Gratitude List

 Thing I'm grateful for this month:

• Lammas
• Last full month of summer
• The weather warming up and feeling more "summer like"!
  
• Having a computer again! :)
  
• Going to Five Guys
• Sunsets
• Libraries
• Going on a beach walk with a local group

Finding a Way Forward

I haven't posted much on the blog so far this year. As I said in my mid-year reflections post, I found the first half of 2023 quite difficult. While I've still been blogging on my entertainment blog Star Sparkle Blog and seasonal living one The Seasonal Life, I've not had much motivation to post on here. I cover "deeper" topics such as self-help, spiritual methods and mental health, and just didn't feel like I had the energy to write much about them.

But I would like to get back into blogging more here, so today I'm writing about finding a way forward when you've been feeling stuck or lost in life. 

Two years ago I wrote a couple of posts about moving upwards and feeling better when you've been in a low place. You can see them here:

Starting from the Bottom- Part 1: https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2021/04/starting-from-bottom-part-1.html

Starting from the Bottom- Part 2: https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2021/08/starting-from-bottom-part-2.html

And last year I wrote another post about feeling better when you've been down for a long time: https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2022/02/when-youve-been-down-for-too-long.html

I've spoken (or written!) before about having depression and anxiety. So if I'm really struggling it can be hard to see a way forward. Especially if I feel stuck in certain patterns.

Gratitude List

 Things I'm grateful for this month:

• First full month of summer
• The days still being quite long 
• Iced coffees
• Going to Wendy's
• Getting a new bookcase- I've wanted to get one for ages but hadn't got round to it!
• The sun coming out after rain (we've had a lot of rain lately!)
• Devi Sietaram's YouTube channel- she makes videos about spiritual subjects (e.g. manifesting) mixed with psychology and quantum physics
• More baking!

Gratitude List

I normally post on Sundays and Mondays but I wrote my mid-year reflections post yesterday, so I'm posting today instead. :)

Things I'm grateful for this month: 

• The "official" start of summer 
• Going to Nando's (very belated birthday meal!)
• Going to the park
• Litha/the Summer Solstice
• Baking 
• Burger King mocha coffees
• Buying new books
• Summer weather 

Mid-2023 Reflections

Update: 1/7/23: I've added an extra bit to the post because I had more to say! 

It's already June and the middle of the year, so it's time for my annual mid-year reflections post! It's later in the month again like last year, but never mind! I've been writing these for a few years now, I started in 2018 (although that post was in May, so not quite halfway through the year). You can see my previous posts below:

Reflections (2017): https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2017/05/reflections.html

Mid-2018-Reflecions: https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2018/06/mid-2018-reflections.html

Mid-2019 Reflections: https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2019/06/mid-2019-reflections.html

Mid-2020 Reflections: https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2020/06/mid-2020-reflections.html

Mid-2021 Reflections: https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2021/06/mid-2021-reflections.html

Mid-2022 Reflections: https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2022/06/mid-2022-reflections.html

I also write an end of year post. Here's 2022's (written in January because I couldn't get it finished earlier): https://fallingpetalsuk.blogspot.com/2023/01/letting-go-of-2022.html

As I mentioned in my year-end post, the end of 2022 was quite hard for me due to personal issues. So the beginning of this year didn't start off that well. I feel like I've struggled quite a bit during the first half of 2023. I also find it hard adjusting to a new year, although this time it wasn't as much of a "comedown' after Christmas, since it wasn't that great. 

Gratitude List

Last month I started my Gratitude List but then didn't get it finished till it had gone over to May. So I missed April's but never mind! Here's May's. :)

Things I'm grateful for this month:

• Beltane
• Going to the beach for sunset- I went on Beltane
• Going to Perch café on Lancing Beach (the first time I'd been in the café!)
• The weather getting warmer and sunny days
• Roses coming out
• Increased light during this time of year 
• Buses 
• Iced coffees 

I've been having a bit of an anxious time lately and sometimes I find it a struggle finding things to be grateful for. But I enjoy doing this list. If you're also going through a hard time, I hope you're doing ok. :)

Thought I would also share a picture I took at the beach this month:

Sunset on Lancing Beach. 

Gratitude List

 Things I'm grateful for this month: 

• Birthday presents and wishes. :)
• Oestara/the Spring Equinox and the official start of spring
• Seeing more signs of spring
  
• The days getting even longer since the Spring Equinox
  
• Having an iced coffee (and a muffin) from Gail's Bakery
• Going to the park
  
• Late winter/early spring sunsets
• Eating more pre-Easter chocolate (like last month)! lol