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Across the Fence:  Work on Gratitude badge together...  |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
725 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
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 Posted - Jan 28 2012 : 06:20:36 AM
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I have attempted the Beginners Gratitude badge many times but have yet to complete it. It seems like one of the easiest badges to work on but usually about 3-4 days into it I forget to write a daily note and start over and so on. I thought maybe we could work on it together. If you are needing this badge join me here daily for the next 30 days. I will be working on this until February 29 but if you get started later just continue on until your month is done.
Here are the requirements for this badge:
9. Farmgirl Gratitude
Beginner Level
• Write a gratitude journal every day for a month. Don’t
repeat the same gratitude more than once to qualify for this
merit badge.
• Read, The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha, one entry, once a
day, to help you appreciate the simple things.
I got The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha for my kindle through Amazon. I'll be writing my daily gratitude and then I'll do a virtual reading outloud to you of a section of the book. You can read what ever section you want in your book. I'll just be going in order of the book, not picking out any special passage. You can use whatever format you wish for your posting just be sure to post everyday and include your gratitude and the title of your reading passage. If you joined in on the virtual reading outloud just list the title of the passage or you could put "listened outloud". This will be an honor system. Nobody is going to go back and check that you posted daily. This is your badge, so if you don't mind others knowing what you are thankful for join me here daily for a dose of gratitude. What do you say? How about a couple hundred of us apply for the Beginner level Farmgirl Gratitude badge on March 01, 2012.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
Edited by - EastTXFarmgirl on Jan 28 2012 06:45:33 AM |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
725 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
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Posted - Jan 28 2012 : 06:29:48 AM
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January 28, 2012
I am so grateful for mornings that don't start with an alarm. When you wake up from the warm glow of the bright morning sun peeping through the bedside window.
Today's read: Intergenerational dancing
Have you ever felt too old or too young on the dance floor? Maybe you and your husband signed up for a Saturday morning ballroom dancing class and noticed everyone else arriving on a shuttle bus from the old folks’ home. Or maybe you surprised your wife with a romantic date night on your tenth wedding anniversary and accidentally stumbled into a local college hotspot full of white baseball caps, bead necklaces, and Jell-O shooters. Or maybe you just found out the hard way that All-Ages usually means All-Underagers. I mean, if you’ve ever found yourself saying “Man, I feel old here,” or “Does anyone else smell Ben-Gay?” then you know what I’m talking about. It’s not that people of different age groups don’t socialize, it’s just that they don’t often groove to the same beats is all. I think that’s why wedding dance floors are a real sight. They’re a breeding ground for that amazing intergenerational dancing that’s just so rare and beautiful to see. You’ve got grandmas slow-dancing with their five-year-old grandchildren to “What a Wonderful World,” old men crowd-surfing over a pack of sweaty teenagers, snaking conga lines of all shapes and sizes, and circles forming around anyone who happens to be doing something interesting— whether that’s a father-and-daughter team waltzing in circles or a slightly inebriated bridesmaid shaking her booty with a ninety-year-old great-grandpa in a wheelchair. Yes, intergenerational dancing is a rare and wonderful thing. It’s a magical moment where boundaries are broken and the thumping power of music sort of sweeps us all together into a tiny little place where everything’s just cast aside in favor of living for the moment. AWESOME!
Pasricha, Neil (2011-03-01). The Book of Awesome (pp. 11-12). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
Edited by - EastTXFarmgirl on Jan 29 2012 05:56:05 AM |
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Tea Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
645 Posts
Lorraine
Morris
IL
USA
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Posted - Jan 28 2012 : 06:48:52 AM
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Thanks for doing this Victoria - great idea.
I'll participate and would love to get my gratitude badge. I have a gratitude journal and am also somewhat sporatic in keeping up with it. This is a perfect motivator for me. Thanks again.
I love today's reading. Its so true and it made me smile.
