Saturday, May 22, 2010

Focus on the Awesome

Focusing on the awesome can be more challenging than focusing on the bad. It might have something to do with human nature, our point of view on life, or the people surrounding us.

In any event, I've noticed that focusing on the awesome gives me a sense of calm. It reminds me there's always something to be thankful for, even on the crumbiest of days. A supportive family, healthy children, a roof over my head.

There's a fun blog out there, called 1000awesomethings.com. It points out the simpler awesome things we might take for granted, such as making it halfway, picking the fastest moving line at the grocery store checkout, and fully justifying whatever terrible thing you're eating. It's positive and fun!

It's awesome that I've finished my nonfiction outline. How about you? What awesome thing are you focusing on today?

50 comments:

  1. I'm focusing of the sun that is shining outside, my healthy family and how cute my kids are. Great post Julie, thanks for the extra push towards the Awesome!

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  2. Alexis, those are all indeed awesome!

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  3. I like this! Another way of saying to be grateful for the little things that enrich our lives daily! Only shorter and hipper lol!

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  4. Ooh! Congrats on the finished outline. That is awesome.

    Today I have Dolly Parton on my iPod, fresh flowers on the table and a sweet dog at my feet, all of which I have been enjoying for more than two solid hours of butt-in-chair alone time.

    You're right. That does feel good!

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  5. Karen, so true! Lots of awesome out there, if only we're looking for it!

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  6. Ashley, your awesome DOES sound awesome!

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  7. What a great idea. I'm grateful every minute for my awesome husband who makes me feel like I'm something precious.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  8. Kimberly, awesome husbands are thanks-worthy, that's for sure.

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  9. Today I'm sitting in my tiny loft (where I write) with three Shih Tzu's at my feet, a cup of steaming coffee on the table whilst enjoying your delightful post :)

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  10. Wendy, that sounds dreamy! Enjoy your Saturday.

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  11. My day has been split focusing. We're moving everything out of our rented storage room to one we had built on our property. Bleh! Mostly, I've focused on blogging and visiting blogs.

    Helen
    Straight From Hel

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  12. Congrats on the outline.

    Apart from my loved ones are all happy and healthy, I'm focused on the rarity of U.K sunshine this weekend. Relaxing, and a bit of critiquing for CP. Oh, and a bit of blogging while consuming chocolate. :)

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  13. It is funny that we have to be reminded to be positive, isn't it?

    Congrats on your awesome. :o) Mine is that I reorganized the dining room today. Hooray!

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  14. Helen, good luck with the move. Tough work, but usually worth it.

    Lindsay, enjoy your sunny U.K. day! Plus chocolate? It's a good Saturday indeed.

    Jackee, recognizing the dining room is blissful! Congrats.

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  15. Congrats on finishing the outline! One more step in your progress! That's super. Love the idea of focusing on the awesome, so thanks for the links. Today, I'm focusing on several things. Primarily, I'm excited for the blogging friends who've recently sold books and acquired agents, and I'm super excited about getting to work on a manuscript that I haven't looked at since last Fall, too! I've been in such a good mood today because of it.

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  16. Carolina, thanks for sharing the great news about blogging friends' successes. That's awesome!

    Good luck with your manuscript!

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  17. I couldn't agree w/ you more, Julie! Awesomeness is wonderful! Sorry, I know this is redundant but it's so true! Julie, today, I received 2 rejection letters (form letters at that, addressed: Dear Author...ugh!), and I immediately googled the old talk/game show, "Whose Line Is It Anyway." After thirty minutes of laughing my butt off, I was ready to send out a few more query letters.

    So yes, I think you hit the nail on the head with this post! Whether one chooses laughter, sobbing, or a mixture of each, we must do whatever it takes to find peace and contentment with the cards we've been dealt in life!

    Thanks for sharing the links, Julie. I can't wait to check them out! Tory

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  18. What an awesome post. Today, I'm focussing on the fact that the revisions on my MS are flowing smoothly. Woot!

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  19. Tory, rejections sting, there's no way around it. But it sounds like you have the perfect anecdote! "Who's Line" is like Bactine for writers!

    Dawn, it's awesome that your revisions are going smoothly. I'm all smiles and encouragement for you!

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  20. Julie, it's great to meet you! and that's awesome about your article with Susie! Congrats!

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  21. Kristen, you too! I look forward to reading yours. Thanks for stopping by!

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  22. Oooh, that is a fun blog site! Thanks for the link. :)

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  23. I ALWAYS pick the slowest moving line for EVERY thing. My friends and family make fun of my curse. Seriously, there can be one person in a line and ten in another. I get in the one with one and something happens where all ten people in the other line are checked out before me. Def not on my AWESOME list.

    I am thankful for a second interview tomorrow for a job I REALLY want. Def on the top of my list today.

    Thanks so much for being my 400th follower. I broke out a new bottle of champagne and a whole new cake in your honor. :)

    Hope you're having a great weekend.

