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Gratitude of the Day: Connection
Today was quite the day. I'm in the midst of a transition to a new place, on a massive job hunt— it's exciting and nerve wracking all at once. What made today different from the past few days of this, though, was the eath Opa. 

Today was quite the day. I'm in the midst of a transition to a new place and am on a massive job hunt— it's exciting and nerve wracking all at once.

What made today different from the past few days, though, was the death of my Opa. He and I were never particularly close, but he lived at my Dad's house since I was eight. This meant that I saw him every weekend when I lived in Humboldt, and on all holidays since I've moved away. He has been a present figure in my life for quite some time. His death wasn't unexpected. He had been sick for years and, while I can't claim to empathize with having a chronic disease or with dying, I can only assume that this transition marked the end of a lot of physical and mental suffering he had been enduring. There are a couple moments growing up, listening to his stories and singing rounds around the dinner table, that brought me happiness and that I want to honor now.

I'm grateful for his life, and that it lead to my father's life and mine. I'm grateful that he is no longer in pain. I'm grateful that this provides me an opportunity to come together with my father's side of my family. I'm grateful that I have a phone and can call my Oma and my dad. I'm grateful for all of the love that has surrounded me and my family today.

Connection is a wonderful thing.

Lettering, GratitudesHannah Garrettgratitude, thoughts, writing Comment
Empathy
Missed My Morning Shot of Empathy… Damn. Get humans together and conflict is a real possibility— sometimes extreme, sometimes mild. One place where this butting of heads is particularly likely is the workplace. Of course, this makes quite a l…
Missed My Morning Shot of Empathy… Damn.

Get humans together and conflict is a real possibility— sometimes extreme, sometimes mild. One place where this butting of heads is particularly likely is the workplace.

Of course, this makes quite a lot of sense. Here’s this supercharged location, specially named “Office,” and society tells us that succeeding here is synonymous with success… and survival. The pressure is built into the system… must make money to eat, have a house and have some fun now and again. The importance many people place upon jobs leads to a certain amount of everything-must-go-my-way syndrome(EMGMWS, properly pronounced ‘emgemwas’). In other words, if things aren’t going smoothly at work survival panic might be triggered.

Left untreated EMGMWS fosters:

  1. Rigid attachment to your singular perspective. (i.e. I’m right and you’re wrong.)
  2. Decreased openness to beneficial ideas. (i.e. If I’m right and you’re wrong, I don’t have to listen to anything you say.)
  3. Uncharacteristic negative ‘tude spewed at individuals in your vicinity. (i.e. You’re wrong!)

On August 5th, 2013 at approximately 17:00 CST, I found myself perpetuating a bout of EMGMWS. There is an effective and surprisingly instantaneous cure for this disease. Put simply, you must ingest one chill pill and take on the perspective of whomever you feel resistance toward. However, on this overcast Monday there was not a chill pill to be found. And, had the thought of appropriating an alternate perspective appeared in my consciousness, it probably would have tasted of nail polish remover soaked asphalt— it would have been spit out…

…read the rest here. 

Lettering, WritingHannah Garrettempathy, lettering, hand lettered, thought, my make, espresso, green, mindfulness in action, appreciation, writing, personal essay, snapchat, self examination, self reflectionComment