Do you remember my student, Chante Marie?
She’s leaving in a week to pursue her music career! Needless to say, I’m so proud of her. I know “just going for it” can be a scary venture, but Chante has a beautiful gift and spirit and she’ll be more than okay.
She and her hubby (they’re such a cute couple) dropped by my office yesterday and brought gifts—a lighthouse postcard, which I’ll share later, and a journal. Chante did not give me a journal to fill with words, but she gave me her very own art journal—filled from cover to cover with her art and brief musings!
Dream: Chante’s Art Book
This is such a precious gift. I am speechless.
During the drive to school and work this morning my son and I talked about the importance of looking for the gift in each day. Life can be, well…life. Something might happen during the course of the day that “knocks the wind” out of us—an injustice, an unkindness, a failure, a disappointment. Some days we’re knocked down before we can recover from the last blow, and sometimes we feel like we can’t “catch a break.”
A page from Chante’s Art book
Even on those days when it’s a struggle to lift our heads, there’s a gift waiting for us.
Sometimes the gift is tangible—a flower, a letter, a beautiful art journal, or a hug when needed. Sometimes, it’s intangible—the beauty of another’s soul, the sighting of a hummingbird, a painted sky, the good feeling that comes from doing well, a phone call that comes just when needed, or the sudden appearance of someone who just crossed your mind.
Actively seeking the gift works to rescue us from slipping into a mundane pattern of doing and getting and merely tolerating life. It saves us from cynicism and from fretting over trifles.
Fly Away: A page from Chante’s art book
Chante’s gift provided that for me yesterday and continues to bless me today. She gave me more than a physical journal; she also gave (part of) her soul journey. The intangible expressed through the tangible makes a very powerful gift.
Join me in making a habit of looking for the gift in each day. If you need a little help, check out my penfriend Beckra’s blog: Every Day, One Good Thing.
Be sure to collect a few gifts from Chante’s IG and blog too!
Ciao!
Pics and Posts 
I love it.
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🙂
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I tried to make my sister see that every day has something good in it – I gave her a journal to write down each evening the five or even just three best things of the day. And she failed to do so. Her depression (diagnosed and treated accordingly by a psychiatrist) just clouded her vision. (What always astonishes me: When her therapist tells her to do such a thing all of a sudden she can … Big sisters are definitely not the right kind of persons to take advice from)
I think the idea to find something enjoyable in each day is important! Very important! For those of us who have children (or even just pets) it might be a little easier. But there is always something else. For some it is the love of God (not a small thing, might I add), for others a ray of sunshine on a rather cloudy day, for somebody else just a nice song on the radio, or a lovely sight to behold (and take a photo of).There are so many things one can feel happy about. It’s not all North Korea or Trump or the success of right wing forces in Europe or whatever brings you down. It is definitely not all gloom and doom.
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Thank God, it’s not “all” the stuff we get fed by media! I hope your sister finds her way to the good stuff–and to taking your advice! Thanks for adding to the list of “gifts” in each day!
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Beautiful work here, and such a soulful gift. Thanks so much for sharing Chante with us. And best wishes to her 🙂 following the links….
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I’m still so touched by Chante’s gift. I’ve been carrying it with me everywhere. The artwork brings so much joy!
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Thank you for sharing this message which involves sharing the precious gift of another!
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You’re welcome, “Priggster.” Thanks for dropping by.
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What an extraordinary journal your student gave you, Chandra, beautiful and very personal, which shows how caring you must be that she is willing to share these pages with you.
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It is such a precious gift. I think part of what makes it special is that she thinks I’m special enough to have it.
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What a beautiful post, so nice of you to share, Chandra! Lovely gift…
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Thank you, Louise! I’m missing you on here (Hint! Hint!). 😉
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Nice of you! Busy, busy, Chandra, traveling is taking all my time but it should “calm down” by mid October 😉
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Traveling beats blogging…every time–if one has to choose. 😉
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Beautiful!!!!
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Thank you!
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