new Archives - Moving Peaces

Thursday Three

August 27, 2015Samantha Gratton

What a long and interesting week it has been. Hard to sum up, but I’d hate to leave you hanging, so let’s talk about this week’s three.

1. Sometimes you have to say yes and sometimes you have to say no. The more I need to say no, the more I realize I care too much about what people think. Saying yes often looks more adventurous, but saying no (when necessary) looks boring or lame.

2. Writing takes time. Lately, I’ve been really trying to branch out with my writing and have sent off pieces to a few new places. This week a slightly re-worked blog post on Freelancers Union and a guest post about Argentina showed up, while a few other pieces were submitted. I’ve loved the challenge and welcome the opportunity, but have noticed a decline in posts on my own blog. So bear with me as I continue to find the right balance.

3. Change is hard. Some people love change while others say they hate it. In reality, it’s all about context, but regardless of good or bad, change is hard. Transitioning from one thing to another is difficult. You say goodbye to the old and welcome something new. A new job, a new friend, a new routine, a new role, a new home, a new challenge–the new can be exciting and/or terrifying, but it takes a lot of getting used to. Sometimes during that process we either cling too tightly to the old or are too quick to dismiss all that was good about the old in hopes of better embracing the new. Lately, there’s been a lot of change…slow and subtle change, yet simultaneously way too fast and all at once. I’ve felt some resistance, some excitement, and a bit overwhelmed in it all. The best I can do is appreciate the life I’ve had and look forward to what is to come.

Disposable Society

July 28, 2015July 28, 2015Samantha Gratton

We live in a world of disposable things. Styrofoam cups, paper plates, plastic bags–you’ll probably find at least one of these in every house in America. While there’s a long-term option, these offer a certain convenience. No need to protect them, no worry of damage, no obligation or responsibility.

Every so often we “upgrade” our phones to get a new one. The longevity of one of our most prized possessions is rarely longer than two years. We don’t attempt to fix or restore, just get another. Same thing goes for your TV, vacuum, camera, furniture, clothes and likely countless other items.

We see and experience a lot of transition. We move more often and are greater distances apart. We hold more jobs in the first five years of our career than our grandparents had their entire life. We have the technology at our fingertips to “connect” with anybody at anytime and more options than ever before with how to live our lives.

But how does this impact our relationships? Our friendships, our jobs and our communities? If almost everything in our lives is replaceable, when do we learn to value, respect and cherish what we have? How do we shift our disposable mindset to long-lasting, committed relationships?

Instead of disposable, committed relationships means both parties pledge to make it work and work things out. The kind of relationship that starts great, but when something goes awry, you stick with it anyway. You decide to struggle through and mend what was broken. (Band-aid fixes and shallow apologies are far from real repair.) There’s trust and grace and communication, but when those fail, you try again. You see the value in what was and what can be.

Sure, a fresh start seems easier and has a greater appeal than wading through the mess. Yes, there are times when moving on is natural or absolutely necessary. But more often, I think we get scared. We protect ourselves from heartache by never really committing in the first place. We give up when it gets hard or complicated. We avoid the tough conversations or the truth. We write off anyone that has ever hurt us. We walk away, find someone new and then do it all over again.

Often, we want the ease and comfort of relationships, but none of the work. In the end, we have more acquaintance-level relationships than we can count, but no one we trust to share our hopes and dreams, fears and failures.

Commit to the work. Agree to the hard part. Struggle through the awkwardness. Reach out with the truth or an apology. Find the middle ground. Be willing to open up and also ask questions. Invest, mend and restore. Build relationships but don’t discard them. Make the effort. Don’t give up.

Thursday Three

March 21, 2014July 22, 2014Samantha Gratton

Well hello. What’s been happening with your week? Mine has been long. It’s had ups and downs, but also in-betweens this time. I keep thinking we’re halfway through April but then come to find it’s the first day of spring. In honor of the new season, all three listed will feature something NEW.

1. I have embraced a new hobby. After a little prodding and some instructions from a friend, I have taken up cross stitch. I picked up a pattern at a craft store, and let me tell you, those things are doozies…I will surely make my next purchase on etsy and aim for something slightly less cheesy. Other than that, I like it. It’s nice to do make something with your hands. I went through a knitting phase before moving but cannot possibly knit another scarf in this climate, it’s just not worth it. This is a good alternative. Here’s what I’ve got so far (good luck guessing what it is).

2. We tried out a new dinner spot. After a day of freezing rain and ice, we had a commitment cancel, leaving us with an impromptu date night. We went to The Flying Biscuit to finally try southern grits and loved every bite. I also had the best salmon scrambled eggs that have ever been served. I never actually took a picture of the food (it was too good to photograph), but here’s a little photo to commemorate the table we sat at. We were glad for a night out when most of the town was taking shelter from the storm.

3. We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with our friends and their new baby! Saturday was a gloriously sunny (albeit windy) day, so we walked down to the parade with our couch surfer in tow (oh, didn’t know about him? I promise to blog about it at some point). We met up with friends from church and their little baby boy who was a whopping 13 days old at the time! So tiny and so cute. Their daughter is pretty adorable as well…and clearly loves hot dogs. Also on Saturday—reading a book in the sunshine and a bonfire with friends. It was easily the best day of the week.