Jenneth

Photo of about four bright pink roses in a vase on a table, all pointing in different directions

If everything's good and it′s great /
Why do I sit and wait 'til it′s gone?
From "Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone

Small cast iron skillet inside a warmly lit oven containing an egg, red bell pepper, tomato, and kale mixture

Photo of a longboard in a patch of grass next to a sidewalk

Be brave enough to suck at something new.

Photo depicts a plate with twice slices of buttered toast and a small bowl of butternut squash soup, decorated with seeds.

Soup.

Close-up image of beef stew with carrots, chickpeas, and dried seaweed

Today is soup. Today, I am soup Therefore, I eat soup.

from The Handbook of Positive Psychology, 2002

"The motivational component in hope theory is
agency—the perceived capacity to use one’s
pathways so as to reach desired goals." Snyder et al

Photo of a clear glass of coffee poured over a scoop of mint chocolate ice cream.

Pursue joy.

Close-up photograph of a pink flower speckled by little rays of sun.

Savor the moment.

I really love this analogy, and I still haven't mastered the art of turning into a spin. On icy roads, or otherwise.

A whimsical photograph of wooden lattice with a dozen brightly colored pinwheels

Nothing is universal.

Image shows a traditional Japanese dessert, hanami dango, which consists of a skewer of three iconic spherical mochi in green, white, and pink. Hanami means "flower viewing," and refers to admiring sakura (cherry blossoms) in spring months. The dango is resting on a napkin on a stone table. In the background, a large window overlooks the moss garden at Hakone Museum of Art in Gora.

Five things you see. Four things you can touch. Three things you can hear. Two things you can smell. One thing you can taste. Hanami dango.

Image of an outdoor escalator surrounded by a glass tube, which is supported by a white steel frame.

Escalator near Fuji Television Network building, Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan

A close-up photo of a small tree branch bursting with tiny flowers in various shades of pink.

"Bloom where you're planted." Adaptability is a vital skill, and it does not negate basic needs, such as physical and psychological safety and social support.

Photo depicts a mug with painted flowers and "Grow with the Flow." The mug contains a slightly greenish-tinted, frothy warm beverage made with oat milk and warming spices.

Take time to rest and recharge. Your value is not determined by your productivity.

Macro photo of a miniature antique-style patio table and chairs, big enough to probably fit on an outstretched hand, placed in a barren garden bed

Slow down. Appreciate the tiniest sources of joy in your life.

Closure can look like:
Acknowledging that you did your best and the outcome is outside of your control

I call this one: Burning the Midnight Candle, or Insomnia Sucks. [Image is a close-up photo of a burning candle surrounded by complete darkness]

My chiropractor asked me yesterday what I was doing to manage back pain. Breathing and trying to relax more, I said to him. "So, you're trying to treat pain with willpower?"

[Image: close-up photo of a white Husky-mix dog sleeping on a sofa in an upside-down position. The image is rotated to 90 degrees counterclockwise in order to increase the absurdity of the dog's chosen sleeping position.]

"Joy is the most vulnerable emotion we feel." -Brené Brown
[Image of a selectively blurred page from Dare to Lead, from a section about joy as it relates to shame]

"What will people think?" -Perfectionism
[Image shows the corner of a notebook with notes from Brené Brown's book, Dare to Lead, about perfectionism. There is a warm orange candle in the background and a bottle of essential oil called Pep Talk by Aura Cacia]