Morning Pages – “Gratitude vs Not-so much”

Morning Pages   *                                                   “Gratitude vs Not-so much”

 I’ve been trying to get back into the habit of journaling every day, so back to “Morning Pages”, a suggested way to start each day as the very first thing, journaling & preparing for the day, both mentally and spiritually as well as developing the habit of writing each day.

Since the time constraint of ‘first thing’ was important,  I was getting up before Josh, staying in my room to journal my ‘morning pages’; not even coming in to put coffee on! (Pat me on the back!) Actually it was very nice.

So it seems this ‘morning pages’ thing only works well when I awaken before Josh…  However, today, sleeping in ‘til 7:30 brings me to now…9 o’clock!  Oh well… now that the morning routine of Buddy out for his duty, Pita fed, Fish fed, Birds fed, Outdoor cat family fed, Buddy back in – all has been accomplished, I really can take a moment for ‘morning pages’ even tho’ I don’t really feel I’m preparing mentally or spiritually for the day, since ‘the day’ started before I got to write the first word.

But now, what to write? Blank brain staring at blank page remembers to ‘Practice Gratitude’. That’s always a good start:  Prayer and praise first thing in the morning usually starts before I get out of bed, so I’m already set up for a gratitude attitude, thankfully.

Gratitude 1:     How nice when it rains at night after I’m all tucked in, safe and sound in my jammies, watching Masterpiece on PBS, instead of having dealt with rain during the day when I had to go out. \0/

Gratitude 2:     How nice when I don’t have to drag the hose out in the morning when I go out to feed & put fresh water out for the birds & cats and to water the garden because the rain did for me what I now don’t have to do. \0/

Gratitude 3:       Buddy’s already up, done his dooty, and seems to be feeling better. \0/

Gratitude 4:   I’m feeling better after so much pain last night… \0/

NOT-so Gratitudinous 1:     It’s too wet to sit outside with my coffee, books, birds, fish & cats this morning! And that’s become a really lovely way to start each day. (Warning, Me: Bordering on ‘bummer’ attitude here.)

NOT-so Gratitudinous 2:     After settling down to write ‘morning pages’, Pita is demanding my attention like he does when he wants to go outside.  I stop what I’m doing [since him sitting on the keyboard kinda dampens production] and follow him to the door, put on his leash, open the door and he does his catly ‘pause, look around, take time to decide if this is what he really wants’ then…

…the new feral cat, Honey, seizes the opportunity and runs in… while Pita panics & tangles himself in the nearby chair legs. Poor little deaf dog, Buddy, stands in the way, looking on best he can with his little cataract eyes, bewildered, while I slam the door, grab Honey and put him back outside, untangle Pita and put him out with his catly cousins… Whew ! That was exhausting!

Poor little Buddy follows me back to my desk & lies on his pillow.  \0/   

Oh, my goodness !  Time consuming distractions… Acceptance is the key, as they say!    So much for ‘time constraints’. 

But 4 Gratitudes outweigh 2 Not-so-Gratitudinouses  –  Right?

 

HINDSIGHT -or- INSIGHT ?

 

Wow! That’s an invitation to TALAT ! (Take A Look At That) –

Funny how journaling something can bring about a TALAT!

That whole interruption was actually kinda funny, but I was so bent on ‘DOING’ what I was sure God would have me to to be ‘productive’, etc., I missed the JOY of these darling companions and their antics.  I wonder how much joy I miss every day because I am so fixed on ‘agenda’.   

Things that make me go “Hmmm”. You know the funny thing is I’m actually working on an article right now about troubleshooting when things aren’t “just right” and how we can TALAT (take a look at that).  Maybe I should pay attention to what I write… Duh!

Thanks for visiting & come back soon.

Continue to Bless and Be Blessed.