Look Back, Celebrate, Move Forward
Take Pen to Paper: Edition
Welcome to October, Pen to Paper readers!
It’s time for change.
A year ago, I wrote about change in this newsletter. you need to go back to my second and third posts to read them. Fall seems to be a timely season to write about change.
In this newsletter:
Look where you were.
Celebrate the change.
Keep moving forward.
Look back and take note at the change.
Some change is obvious. Some is subtle. Some change will happen whether we like it or not. And some we have to work hard to make happen.
I’ve seen change in my newsletter in the short span of a year.
You can do the same looking back at yourself one year ago, five years ago, or twenty years ago.
Celebrate positive change.
You have changed from who you were in the past. Living in the past serves no purpose. Take control by intentionally using your past to shape your future.
Look at your past, recognize the good changes, and know more change is possible. You are in control of what you change.
Practicing gratitude taught me about controlling the change I wanted. I wanted to feel happier. I wanted to be a source of happiness. With intention, I took the actions necessary to change.
Positive change must be celebrated!
Celebrating small, intentional changes reminds us we are on the right path.
“The macro truth of our life is reflected in the day to day. Everything has a time limit, an expiration date, a time for fundamental change. Many of these moments are lost in busyness unless I capture them in my journal.” -Adam Ullrich
My “macro truth” is reflected in my journal and newsletter. In some ways, they have turned into part memoirs.
It feels good to look back, recognize the change, and celebrate.
Forward movement requires action.
Celebrations are fun. What comes next?
If you don’t take action, you may revert to old ways. Action must continue after the celebration.
My journaling habit plays a big role in this. Journaling records my thoughts at a given moment. I’m documenting change for myself. I keep up with my actions, progress, or lack of progress.
It’s easy to be side-tracked by default habits or old ways. That means straying from the path of successful change.
I was almost side-tracked today by my default behaviors.
I considered skipping the art class I signed up for. I knew I could apply the payment to a future class (that is dangerous information for a homebody like me). There were many things I could stay home and do. Of course, they were all solo activities.
I used my morning journaling to help me decide.
Journaling helps me problem-solve. I journaled about going to art class, starting with the pros and cons, which led to the why. Why did I need to go? I signed up to try new experiences, learn, and meet new people. Art class is one strategy I’m using to change.
I needed to go to art.
I know what it’s like to do my favorite activities at home. I want to increase the time spent doing my favorite activities with others. The new me goes to art and has fun with new friends.
Journaling helped me consider my past self and pushed me to take the steps I needed for continued change.
When I take the time to look back at my past, I want to see the positive change in who I am and what I’ve done, no matter how small.
After you look back and recognize your change, be sure to celebrate.
Then, take the next step to keep moving forward.
7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good:
I got the idea for this post from seeing a picture with this caption: “My kids found a picture of me from (1985) with Eddie Van Halen, where I look 12, and he looks 14, and I thought, ‘What a cool life I’ve lived, where my kids can find a picture of me with Van Halen on the internet.’ It’s like looking back on footprints in the sand. LOOK WHERE I’VE BEEN.” -Michael J. Fox
This article tells some practical ways to use journaling to problem solve.
It’s good to reflect on how you have changed. It may inspire you to change in other ways.
I’m grateful that journaling, reading, and sharing remind me to continue working to change.
Even places and things can say, “Look where I’ve been.” This story tells of a ‘history storyteller’ who tells the stories of Victorian tenement houses in Edinburgh, Scotland.
I spent my childhood moving back and forth between the Mid-Atlantic and Deep Southern states of the U.S. I understood this article about having an accent that made me stand out among my peers and, sadly, the sigma accompanying an accent. But I never wanted to change mine.
I admire Michael J. Fox for his openness in dealing with Parkinson’s. I do not have the streaming service required to watch his movie Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, but I found this article for you to read.
Thank you for reading!
I hope you are celebrating the small changes in your life AND taking your next step.
💚
Susan
I would love to hear your thoughts on change. Leave me a comment. I respond to all comments.
Do you know someone on a journey to change. Share this newsletter with them.