Why keep a Gratitude Journal at all? (This is the saaaaaame intro for every Gratitude Journal entry. It’s here for the newbies to the journey.)
I try to start everyday with a Grateful heart. *duck face* Potna, I ain’t lying. You can check my IG accounts Queen/King. I get a lil raunchy on the Multiple_Sclerosis_Outlaw but I’m calmer, gentle with allthingsonelove. On both, I start my day sharing Gratitudes, stories of Gratitude and anything related to being Grateful. I’m dead ass serious about my Gratitudes because it keeps me present and accountable for my own energy. I recognize and appreciate the actions, words and energy of others intending me good. By starting my day with Gratitude, I have less MS pain, MS symptoms and MS depression because I’m actively pushing my thoughts towards in a positive direction of Gratitude. My relationships with others are stronger because my Grateful ass notices what others do for me, to me, WITH me. *bows* I could go on and on and on and on about the benefits of being purposefully grateful buuuuuut… *whispers* Pssst, you know I wrote about it…
link to How I Know Gratitude Works!
Why I chose THIS to start my day…
Yesterday was tough. Tough AF. My Multiple Sclerosis was on FIRE and I felt it all kinds of ways. Today, I rose with a fresh bounce and knew it was gonna be a better day. I immediately gave thanks for THAT energy, sign, feeling. Truth be told, I gave a sweet, silent props to my MOMMA for sending me those 800mg anti-inflammatories. That was probably the biggest reason for my speedy recovery from a day of symptoms and pain. How many do I take? Of course, you want to know, it only makes sense. I took 4 around 9am. I forget I even had those doggone pills until my wife reminded me which earned her a S/O as well. Bout 2 hours after the pills, I was feeling a lot better. I didn’t have the electrical shocks, zinging and zapping along my left arm, preventing me from controlling from my fingers. My neck wasn’t terrorized by the neurosis/neuropathy (Nope, I still don’t which it is but it hurts like a 7 of 10.). It was a better morning. I did take 2 more pills after 9pm because they were obviously working and 12hrs is my standard waiting time between doses.
The image tho. *looking lost* I saw a crown on Pinterest and took off. I chose the 3 words, authenticity, inner strength and Gratitude for different reasons, same message. Authenticity because a few people sent me PMs wishing me good luck, turbo healing and telling me they admired my “realness”. I don’t lie or sugarcoat about this life with MS and that’s why they find strength in my blog, account, posts, etc. I chose inner strength because of yesterday’s “MS-y” day. After I made that post hinting/detailing my situation, I completed my 8hr shift/training and even led the introductory activities. Gratitude because weeeeell, that is just me.
Now, on the Gratitudes of the day!
#SaluteMyAssOff to Saturdays.
3.) Completed my first 40hr “work week” since January 2019! 💻 WHOOOOOOSAAAAAH!!!! *collapses* Chhhiiiilld. I don’t care WHAT you heard. I ain’t STUDDEN your cousin’s job over in so-in-so. YES, I’m grateful AF to have a work-from-home job because some people yada yada yada. Maybe it’s the MS but ya boi be tired than a MUG after the work shift. 40hours is 40 hours and these trainings are moving FAST jack. I take notes (Yup. CORNELL notes just like I pumped as an AVID-certified, middle school teacher in Houston, Texas. *wink*) but between the speed, rhetoric, sheer AMOUNT of information and computer technical issues, I stayed behind. None of that touched my spirit and even helped me win the day. I knew I was finishing my first 40hrs, getting paid, learning an employable skill and placing a piece for the summer move. Grateful homie. Grateful that working from home means no missed day. Grateful that working from is NOT commission only! Grateful I can spend some money on my wife and kids!
2.) S/O to that Cauliflower Pizza! That mug hit tha SPOT. 🍕🍕 My wife is ALWAYS trying something out on me, a recipe, an herb, some liquid. Most of the tryouts work out and this veggie pizza made by the company, Cauliflower, was no exception. It wasn’t an A food or even a B but it sho deserved a mid C, maybe a C+. The entire flavor had a “bean” undertone to the taste and that may sound bad to you but I’m a 4 year veteran of the “meat substitute” industry. I don’t have those mediocre expectations of the products and options. I expect bad so when it’s average, I am pleasantly surprised. Today exemplified that process and train of thought. Back to the pizza,
it filled my aching tummy. I must’ve eaten 3/4th of the thing by myself before I realized how fast I was destroying it! It filled my aching tummy and (this is BIG) didn’t give me any stomach cramps, runs, whistles, gas, nothing. I’ve told the people before, my plumbing was the first thing to fall off with MS. I am uniquely aware when something I eat does me wrong and the cauliflower pizza was cool beans.
1.) A hundred thanks for the clean shave. NO cuts at ALL. 🤓🤓🤓 *deep breathe* I talked all that jazz and swag about growing dreadlocks. I wanted to be Mr. Long-Hair-Don’t-Care, Playa-rrific, Girl-Yo-Daddy-Fine Daddy buuuuuut NO. On day three, I couldn’t take the itching, scratching, stubble, impending hair bumps and general slouchy look. I went bald to prevent any hair loss due to MS drugs in late 2016. Since then, I’ve secretly fantasized about dreadlocks, the lack of care, freedom of time and everything stereotypical of dreadlocks’ lifestyle and grooming. I set the date of Sept. 30, 2020, I would stop shaving my head, grow REAL dreads and be done with all the cuts, grooming habits and investments in razors, cream, ointments, etc. My wife and kids watched with rolling eyes. “Daddy, you ain’t gon grow NAN dread because you think you too pretty.”
I didn’t. I skipped two days of shaving, got frustrated with the soreness & tenderness of that LITTLE bit of hair and shaved. I’m grateful because I’ve missed two days before. Everytime I do, I cut myself a FEW times with clogged up razor blades, pressing too hard to clear a tedious spot or just rushing. I gave a pep talk before slapping on the cream, lathering up my head, face, neck and slowly gliding up and down in the opposite direction of my hair patterns. (Opposite makes your shave closer!) At the end, no cuts! GRATITUDE FOR THAT IMPECCABLE SHAVE AT THE MOST VULNERABLE MOMENT!
