The Little Things No. 28

The little things really do add up, which is why every Friday I end the week on a positive note with appreciation for the little things in my life that make up a greater sense of joy.  I hope you join me today in appreciating the good, no matter how small. I will also be sharing links from time to time about things that are inspirational, funny, beautiful, or important.

Because this is about appreciation rather than perfection, I’m not only including my professional quality photos, but some cellphone snaps as well. You can expect to see a more candid look into my life every week with my The Little Things blog posts every Friday.

Dear Friends,

I hope that you re having a healthy and happy week. Last week I mentioned that I was having a tough time, but I am happy to say that this week I feel better than I have in perhaps months. I hope you’re feeling just as good this week. I feel energetic, happy, and at the peak of thriving. Today I asked people what thriving meant to them and many of the responses I received were about how thriving is being yourself and not caring what other people think and I could not agree more.

When someone judges or criticizes not just what you do or what you look like, but who you are, it can be a little more complicated to drown out those toxic voices. Especially when someone tries to shame the qualities that make you shine bright. It takes practice and hard work to diminish the darkness of others to allow your own light to shine if you were raised in a toxic environment where you were always criticized, put down, ignored, or invalidated. But the good news is that it is never too late to learn how to take care of and value yourself.

Meditation, therapy, good health routines, positive affirmations, positive friends, and building self esteem through trying new things and gaining confidence are all ways that you can build your own resilience. I hope that you thrive in everything that you do.

This week, the little things I appreciate are:

This sleepy kitty who has taken ownership of my meditation cushion.

This floral face mask.

This lobster bisque that I had for lunch the other day.

That August is peach picking season in Connecticut.

This home cooked meal I shared on my Instagram stories. I’ve been cooking a lot this week and sharing meals at home with my husband has brought me a lot of calm and joy.

This lovely “The Notebook” themed dress by Sarah Patrick.

What little things have brought you contentment or joy this week?

With appreciation,

Courtney