I hope this message has found you at a good place in your life; if this is not a good place in your life, I hope it gets better for you sooner rather than later. I wrote this last, but I’m going to move it to the top so that more of you see it. I know I’ve written a long one here.
This email has been on my to-do list for a few weeks now—I got my selection email on March 4—but I haven’t made time for it because I haven’t figured out what to say. I’m making time now, during downtime at work, without a plan or an idea. I’m just winging it.
I was chosen for the listserve maybe 12 years ago, and I only got a handful of replies. I worked so hard on that letter! But ultimately I knew that I didn’t say anything that insightful or meaningful or apparently, relatable.
Since then I’ve survived cancer four times, lost all or part of thirteen organs, lost my mother, lost my stepfather, lost one of my closest friends from high school, lost a turtle, four cats, and two dogs, broken my leg, and more.
I’ve learned that bad things happen to everyone. We all need to be understanding and caring of each other because we *do* know what we’re all going through. It’s life, and it’s rough. We all love and we all lose. We just have to keep going no matter what, because it’s the only option.
I’ve been journaling a lot more this year, and reading about journaling and boundaries and self-help. I now also have a journal that is only for this—each day I record 3 lines, as follows:
1. a task I completed
2. a boundary I kept
3. a kindness I offered
I’ve kept it up daily since December 7, and I’ve become more conscious of my boundaries and my kindnesses, as well as more aware of the number of tasks I actually do complete. I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely for me.
I think that’s about enough from me for now. I’d love to hear back from you.
Peace,
April
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