Find the Beauty Friday
Four years ago I had a little blog called Find the Beauty. I think four of you reading today were reading back then. No, five of you. No, six. Wow, I had forgotten how long some of you have been with me. Awww. Thank you!
Anyway...
I had been reading blogs for a little while at that point and I was noticing that the theme of most of them was depression, despair, and sadness. Every mole hill was a mountain. Every inconvenience, a major setback. It began to hurt my head and then my heart. I could not figure out if people were actually feeling like this all the time or if only the bad things were remembered at the end of the day and therefore ripe for blog fodder.
It bothered me.
So I started Find the Beauty to do exactly that. I wanted to capture the good things that happened in my day for myself and for my readers, to remind us that even our darkest days have bright corners. Do not get me wrong, some days it was incredibly difficult to find the beauty but it did get easier. Once I trained my mind to look for the good things, the good things just started popping out at me.
I think it would be good for me to get back into that practice. This site, New Endings, was created to document my journey through all the life decisions I am preparing to make so there are times when my posts are going to sound uncertain, anxious, down, and even scared and I am fine with that. I do not want to manufacture false emotions, but spending some time documenting all the great things that are happening along the way would help my mental and emotional state immensely.
So now and then, I will take a Friday to mention some of the really good things that are happening and spend time being joyful and grateful. I would love to hear about the beautiful things going on in your life, too, so if you choose to share in the comments or write your own Find the Beauty posts, please let me know because I will cheer right along with you.
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Find the Beauty
I found out that the fiction writing contest I entered back in January has completed its first round of judging and I made it through! There were 300 entries and 200 or so were eliminated in the first round. Now the remaining 100 are sent to the guest judge and there will be 25 winners selected, with various honors and prizes. I am excited, not only for the potential of winning, but because the judge is none other than Literary Agent, Elise Capron of the Sandra Dijkstra Agency, which is regarded as the best literary agency on the West Coast. So, yeah, a little exciting. And terrifying. But mostly exciting.
This was my first contest so it would be beyond fantastic if I won but also beyond my wildest expectations. We shall just have to see what happens. Either way, it was fun and I want to do it again so it was a worthwhile experience. I also asked for a critique of my work, so that will be interesting. To learn what a professional thinks of my writing could be painful but could also be one of the best things to happen at this point in my writing. I feel like I have won regardless of the outcome of the contest.
Find the Beauty, blogging, writing in About Well-Being 
Reader Comments (4)
First of all, I think this is a wonderful idea. That was the intended meaning behind my blog, if you go back and read my first post last year. (Oh no, I just realized I missed my 1st blogiversary!) That is exactly the meaning behind my blog title. The things, small or not, which make everything else worthwhile. Good for you, I ABSOLUTELY agree that it is a wonderful exercise in shifting your perspective and retraining your brain. I'm right there with you, lady!
And that is SOOO exciting! Congratulations on making it this far. I know how talented you are, I'm very happy that someone so prominent will be reviewing your work! <3 <3
I love the Find the Beauty idea! It's way too easy to get wrapped up in the bad stuff. Since you gave permission, I'm going to steal this idea. Maybe. Probably.
And your writing contest? That is fantastic!! Congratulations to you!! Definitely keep us posted on the next steps. Very exciting!
1) congrats on making it through! that's great. I always want to submit to contests. but then. I don't.
2) love the concept, I've tried to do a 5 things that make me happy every day, either back when I was journaling, or on the blog.
3) I'll give you my point-of-view on this "I could not figure out if people were actually feeling like this all the time or if only the bad things were remembered at the end of the day and therefore ripe for blog fodder."
It's not ALL the time... it just feels like it. :)
Kellee: Congratulations on your blogiversary! Many, many more.
Mary: No need to steal, please take the idea and run with it. I can't wait to see what beauty you find.
girlvaughn: You should enter at least one contest. Make it a new goal! (says she who has entered a whopping two of them and feels like she can give advice) :-)