Excerpts From "My Favorite Moment of the Day" Journal

How I love to write!

I keep a daily diary, a Morning Pages Journal, random journals and a gratefulness diary.

For 2017 I decided to swap my gratefulness diary for a new one I found while shopping one day:  My FAVORITE Moment of the Day JOURNAL.

By now most of us know that GRATITUDE is an intentional appreciation of what you have or what has been given to you.

Several studies show that people who practice gratitude daily are more likely to live healthier lifestyles, improve sleep, lower stress, report more happiness and optimism and even strengthen connections with others.  

But, it seems we're not actually wired to be grateful.  It's so easy to fall into negative thinking and let stress play havoc with one's body and mental attitude.  

I've found it takes practice. 

First, I started with a GRATITUDE JOURNAL.  At the beginning it was tough to come up with even five items, especially if it had been a tough day.  Then it got easier and then so easy that I had to EDIT my list to keep it to "just 25."

When I discovered this journal it forced me to think about "the" best moment of  "this" day--no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it might  appear.  At first just selecting "the moment" was daunting but it forced me to reflect upon my day and recall "a favorite moment."  Here are some excerpts.

Monday, Jan. 9, 2017

A "sweatshirt warm" afternoon with time to be outside to take down the lights and bring in the Cmas decor.

Ken helped me gather up the stuffed animals we set up on the front porch in all the furniture.  We were laughing that our "three" original animals have somehow multiplied!  

It curiously seems that our house is some kind of "rescue site" for homeless stuffed animals!

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017

Waking with art to create and a day set aside exclusively for ART is a piece of heaven!!  Best moment when Ken outside on the deck with me figuring out how to assemble the new sander while I tinkered with all my found metal pieces to re-design using my slumped blue bottles.

The sun was shining, the work intriguing--and, all was perfect in my world.









Friday, Mar. 24, 2017

Dressed warmly for brisk morning walk and joyfully realized mid-walk that the trail was totally empty of other walkers and bikers!

How energizing and uplifting to have it all to myself!  I could pause--even stop to gaze or take a photo without fear of a bike racing up behind me.

What a wonderful walk!!




Friday, April 28, 2017

So often forecasts are simply predictions that don't come true--and, when they do it's a sweet and marvelous thing!!

And, when it arrives even earlier than predicted I am in AWE!

First, RAIN and then big wet flakes of snow that limited our view to the pond!

A lovely wet spring snow!!!


Thursday, May 4, 2017

Tumi was lying on the garage floor apparently just waiting for me to find "him!"

When Tumi disappeared last Tuesday I was swept with sadness as I had attached it to every purse I carried since receiving it as a "good luck" symbol from Susan upon her return from Machu Picchu.

I loved its symbolism and polished golden sheen!  When I found it missing I was trying to convince myself that "he" was needed elsewhere and to "let it go" gracefully.

And, then, today, here it is!  HOW it got to the middle of the garage floor will remain a mystery.  Ken thinks maybe "he" walked home!

Sunday, June 25, 2017

How wonderful to be at the cabin and take the vintage Honda 90s for a little spin.

Riding them is like a true time capsule for me as I learned to drive on these very motorcycles when I was in junior high!

It's so green and lush.  The sun, wind, drama skies and fresh mountain air all mine!

Saturday, July 15, 2017

When I play the piano it's like saying goodbye to the concept of time.  It's very much like when I am creating art and I look up and surprised a couple of hours are gone. 

I like feeling my fingers on the keys, sitting in a quiet space, creating the best music I can sight read.






Monday, Aug. 21, 2017

Photo by Stephan Morin

Seeing 98% eclipse of the sun today with Mom, Dad and Ken at the cabin, all wearing the glasses Dad got for us months ago and sitting on folding chairs on the driveway.

It was amazing to behold!!

To witness the light change in the yard as the sun disappeared was breathtaking.  

What a solar event to be part of!!


Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017

Returning to a place that we called home for many years is quite an emotional experience.

This portion of campus that is now "Baker Commons" is an area that we both know and love so well.  

As I sat under the tent, grateful for the shade on such a hot muggy day, I was overwhelmed with pride for Ken and so very grateful for those who came to cut the ribbon with us--especially the students.

Monday, Oct. 30, 2017

Duck Harbor Beach at sunset has got to be one of THE most beautiful places in the world!! 

The rosy light, big crashing waves, lots of foam, spray, roaring cold wind--and, all this beauty filling me up to near giddiness!!

As I reached to pick up a stone at water's edge, a sneaky wave caught me in its lacy foam and I laughed scampering to "dry" sand.

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017

The Rescue

Today at GWH (Good Will Hunting) I encountered a yellow paper lion with a messed up clock inside.  The clock hands were bent, the clock battery corroded and it had missing "paper fur."  Quite the battered wall clock.

I took a photo, admired it a moment longer and put it back on the shelf.  As I turned to my cart to continue down the aisle I made a drastic mistake.  I looked back.

Those eyes--so beseeching. "Take me with you," it seemed to whisper.  "You can repair me, fix me.  Heck, you even have hand-made paper you can dye to just the right hue to fix my fur."  And, with that "Leo" hopped right into my cart and came home.


[Author's note:  With the help of my Dad, an avid clock repair person, Leo is happily ticking and keeping time in our home.  Leo was correct.  I did have the paper and paint to fix his fur.  And, he is a joyful clock!]

Leo, the happy working lion-clock.

 Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017

We built a bed today!  Just us and a silly wrench and ratchet-type tool that were included with the frame and bed parts along with a most deceptive instruction manual.

We put the pieces together, step-by-step, re-adjusting, re-attaching, slowly, carefully until by 10 p.m. the new mattress was in the frame and all it needed was the new linens and bedding!

Such tedious work, but we slept that night in a bed WE built!!!

As 2017 draws to an end, I was pleased to find another Favorite Moment Journal in which I can reflect upon each day and recall "that" moment which was so special that it ranks as "the" moment.

I am curious, though, that the emphasis in the 2018 journal is on MOMENT.  On the 2017 cover it is FAVORITE.

This should be fun to explore, page by page, day by day.