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I chose the word Opalite for 2026 because I love the meaning so much. The word is the title of a song by Taylor Swift, and it means creating your own joy or happiness even when things aren’t going your way. Life is full of ups and downs, so I thought this would be the perfect word to keep at the forefront of my mind as a constant reminder that there’s always something I can do to lift my own spirits. And this manufactured joy doesn’t have to come from grand gestures or big events… most of the time it’s made in the small, everyday details.
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I went on lots of sunset walks. Now that the sun is setting earlier, the
sunsets are perfectly timed for my evening walks, and I’ve spent many a night
outside just soaking them up.
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One evening, there was a huge double rainbow that
appeared right as we walked in the door from taking Jacob to a college tour
visit. Instead of working on the things
that needed to be done, I went outside and ran around with Bellie in the rain
so I could enjoy the gorgeous view. We were
both soaked when we got back inside, but sometimes you just have to play in
the rain!
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One of my friends had surgery last month, so my
other friend and I made her a basket of fun (and useful) things to keep her
busy while she was recovering. I LOVE
putting together stuff like this, and it always brings me joy to bring joy to
others.
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I took that same friend dinner one evening as well,
and instead of rushing off back to the craziness of the evening, I sat around
and chatted with her for much longer than I’d intended. It was so good to spend that one-on-one time
with her.
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I scooped up a new sweater
while it was on sale! The price was
incredible so I couldn’t resist it. And
the quality of the sweater is so impressive, especially for that price. It’s soft and so snuggly, and I can’t
wait until the weather cools down enough for me to wear it.
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I spent so much time outside with Belle. Having a puppy has been so good for me
because it forces me to get away from my desk during the day, get outside, and
get some fresh air. And I’ve been spending
lots of time barefoot on the grass, which I didn’t do much before she came
along. Sometimes it’s a pain having to
let her out so much, and I’m sure I’ll be hating it when it’s cold outside, but
I never regret getting the fresh air!
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I volunteered at our church’s outreach center again
in September, and I timed it just right so I could work with my parents again,
and that made my heart so happy! I
always love spending time with them, and volunteering always makes me feel
good, too. It’s nice to know you’re
making a difference.
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We had lots of lazy Saturdays on the couch watching
College GameDay and college football and I have zero regrets. I rarely let myself relax during the day – I’m
always doing something – so I love football season because I feel like I allow
myself time to slow down during the day instead of being productive 24/7.
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There were a couple of Saturdays in September that I
didn’t even touch my computer… that is unheard of for me! I pretty much do some kind of blog work every
single day, but this past month I was completely computer-free for two days.
There’s so much more I’m forgetting, so hopefully I’ll be better at documenting
everything in October!
Happy Wednesday, y’all!
We had a busy September here too, it sounds like you had a fantastic month!
ReplyDeleteI have been noticing the sunsets more, so pretty and the basket of fun for your friend sounds like a wonderful thing to give. How great to get outside more because of Belle.