Your Self-Love Journey
Thank You Notes #59
“One of the best guides to how to be self-loving is to give ourselves the love we are often dreaming about receiving from others.” — Bell Hooks, All About Love: New Visions
It was a rainy Saturday, drenched in love and forgiveness. Pouring love into myself gave me strength and courage. A homecoming was about to happen.
In a way, the Earth provided a washing away of worries for my spirit with each drop that fell.
There are some family members I got together with only three times since March of 2020. Beyond the lockdown, we could not see eye to eye. Emotions stirred within my heart, and I needed time on my own.
A realization came over me during this period in my life. I had never contemplated what it was to be uniquely myself.
Who was this person residing within my soul if not a daughter, wife, and mother?
Never in my life had I stopped to ask these questions. The past two years gave me the gift of silent reflection during daily garden walks, writing down my feelings, and exploring my deepest inner knowing.
During this time, I kept the door to my heart open by letter writing, care packages, handwritten thank you notes, and cards inked in calligraphy. Slowing down my communication allowed me to let go and be at peace.
Saturday was our first family meal in our home since December of 2019. Through giving a garden tour to our loved ones, I walked in understanding. My mission in this lifetime is to learn to love everyone, as they are pieces of me.
Having a conversation in the present moment is beautiful because you let go of your response or how you will be percieved. You are in the now.
Each moment felt surreal, as if I had stepped into a different dimension. I was vastly different; my spirit had grown into my heart.
Taking the time to individuate was the key to beginning my healing. It is a continual process, and the work is still here. Yet, I know how to step on the path when I need it.
Today I saw a lovely sight. A few rare pink blossoms stood out on our dogwood tree. I was like these flowers, standing out-yet wanting to be accepted. Accepting myself has made all the difference.
My wish for you today is to find an extra dose of love for yourself. We all care so much for others, as they are part of ourselves. However, we must take the time to fill our hearts with appreciation for who we are becoming, moment by moment. Give yourself the gift of a silent walk, quiet contemplation, or journaling to end the day. You deserve to look after yourself as a precious jewel.
This week’s theme is:
Your Self-Love Journey
Do you have a story of appreciation for yourself? Who are you becoming? How can you love yourself more?
We look forward to your stories, poems, articles and essays this week and beyond. There are no deadlines on weekly themes.
A huge shout-out to my lovely co-editor, Lorena of Sharing Randomly. She always has great ideas of monthly challenges and does a great job editing and publishing your stories. Thank you, Lorena, for being awesome!
June Monthly Challenge:
Lorena of Sharing Randomly has a fun challenge for you this month- it has to do with your beloved pets!
Read more below, and be sure to tag your submission with “monthly challenge.” You have until the end of June to submit your stories to Thank You Notes.
A Loving Note From Trista Signe Ainsworth:
Dear Lovely Readers and Writers,
During today’s garden stroll I came upon this half-ripened strawberry. It made me smile brightly thinking about its beauty. In a way, we are all becoming our best selves one day at a time, just like a berry ripening on the vine.
As I contemplate this, I give myself grace.
I am still catching up with all of your lovely comments from last week’s newsletter. I am not sure where the time went, yet I savor each moment reading your stories after responding.
Everything happens in due time, just like dreams. As ideas unfold in my life, I find excitement with each new day. I wish you the same in your life. May you always greet the morning with joy and grace.
With love,
Trista
Thank you to our lovely writers for their stories this week! You always surprise and delight us with your appreciation for everything in life!
Sade Tolani Thank you, Sade, for your daily wisdom and joy! I love your three-line letters, especially this one:
Ipshita Guha Ipshita, I love your story about creating for joy’s sake! It really spoke to me as this is how I love to create. Thank you for your wisdom!
Annelise Lords Thank you, Annelise, your beautiful story of miracles spoke directly to my heart! Thank you for creating such vivid stories!
A Rustic Mind (Manali Desai) Thank you, Manali, for sharing such a lovely story about how a stranger helped you in your hour of need!
Amanda Laughtland Thank you, Amanda, for sharing those small moments that deserve our appreciation in life. You inspire me to soak it all in!
Sally Prag Thank you, Sally, for this lovely story on the appreciation of rain. I am so very grateful for every drop!
Sevgi Ikinci Thank you, Sevgi, for sharing a lighter story of apprecation to tickle our funny bone! It was so hilarious!
Thank you to all of our Thank You Notes writers!
Jess L, Christala Rosina, Mark Tulin, Sevgi Ikinci, Diana Holland, Jeanine Tew, A. N. Tipton, Mohini Vats, Victoria Gregg, Ipshita Guha, Helen Miao Yu, Ketki Palande,Joanne Olivieri, Agnes Eveline Anton, Barb Dalton, Josh Balerite Acol, Kim Zuch, Sandra, L.L. Kirchner,Melissa Gouty, Robin Oakman, Noorain Ali, Melissa Herb, Lady Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Brittany Renee, KM Fullerton Bridie D, Alison Levine, Drashti Shroff, Uwem Daniels, Jesse Wilson, Maia Thom, Emily Forman, Gaurav Jain, Rodney Brazier, Carrie Kolar, Tamil, Bingz Huang, Danielle Hestand, Liberty Forrest, Author, Maria H. Khan, Umme Salma, Rachel Idi, Sheryll James, Robert “Robbie” Walker, Kelly Aluna Martone, Sade Tolani, Adrienne Parkhurst, Fit$, Sally Prag, Elin Melaas, Monoreena Acharjee Majumdar, Pam Lilak, Sorina Raluca Băbău, Tonya S. Ware, Aemen Farooq, Brown Boi, Carrie, Lucia Landini, Karen Schwartz, Karen Madej, Winston, Dazzling Shene, Norlisa Alias, Donnette Anglin, Penelope Mayfield, Pierce McIntyre, Amanda Laughtland, Neha Sandhir S, Shivi Puri, Adelia Ritchie, Amy Marley, Anthony O’Dugan, A Rustic Mind (Manali Desai), Ashley Nicole, Aurora Eliam, CMP, Kris Bedenian, Bob Jasper, Bhavna Narula, B.R. Shenoy, Brajendra Kumar, Carolyn Hastings, Destiny S. Harris, Gurpreet Dhariwal, Scot Butwell, VIRGO, Donna Brown, Desiree Driesenaar, Elle How, Ellie Jacobson ✍🏻, Fiza Ameen, Gauri Sirur, Ija Mei, Indubala Kachhawa, Jenine Bsharah Baines, JoAnn Ryan, John C. Davis, Juana Flor, Pene Hodge, Katie Michaelson, Kyomi O’Connor, Lanu Pitan, Lucia Sugafield, Maryam B. Mirza, Mark Hackett, Mulan, Natalie B. Kemp, Niru, palvi sharma, Penofgold, Dr. Preeti Singh, Sanjit Sengupta, Sara Ali, Susan Poole, Shirley Jones Luke, Sahil Patel, Annelise Lords, Tree Langdon, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Yana Bostongirl, Dee S White, Deborah Barchi, Sharing Randomly, Nancy Blackman, Haley Whitehall, Arbab Z., Jess L, Christala Rosina, Sevgi Ikinci
