Ten Things of Thankful 165 (Inspiration) #10Thankful

My dearly beloved BlogWife calls me a ‘dog person’. Not that I like dogs particularly, but that there are behaviours of mine which put me firmly in the category of ‘more like a dog than a cat’ (which is how she classifies people (sometimes)). I seem to remember discussions on this point involving things like friendliness, excitability, loyalty, protectiveness…that sort of thing.

I think I’ve discovered another characteristic, which reminds me a little of a very blonde, incredibly silly great-big-bimbo of a golden retriever I once knew – I’m awesome at inventing new games to play, which no-one really wants to play, and end up running around in circles, chasing my metaphorical tail, whining a bit, hoping someone might join in.

Eventually I suppose I’ll mature to the point where I recognise that other people ‘people’ differently than I do, and that in their case, the ‘not doing the shiny new thing immediately right-this-second-now’ is not a rejection or implication of the stupidity of said thing (and by extension, myself), but rather just all the perfectly legitimate whatevers of their worlds which means they have higher priorities/other interests…and I realise this is the written equivalent of me doing that ‘injured to the very soul’ look that dogs do when they’re told it’s NOT time for walkies…but the point is, I’ve been inspired (ah, you see, it begins to make sense) by the perspectives of good friends, and the fact these after-thoughts are even rolling through my mind before I throw myself down in a corner (or take a retaliatory pee on the carpet) is a Pretty Big Deal.

Personal growth, y’all.

I got inspired this week by all kinds of things. I was inspired by the memory of a wonderful evening spent watching the moon and listening to music. I was inspired by the determination and vigour of those who adore the outdoors (I do, I love it, but kind of in a ‘going to visit it then coming back to creature comforts’ kind of a way…definitely NOT in a camping/staying out in it when it’s cold or rainy kind of a way) and I spent an evening in the garden. Well. Part of an evening. Until I got cold. But it was beautiful, and I wanted to share it with everyone who’d care to join in, and so I wrote it…which is pretty much the first thing in ages that I just…wrote. And I really enjoyed it a LOT.

I’ve been thinking a lot about death lately, and even had a remarkably in-depth conversation with a colleague about it, as we sat adjacent to each other and computered away at our grading. We got laughed at a little for not exactly having the most cheerful conversation in the world ever, but as with there being a season for all things, I think there’s a good time for a chat about the time and method of shuffling off the ol’ mortal coil, and certainly to ponder the stuff of what to do with what remains. No conclusions were reached, but it was a good chat, and I think I have more tumbling around in my brain about this, to come out at some point in the undetermined future.

The inspiration of friendship and mutual love and support gave rise (long ago) to a poem, which THIS WEEK was released in a poetry journal (the idea being that blank pages interspersed with verse, inspire YOU to write your own personalised copy of the book and gift it to someone you love, which is a pretty cool idea and NOT one I would ever have thought of – that’s the genius of the ever-savvy poet and BlogHer VOTY winner, HastyWords).

A photo on instagram by Kathleen O’Donnell inspired me to try the most absolutely delicious thing I have NEVER HAD IN MY LIFE (to the utter shock of some, for whom this combination is commonplace) – watermelon with salt sprinkled on it. LOVE IT! Very, very impressed. And will have to be careful not to over-do the salt!

Recipes abounded today, and another colleague inspired me with her very tasty-smelling lunch (I walked into the office from the corridor and the scent of gorgeous scrumptiousness surrounded me, and I HAD to ask who had something to eat that was so yummy-smelling). It was ratatouille, and as something completely perfectly vegan, AND very do-able, AND a recipe I’d forgotten existed, I was delighted to arrange in my mind to cook it for my dinner on Saturday. I was even more delighted when I realised that Mum had remembered I’d offered to cook for her at some point, and that ratatouille will be the perfect thing for us to share, accompanied by allotment potatoes, and maybe-wine, over a game of Scrabble.

A dear friend of mine is WINNING AT LIFE, having submitted a poem for a national competition, she’s THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS, which is huge, and I’m so excited for her. I really want to do more with my poetry, all stacked neatly gathering dustbytes over at the Well Tempered Bards, and there’s one poem which seems to keep getting hits…so I might try that on the Poetry Nook weekly competition, and see whether anything comes of it. Meantime, WELL DONE JESI!

I’m hoping to go on my Gorgeous Long Cycle Ride again this Sunday. Hopefully past experience will inspire me NOT to fall off the bike before the long ride. *sigh*. I’m mostly healed now, though, you’ll (obviously) be thrilled to know, and I have a gloriously vivid pedal-shaped bruise on the back of my thigh, which keeps turning richer shades of brown and purple with yellow edges. Really thrilling.

My mind is beginning to think in a lot of new ways about things, and I think that’s partly due to the mental/emotional ‘space’ I’m enjoying in life right now, and partly due to the influence of good friends (as well as the ever-present interference from my own brain). I found myself occasionally thinking about the Things I Want from life, or from people, and what things I value in friends or (hypothetical) potential partners and…I realised that until I’m happy with how *I* am as a friend, and what *I* offer and can deliver, I really have absolutely no leg to stand on to make any demands of anyone else, hypothetical or otherwise. And there’s always the factor that other people ‘people’ differently than I do, and their approaches and attitudes might not be how I’d do things, but that doesn’t make them invalid or lesser, just…different.

Gotta learn to embrace the different. Whilst trying to make myself into someone I’m happy being.

Step one, and one step at a time after that.

So here’s a game for you, if you’re interested…as well as your thankfuls, jump into social media and share your #RainbowMoments – the things which make your life brighter, more colourful, and more lovely. Hashtag them with #RainbowMoments and tag me, so I can see what you’ve picked. I may even develop it into a one-off linkie thing, so everyone can see all the other rainbows. It’s a good game, I promise…I know you’ll enjoy it *looks hopefully at you*

So, join in, add your Ten, start conversations, and have a FUN WEEKEND! See what inspires you!

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