Metadata: f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 200
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Gratitude is a funny thing. The more we practice it, the happier we are. At least that’s how it works for me. Several months ago my SIL sent me this article and it changed me. I was in the middle of my really rough patch and needed something to change my attitude around. I wasn’t suffering from PPD. I was suffering from extreme sleep deprivation. It was crippling. I was dwelling on the negative and forgetting the positive, which is so easy to do when you sleep no more than three hours straight for six months in a row. I kept turning to the internet to whine instead of trying to find positives in my life, which there were plenty of. I was just forgetting them. It was around this time that I deleted facebook from my iphone and downloaded The Gratitude Journal app instead. I programmed it to send me a reminder every night during everett’s dreamfeed, which forced me to note what I was thankful for each day. I am very specific when I record things in there and what a difference it has made for me. Even in the haze, there were bright shining stars. People and moments and love. I had forgotten those important things. Thinking about them every day helped me get to a better place and rediscover my usual positive spirit. & the really funny thing was, rarely did any of my grateful entries include material things. Those things never provide long lasting joy.
So on this black Friday, my goal is to spend only the money it takes to buy a fresh Christmas Tree, and use this family day to enjoy one another. We haven’t been able to do that as a family of four lately. :)
Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via miss shawna on Pinterest
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& Project 52 is off to a very collaborative start! If you’d like to join in–it’s not too late. Here’s everything you need to know about
& those of you who are linking up (please let me know if you need to be edited/added!):
Adventures in Mommyhood • And Now • Aubrey My Love • Blossoms & Vintage • Bugs & Boo-Boos • Candice Craves • Candidly Colette • Caynay Photography • Christina’s Project 52 • Chronicles of KT • Claire Jane • The Crain’s Nest • Dana Moran Photography • The Daulton Dabbler • Englexas • Everything Eatherton • Fairy Wings & Dinosaurs • Finding Joy • Firecracker Mama • Freckled Pink • From Stanwood to Seoul • Gin & Juice Boxes • Heather Marie Portraits • Ici & La • It’s a Graham Life • It’s a Strange & Lovely Ride • Kate L Photography • Keeping up with the Carters • Kim Percival Photography • Living for Love • Lizzi Photography • Mahina & Lucas • Mama Bethany • McLain Padilla Photography • Mist Moments • Memories by Mere • Moments & Impressions • The Mommyhood Memos • Moo with Me • Moxie Made • My Tots Travel • Navigating the Mothership • Nicole Dina Photography • Oh the Places We’ll Go • Our Baby Behr • Our Splendid Little Life • Phreckle Face Photography • Quiet Footsteps •Rachel Gray Photography • The Robersons • Shades of Bliss • Shutter Mama Blog • Side of the Table • Simply Us • Snaps of Our Life • Squamish Baby • The Todd’s • Truly Dedicated Mommy • We Aren’t Scared of Sugar • We’re Better Together • Wicked Kate • Wokabout • Z as in Zebra