Lorraine
(aka Tea Lady)
Farmgirl #1819
www.birdsandteas.com |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
725 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
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Posted - Jan 28 2012 : 06:58:18 AM
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Great Lorraine, just post your daily gratitude at some point today and then daily for the next month and let's get this done. I'll be back tomorrow.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
Edited by - EastTXFarmgirl on Jan 28 2012 06:59:20 AM |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
7402 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
725 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
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Posted - Jan 29 2012 : 05:55:20 AM
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Thank you CJ. I just needed a little time away to get things into perspective. Being a newbie to a farm of my own was (and at times still is) a little overwhelming and was not going as smoothly as I imagined it would. I think we are getting the hang of this now. The East Texas drought almost wiped us out this past year. The crops were just dying in the fields and there was nothing we could do about it. It has started raining and things are looking up.
I am grateful for eggs. That sounds silly but eggs have kept our family fed and healthy in many cases. When I was in college we did not have money to buy groceries but we were too embarassed to let anyone know. My parents had a small farm and everytime we went to visit a few dozen eggs were sent home with us. We ate eggs 3 meals a day for 2 years (and honestly never tired of them). On morning when I'm running a little behind a couple of scambled eggs smashed between a couple slices of toast can be had in less than 5 minutes. I still get a thrill when I go gather the eggs. Its like little gifts your hens leave for you. And since we free range its kind of like an Easter egg hunt every day.
Today's read: Seeing a cop on the side of the road and realizing you’re going the speed limit anyway Stress level goes up. Stress level goes down. AWESOME!
Pasricha, Neil (2011-03-01). The Book of Awesome (p. 17). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
Edited by - EastTXFarmgirl on Jan 29 2012 10:10:44 AM |
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sjmjgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
352 Posts
Stephanie
Mt. Vernon
Iowa
USA
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Posted - Jan 29 2012 : 09:29:38 AM
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Thanks for this post. Ive been trying to figure out which badge to start with and I think Im gonna swtart with the Gratitude badge. Ive been feeling a little emotionally drained lately and I think this will help. Ive got The Book Of Awesome on iBooks and I also downlaoded a journal app for iPad. Im all set!
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
7402 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
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Tea Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
645 Posts
Lorraine
Morris
IL
USA
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Posted - Jan 29 2012 : 10:02:57 AM
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Victoria - I didn't get back here until this morning. I didn't "get it" that we were going to all utilize this thread as our gratitude journal. This is an even better idea than I originally thought. :o) I write in my gratitude journal at night - but this is easy for me to do. I will start today listing one thing I am grateful for.
Today is easy peasy for me... Its my husband's birthday. I am so grateful to have this wonderful man in my life. We have been married 22 years and I'm still madly in love with him. He is intelligent, compassionate, funny, handsome and hard-working. I have been so blessed to love him and have the love returned. I am truly thankful.
Lorraine
(aka Tea Lady)
Farmgirl #1819
www.birdsandteas.com |
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CountryKim
True Blue Farmgirl
66 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
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Posted - Jan 29 2012 : 10:11:21 AM
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I'd love to join!
Today I am grateful for: The excellent care my mother in law is given. Even though we would love to have her home from the hospital we are thankful for the doctors who are making it possible for her to come home soon!
Kim
Forever farmgirl
http://throughethelseyes.blogspot.com/ |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
725 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
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Posted - Jan 29 2012 : 10:19:07 AM
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Lorraine you can complete your journal however is most comfortable for you. Don't feel you have to post your journal on the thread. I just know for me if I don't do this "outloud" I will never complete it. It's not that I am not thankful and it's not that I don't realize all of the good I have before me. It's that I usually don't stop to write it down. I'll be out in the field and think oh look at that deer playing around the pond. I'm going to use that in my journal tonight. Then tonight rolls around and I am exhausted, I make dinner and plop into bed never giving that journal a second thought as I drift into dream land to prepare for another day. I also thought the daily posting would help others remember to write in their journal.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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Tea Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
645 Posts
Lorraine
Morris
IL
USA
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Posted - Jan 29 2012 : 3:54:47 PM
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Victoria - I agree completely. I start every day by giving thanks for another day - but I sometimes forget to write things in my journal. This is a great reminder. Outloud will work wonderfully. Thanks again. Looking forward to tomorrow's reading. :o)
Lorraine
(aka Tea Lady)
Farmgirl #1819
www.birdsandteas.com |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
725 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
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Posted - Jan 30 2012 : 05:44:59 AM
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Good morning ladies. Welcome Kim. I try to be a good mother in law. I think of Jennifer as my little girl. I think it is wonderful when the wife cares for their mother in law. So many women are jealous and don't get along. That is so hard on the son/husband. So Kim you inspired my gratitude for the day.
