It is amazing how much our lives can change with a shift in our attitude to gratitude. It can truly change everything! Thanks for sharing!
I love your “divorce from drama”! I have to do that on occasion myself! I have a favorite quote ~ “When you find yourself being pulled into someone else’s drama, step back and say to yourself “Not my circus, not my monkeys”!” I have this on sticky notes everywhere to remind me to not let other’s drama rain on my parade!
Divorcing drama? I just might have to check into that. Writing does seem to help with the stress though.
I too love to journal although I definitely don’t make as much time for it as I should, thanks for the reminder 🙂
I have found the need to separate myself from the drama and remove many people from my life, but it’s worth it. Sometimes you just need to be selfish and relish in time for yourself. I think it’s necessary to maintain sanity.
Thank you for sharing.