Superlative Deviation: Life With Meaning, Life With Joy

Personal Post – “A Different Kind”

October 6th, 2020
If people were to get a peek into my activities this year, they probably wouldn’t think I was celebrating at all. While the Grianstad festival does include the day most people now call Halloween, we’ve never observed that day. Our festival is about giving thanks, helping others, and preparing for the winter – not celebrating the horror in life, which is what everybody around us seems to enjoy. I’ve never understood that, which is one reason I have felt motivated to do something completely different.

Since this is a harvest festival, I’m celebrating by taking stock of my blessings and using them to the fullest. Most would only include things like food and physical items, but my main interest is the lessons I’ve learned over the years. I’m checking in with myself. Am I applying those lessons in daily life? And if so, is there any way I could improve? I try to see if there are some that I’ve missed, and there always are. Then I try to apply those, as well.

While I don’t always do a good job, the whole point is to try. Every day gives you a chance to be better than you were yesterday value every second you have. If we truly lived to the fullest the way our higher selves would, I sincerely doubt we’d have ninety percent of the strife and drama we have in our lives – because we would see it for what it truly is. That’s one of my biggest goals in life from now on, and I’ll be working towards it a little more each day.
- E.W.
Personal Post – “Grianstad Decor and a New Tradition”

October 4th, 2020
During this season, we’re celebrating the Grianstad festival. This is our third year of keeping this tradition, and while there have been many changes in our lives recently, we’ve decided to bring back some of the good old days by incorporating activities that few people do anymore. For example, this year we are making our own decorations and ornaments again.

This was one of my favorite craft projects growing up. We decided to start with the old fashioned dried fruit lined with cloves. We’re also going to try our hand at making a wreath and hanging ornaments. They smell wonderful!

Here are a couple of links for anyone who hasn’t heard of this before.This is a great way to get in some more family time. I can imagine having some interesting conversations while making these beautiful treasures:

How to Make Your Own DIY Christmas Fruit Decorations

Sweet-Tooth Friday: Baked Ornaments

I’m also planning to make some cards this year. One will be our thank you card not just to the harvest Deities but to Everyone in the Heavens, too, for all that They’ve done for us. Then I’ll also be making a birthday card for a dear friend in a couple of months. Also, we’ve already begun the charity work Grianstad includes. We have donated clothing and shoes, and I even found a few other items while cleaning out my closet. I hope they bring some happiness and hope to deserving families.

This year, we may also try partaking in the winter festival. It will be our first time, and I’m excited to see what kind of fun we have with it. While I haven’t shared much on social media lately, I do plan to post a couple of pictures on my Facebook page and my Instagram, as well.

It feels good to celebrate something that’s not mainstream and doesn’t feed into the usual holiday shopping madness that most people associate with this time of year. It feels more genuine, pure, and free. While I still have to deal with some turmoil and negativity, I do my best to keep my focus on my positive goals and just maintain an awareness of the predictions that are coming true.

After all, once this period is over, we need to have something to put in its place. And as long as we keep on track and do my best to follow the Heaven’s instructions, we’ll be able to build something beautiful.
- E.W.
Alura’s Video on Mental Illness, Empathy, Abilities, and Growth

September 30th, 2020

Here’s a link to one of Alura’s videos with some info about mental illness vs. spiritual life. Very interesting – especially now!
Personal/Lit. Post – “A Slow Return”

September 28th, 2020
Touch typing is something I always meant to learn but never did. Recently, I decided it was time to stop procrastinating and figure out a way to teach myself. So far, it’s worked pretty well. Of course, I’m not very good yet; but I practice every time I sit (or stand) at the keyboard.

There are many things I’m working on behind the scenes that I’m not going to share here, but I will say that I’ve begun writing again. I’m also researching additional literary agencies to query for my completed book.

I’m also going to be taking some time to rediscover the joy of reading poetry, not just writing it. Frankly, I haven’t had much spare time to read lately; but I’m now getting back into the habit. Even just a couple of pages a day is a wonderful way to get off the screen. I highly recommend it. Recently, I was taking a trip down memory lane with some of my favorite books from childhood, and each one put a smile on my face. I even got to read out loud to my mother – one of our favorite past times!

Tomorrow, I’ll be posting a brand-new poem to T.W.N. I’ve also begun posting some content to my Instagram but may not be very active on that platform for a while, as I’m working on other projects.
- E.W.
Thought For the Day

September 28th, 2020
2020 Yearly Forecast From Alura

September 23rd, 2020

I shared this post earlier this year and have decided to share it again so that anyone interested can compare the past months of their own life to this forecast. This also lets you know what to expect and how to thrive.

Psychic Forecast 2020
“Thought For the Day” is Back!

September 23rd, 2020

Early on in the creation of this blog, I would sometimes post a “Thought For the Day”. I decided to revive these posts because of their encouraging and creative nature. May these ideas spark new realizations, fun, and hope in the lives of all who come across them. – E.W.
Blog Update

September 23rd, 2020
As I formulate a plan for refreshing this blog, I have decided to keep the things I enjoy the most about it. The Grateful Five is definitely one of them! I actually have a lot of fun with those posts and how it boosts positivity. The vegan resources I’ve posted will also be staying up, and I’ll add a few more as time goes on. I may even incorporate some of my own in a couple of future posts, since others are coming into the holiday season.

Some of the older content on this page has already been deleted to make way for new ideas. There will also be changes made to my social media content in the future. I’ve been almost completely unplugged from those platforms for a while (which feels wonderful). However, I am keeping in touch with my extended family in the group and posting to my own page on facebook.

Quite some time ago, I considered making a Youtube channel geared more towards writing as my career took off. I’ve decided to abandon that idea, at least for now. Instead, I’m focusing on the writing itself and locating more agents to query. Juggling that with daily life and work is tough but worth the effort.

I hope everyone is doing well, valuing family, working on your goals, and building community. Perhaps I’ll release a more personal post this week to share some of what I’ve been dealing with and working on. I’m certainly looking forward to how this journey progresses.
- E.W.
Wednesday’s “The Grateful Five”

September 23rd, 2020
Today, I’m very thankful for:
- the sound of crickets
- neighborhood cats
- vacuums
- Grianstad!
- the gentle morning breeze
Tuesday’s “The Grateful Five”

September 15th, 2020
Today, I’m thankful for:
- the wisdom to stop and consider how our action and inaction affects the world around us
- those who are still working to protect the environment through personal lifestyle choices
- those who are doing their best to rescue and provide safe homes for all animals who’ve been abused by people and industries
- moments of silence for meditation and reflection
- diaries that record the lives of those who’ve gone before so that we have a chance to learn from their examples