It’s the rest of the week—a good time to exhale and notice your progress.
You are still here—you have not given up.
(As cliche as that sounds, it’s nothing to sniff at—everything can hinge on hanging in there and getting back up when needed.)
you handle medical concerns with less worry
you see your beloveds less and less as projects and more and more as interesting people you want to know well.
you find it easier to accept and accommodate for your limitations
you feel increasing delight in your gifts/interests/perspectives and are aware that you can actually make a difference as you are, where you are
you recognize the value of investing in yourself and are more willing to keep growing
you’re better at recognizing what kind of hard work is required for a quality life and are better at choosing that over the kind of hard work that utterly depletes you
you can enjoy someone else’s contributions without feelings like you’re not doing enough
you are quicker to notice open doors and more intentional in checking them out
you are more realistic
you still have ideals
you really want to listen, to understand, and, more and more, people come to you for advice (which, of course, means to be heard and figure it out for themselves)
you notice that people trust you
you can get things done—wow! Just look at some of the things you’ve done…
given meaningful gifts
taken up a new sport
successfully come up with a plan for your children’s education
navigated a cruel disease with Grace and grit
mastered a dish
started listening to books you’ve always wanted to read and they are opening whole new worlds to you
hosted people in your home
learned all about birds and inspired a whole family to pay attention to them
quit a job
taken a job
moved
stayed
asked for help
given help
you still have the excitement for things planned and hoped for— but you don’t need that excitement so much as the joy that undergirds it
you are more fully alive and you don’t want to miss a moment of this life you’ve been given
you feel the ache of passing time and grieve the losses that come with it
you are less anxious about death
you sit more easily in the silence with God
What else…?