Thanking My Lucky Stars

I started off 2023 with the theme “Celebrate Small Wins”. The past few years have been chaotic and a rollercoaster of goods, bads, and uglies so I wanted a theme that kept positivity flowing. I had goals of snail mailing cards for every occasion to be celebrated, buying tiny thoughtful trinkets to be given out at random, toasting to every reason to toast. Aaand guess what? I got exhausted thinking about that, remembering that my mental bandwidth is still on recovery from a fall that was full of eat, sleep, shower, work, football games, side hustle, football booster club fundraising, family stuff, health issues, repeat. At one point, I am convinced that my bandwidth was on life support. Luckily, I had a whole two weeks to decompress before going full throttle for the holidays – which was worth it because not to brag, but I had the best Christmas I can remember.

Anyways, back to this theme situation. I needed to break up with it for my sanity and for the safety of my bank account. I started using a hexagon shaped chalkboard that had been collecting dust since 2021 to start marking down every time I had a client accept my help in their family law case. I decided to mark little stars to commemorate them. Little stars. Above my desk. Little stars I am thankful for (not just because they keep the lights on at the firm, but because it selfishly makes me feel good when someone trusts me enough to tell me what is hurting them, even if it leaves them feeling like they’re splayed open on an operating table). It hit me, but thankfully not literally. See also: rollercoaster of goods, bads, and uglies. I don’t think I could handle another hospital visit.

“Thank My Lucky Stars”. Lucky stars can be events, good days, friends, family, whatever it is that I am thankful for in that moment. Before you wonder, no, I am not starting my own line of gratitude journals nor am I going back to using them. As much as I am a firm believer in others using them, they always end up as kindling for my fire pit. Instead, I plan on telling and showing people and things that I am thankful for them. I’ll likely be donating to more fundraisers, hugging necks extra tight, and making plans to be social with people I don’t see enough of.

A photo of the board in my office from about a week and a half ago. I have had a lot more lucky stars to thank since this was taken.