I am grateful that I have a daughter-in-law that is kind and caring to my son and to me. We have never had a crossed word and we both think my son is just about it. I love her and I feel she truly loves me.
Today's read: Illegal naps
You know what’s even better than lying on a hammock in the backyard on a sunny Saturday afternoon? Better than catching a few winks after classes before a long night out at the bars? Better than falling asleep on the couch with the baseball game on the radio? You know what’s even better than all that? I’ll tell you what: illegal naps, my friend. Sneaking them in when you ain’t supposed to. Napping any time you know you shouldn’t be napping has a bit of an edgy, dangerous feel to it, like sneaking into a movie, sharing a free-refill soda at a family restaurant, or coming through customs without declaring the new sweater you’re wearing. I’m talking about driving away from work at lunchtime, parking in a nearby parking lot, tilting back your driver’s seat, and sneaking in a little siesta before an afternoon full of meetings. I’m talking about waking up groggily at 11 a.m. after a long night, chomping on handfuls of cold popcorn while surfing the Internet for an hour, then going back to the bedroom to crash all afternoon, building toward that exotic and sinful Day o’ Naps. Yes, I’m talking about the naps you pull off in the bathroom stall at work, the ones at the back of the bus just before your stop, and the naps you take in the middle of a big bout of procrastination before a deadline, when you convince yourself that a quick snooze will give you more energy to finish that big paper due in a few hours. So come on! If you’re with me, then you agree life’s just too short not to sleep when you feel like it. So lower those blinds, unplug that alarm clock, and nap strong, nap long, and nap proud, my friends. AWESOME!
Pasricha, Neil (2011-03-01). The Book of Awesome (pp. 18-19). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.
I really like those Day O' Naps. I get to pull one off about every 6 months.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
Edited by - EastTXFarmgirl on Jan 30 2012 05:57:08 AM |
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Tea Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
645 Posts
Lorraine
Morris
IL
USA
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Posted - Jan 30 2012 : 08:27:10 AM
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Today I am grateful for my "old" job and the flexibility I have working out of my home and setting my own schedule (more or less). This company has been so good to me. They pay me well and allow me the freedom to pursue my dreams of the tea biz - and yet still have this financial safety net. I will also be extremely grateful when this project is over in August and I'll be able to "retire" from this company - but for now, I give thanks for all the good that comes to me through this job.
Lorraine
(aka Tea Lady)
Farmgirl #1819
www.birdsandteas.com |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
725 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
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Posted - Jan 30 2012 : 08:35:18 AM
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Lorraine I don't know why your forum name did not clue me in earlier but today is the first time I have looked at your website. My dream has been to open a tearoom when I retire. I have 5 more years to pay off my house and then I plan to make that step. I'm like you the job I have now is very flexible and the pay is awesome! Can't give it up now but I order alot of tea. My son, my husband and myself are heavy tea drinkers. Still trying to convert my daughter-in-law. I just ordered, in December, a large amount of tea so I won't reorder until about March but I will definately visit your site. I am off of my away from home job today to do some things on the farm and really am having a hard time getting going but I'm off to the greenhouse for the rest of the day. Have a great day and I'll stay in touch.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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Tea Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
645 Posts
Lorraine
Morris
IL
USA
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Posted - Jan 30 2012 : 2:43:27 PM
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Victoria - I sent you an email. So glad to hear you're a tea drinker! I do not own a tearoom - I just sell tea and accessories. I was in a lovely tearoom but they decided to eliminate consignors and change tea vendors to save money. I was disappointed, but it worked out ok. I sell my tea in three places - one being a little coffee house and she serves my tea as well. I also sell at a local farmer's market. Its been very slow growing - but I love it. My tea biz is something I am very grateful for - even though I don't make much money...
Lorraine
(aka Tea Lady)
Farmgirl #1819
www.birdsandteas.com |
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Across the Fence: Work on Gratitude badge together... |
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Work on Gratitude badge together...
