Byron Katie from her book "Loving What Is"– "If I had a prayer, it would be this: God spare me from the desire for love, approval, and appreciation. Amen." This 'prayer' saved my from wanting/needing recognition for the often thankless and invisible work that defines motherhood in the early years. I learned that I am withholding all of those things – love, approval, appreciation – when I start looking outside of myself for them. I started feeling gratitude for tasks I used to resent (she calls it "Doing the dishes and loving it" 😁). Now I can see it carrying over to so many areas and relationships, and I'm finding it's much easier for me to recognize when to hold or place a boundary and when to let go rather than fight to be seen or understood

1. Noticing or finding beauty wherever I am (i.e. lots of staring/gazing/contemplating) 2. Deep, genuine, unexpected laughter 3. Quiet, solitary moments. Being still enough to hear life happening around me 4. Writing. Reading. Feeling connected to others through the way they express themselves (in interviews, music, books, poetry) 5. Reminding myself how far I've come 6. Grey, windy, rainy, snowy, stormy weather. Sweaters, hot tea, fires, old novels 7. Sleeping outside. Waking up with the sun. Listening to moving water while falling asleep – rivers, creeks, the ocean 8. Out of the way places that are hard to get to. Remote beaches. Long, steep hikes to breathtaking views 9. Learning to trust myself and others 10. Embracing vulnerability. Finding liberation in it

@Keishya Salko I love to hear that! I felt the same about yours. I am so appreciative of this prompt and everyone's thoughtful responses 🤍

Moments that aren't performative or transactional. Simply being accepted as a person with a lived experience instead of an occupation, or level of education, or whatever other labels society typically tries to assign. Consciously undermining the pervasive isolation and alienation brought on by modern life. Slowing down and intentionally deepening relationships

What Lauren said 👆