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  24. I agree, we should focus on the awesome more often.

    The weather was beautiful this weekend. I had fun with friends and family and got a lot accomplished around the house. In between, I added an important scene to my story.

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  25. Jennifer, it is a fun site! I love getting my 'awesome' updates via e-mail. Enjoy!

    Karen, I think you and I are kindred spirits with the grocery lines. It truly is a wacky curse. Best of luck on the job interview!

    Theresa, you've been a busy lady! Sounds like you had an awesome weekend!

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  26. SO TRUE! It's hard to focus on the good stuff sometimes. But this week it's easy I'm going to finish my first draft in a day or two and that's pretty awesome!

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  27. My awesome family. We spent a fabulous afternoon/evening at my dad's celebrating his birthday. The kids had fun with their cousins, the adults had fun with one another and watching the kids have a ball!

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  28. Kelly, now THAT is an awesome Sunday!

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  29. Julie, your opening paragraph made me think of how it takes more muscles to slouch than it does to sit up straight. Yet, sitting up straight seems harder than slouching sometimes! The awesome thing I will focus on today is that I have a lavender bush. I am not a gardener and I have no idea how to trim this overgrowing thing, something which really bugged me earlier this morning) but today I will focus on being happy that I have it growing in front of my house, that all I have to do is run my hand along it to be enveloped in a wonderful smell. Thanks for the new perspective this morning!

    http://lgurney.blogspot.com

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  30. I went to a garage sale and bought 3 old poetry books for $1.50. Awesome!

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  31. I'll be getting outside and tending to my awesome garden later today :)

    I clicked over from Helen's blog, enjoyed browsing here.

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  32. Mornin' Julie. Just stopping back by to tell you I gave you the Sunshine Award today - http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-sun-shine.html

    Helen

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  33. What a great philosophy! I'm focusing on the sun, the heat, the wine I'm about to drink... ah! Life is good!

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  34. Hi Julie. Thanks you for this post. You're exactly right about focusing on the positive things that are good in out lives.

    Today I am focusing on getting out my thank you cards for all the wonderful people in my life that pitched in to make my wedding day as beautiful as it possibly could be. And then of course writing a bit on my WIP.

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  35. This is a great idea. It never hurts to see the positive side and focus on something awesome. Thanks for the reminder! Let's see, me I'm focusing on how awesome my trip to New York for the NYC Pitch conference is going to be next month!

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  36. Thanks everyone for posting your awesomeness. It was such fun reading them!

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  37. I had to check out the grocery store line advice. I love it. Those are great tips because I seem to be very very good at picking the slowest line in the store.

    However, my focus today is on how much my kids are looking forward to their summer vacation!

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  38. Michelle, I'm with you on the grocery store line. Crazy how that works, right?

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  39. I'm definitely a glass half full kind of girl. :) I read this book once called, "Change Your Questions, Change Your Life" and it helped me getting over the major blues that every writer hits at some point during the path to publication.

    The book is all about changing how our minds jump on the negatives when they happen and instead focusing on the positives. It turns every bump in the road into an opportunity to celebrate what positives the situation also signifies, and changes how we look at setbacks so we can learn from them and move forward as quickly as possible. Totally changed how I feel about the writing heartaches, let me tell you.

    All the best!

    Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

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  40. That book sounds amazing. I can understand why it had such an impact on your life.

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  41. Hi Julie,

    Yes the funny thing is, the book's target was business professionals, not writers (I stole it from my husband's bookshelf). Still, it could be applied to any career or even one's personal life. :)

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  42. OMG Julie!!! You have ninety some followers and over 40 comments!! I mean how AWESOME is that?? :) You know what my awesome is right now and I am very grateful.

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  43. I think we often have to make a conscious decision to focus on the positive and awesome things in our lives. The negative stuff seems to have a will of it's own and we need to beat it down with whatever we can. It took me a long time to realize that I only had control opver how I chose to view life. I have no control over life itself.

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  44. Maryann, so true. Let's beat down the negative with a giant stick! Thanks for stopping by.

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  45. Lisa, yes, your awesome is AWESOME! My fingers, toes, and everything are crossed for you right now.

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  46. Haha, love this post! And that's hilarious about picking the fast moving line at the store, I love it when that happens. I guess I love it when the sun shines, it doesn't happen that often here in Ireland, so when we had a beautiful weekend, that was pretty awesome.

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  47. Great idea! It's pretty awesome that I just started a new project! I've started way too many lately, but that's another story.

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  48. Olive, it's a beautiful thing when we choose the right line. The wrong line? Ick! Enjoy your beautiful Ireland today!

    India, best of luck on your new project! Thanks for stopping by.

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  49. Life is definitely all about attitude! It really is! Focusing on the "awesome" is a great approach to feeling happy!

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  50. Heather, life is about attitude, the good and the bad! Thanks for stopping by!

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