The Power of Better

The Power of Better

Happy Thursday! Yes, I’m in a good mood. No epic fails this week. In fact, it’s been a good week and I’ve made a discovery I’d like to share with you.

Last week, we moved into the season of Lent.

I usually give up something for Lent, but this year I decided to add something.

As you may recall, my New Year’s theme for this year is #better: striving to be content if every day is only a little BETTER. I decided to amplify that notion for the next forty days and created a #better journal.

The results have been surprising.

In some respects, it’s like a gratitude journal—with a different slant.

When I record one way my life was better each day, I am grateful, of course. But beyond gratitude, “better” gives a sense of forward motion, of how improvement was made in one specific way. And, with that daily journaling commitment, I’ve discovered, an expectation is set:

I can trust that in at least one way, life will be better.

Eleanor Roosevelt may have said it best:

When I take the time to write down what has been better about the day, it feels like I’m lighting one small candle. Most of the day may have been like Alexander and his Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad Day (by Judith Viorst). But, if one small thing made it better, why not note it? Celebrate it? Light a candle with it?

Push away the darkness with it.

Here are a few of my #better moments so far:

March 1: Rachel (my sister) helped me unpack my suitcase after my California trip.

March 2: The water came back on (after a water main break).

March 3: Madison smiled in our FaceTime chat.

March 4: I emailed over 200 residential and day program providers (who knew there were that many!) to see if they had an opening for Madison.

March 6: I received twelve positive responses from my emails!

March 7: Found out some fabulous news for Peter! (Some birthday wishes do come true!)

That lit up my week!

But no matter what tomorrow brings, I know I will at least find one thing that is better.

How about you? Have you had any #better moments? What candle lit up the darkness for you? Tell me about it. I’d love to know.

My best–always,

Becky  (Nana B)

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