5, 6, 7, 8, who do we appreciate?!

Me: I have strong legs that can walk miles, and a strong personality that can show through even what I thought was my usual timidity.
Dodger: It's no surprise that we all love you, but you still surprise and delight us all!

Me: I thought about buying a $20 book today, but didn't. I don't pay perfect attention to my finances, but I am aware, and say no to things pretty regularly. Also, I surprise myself at how good I am at keeping in touch with people.

Teresa: You're good at keeping in touch with me.

Me: I have compassion for the underest of underdogs.

Doug: It is underestimated how great your attitude is, especially considering things you may have seen.

Me: I am no longer afraid to cry.

Sloane: Thanks for playing your harp.

4

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
-Mary Oliver
My favorite poem read tonight, I think.

Me: I am playful and light-hearted, always ready to laugh, always hoping to make you laugh, or at least smile.
Melissa: You are so unrestrained in your love for others. How could you not be a favorite of most?

2 and 3

I didn't do this yesterday. I remembered when I laid down in bed, but it was too late for me then.

So, for yesterday . . .
Me: I actually called in sick, an event rarely heard of. It was needed, and it was nice. I do feel that I have a fairly good awareness of my body, how far it can go, what it takes to make it feel better. Not always, but often.

Matt: He was very compassionate when he saw that I still wasn't well. He wasn't feeling well either, and hadn't been for a few days, and was still way more attentive to the fact than I had been towards him.

For today . . .
Me: I'm really good in customer service situations, or receptionist situation, whichever it is that I do in my volunteer hours. I smile, and I'm resourceful and know how to at least look for what it is that people need. I would do that for a job.

Anna: You are a talented and charming conversationalist.

30 Days of Good Things

I just got a really good idea from a friend (I hope you don't mind my using this, Diana): blog/say/write/think one good thing about yourself a day, for 30 days. I think I'll add in something good about someone else too, a different person every day.

Me: I am so, so proud of myself for not freaking out when my phone doesn't light up.

LauraAnn (sister): The one who brings out my most natural laugh.

This is neither here nor there . . .

Here I am, on Water Ave, between the river and the train tracks. I'm here in Portland, here with close, close friends, here where I want to be, and trying not to worry about when and how it will change and how much that will hurt. Here I am, with a new bar in my ear, marks on my arm, clothes to look cute in, and still feeling like an idiot half the time. But I'm here, listening to a really great song right now ("Can you hear the beat of my heart? . . . Bomba bomba bomba bomba bomba bomba bom!"), glad that it's not as late in the day as it seems, ready to make it last even longer.