WEEK TWO UPDATE:
The recipient of this week’s Petal of Appreciation is…me, myself, and I!
This week I made a list of all the people I wanted to thank during this campaign. Some I’ve already sent letters to or written blog posts about, so I looked inward and realized how little I appreciate and value the one within. I wrote this blog entry with some reservations:
- Would readers think me egotistical or self-serving?
- Am I merely looking for praise and compliments?
- Does admitting my perceived weaknesses devalue my strengths?
I’ll admit it – a “Yes” to any of the above questions could cause me to stumble slightly on my personal journey. However, I’m thankful that I reached a point where other’s opinions do not affect me as much as they used to. Sure, I want people to like me and think highly of me, but I’ve finally realized that I must focus on what I think about myself. My self-opinion is most important, and when I reflect poorly on my choices, actions, or ideas then the task is mine alone to undertake.
I can write paragraph after paragraph about my gratitude and respect for people in a particular profession (teachers, writers, actors), but writing one sentence about the person in the mirror involved way too much use of the backspace button. As a result, I switched to writing long-hand.
I wrote out a Thank You card to myself and sealed it so that I can open it when I’m feeling ungrateful, disappointed, or forlorn. Bestowing a petal of appreciation to me, myself, and I provided enough inspiration and motivation to get creatively unstuck as I keep moving forward!
*Who did you thank this week? Did you send a Thank You card/letter to someone who made a positive impact on your life? Did you comment on a blog post or social media status update? Did you text, call, or video chat with a dear friend?*
Kelly Deeny 