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Thursday Three

July 2, 2015Samantha Gratton

What a week. One of these days I’ll get around to telling all of the crazy ups and downs and twists and turns, but for now, let’s just focus on all my favorite things.

1. Summer fun. That just about sums it up when I say we were spectators at a soapbox derby last weekend. Other words to describe it: ridiculous, crazy, awesome and bizarre.

2. Celebrations with friends. I’ve got some great people in my life, and I was so thrilled that a few of them joined me in celebrating another year at my favorite neighborhood restaurant. This doesn’t even cover everyone who came or everyone who I consider great in my life.

3. Birthday surprises. Yep, I’m slightly older and had a birthday. I did some writing and ate pizza, but otherwise didn’t expect much else after that gathering with friends earlier in the week. Turns out I was wrong, and there was a bit more sweetness in store from this little friend of mine.

Thursday Three

June 25, 2015Samantha Gratton

Oh, what a week it has been. It’s been one of those weeks when it feels like the sky is falling, but then you look around and realize you have a lot of really awesome people in your life to help you through it. This week has been hard and good all at once. Crazy, right?

1. Don’t give up. Don’t give up on your dreams. Don’t give up on your budget (especially not when car shopping). Don’t give up on the people in your life. Don’t give up on yourself.

2. Have fun. Should be a no-brainer, right? Sometimes I forget to have fun and just stress instead. This week’s fun consisted of a nerf gun war, lots of baby monkey sing-alongs and dancing in the rain (literally, because I am that fun–just ask the neighbors).

3. Choose your adventure. While a bit cheesy sounding (and also the name of a book series and at one point the marketing slogan at my alma mater), it carries some truth. The situations and the choices you are presented may not always be what you want, but you probably do have a choice in how to respond and in determining what you value most. Our couchsurfers this weekend were at the beginning of a road trip across the country to discover their next location and occupations. It’s always good to remember that you have more than one option on how to live this life, so choose what you want it to be about.

Thursday Three

June 18, 2015Samantha Gratton

It’s been real hot out there this week. (They say it’s always good to start any piece of writing with ~~a definition from the dictionary~~, ~~a famous quote~~ some small talk about the weather.) But for real, this week has been in the high 90s around here, and I believe it even crossed over into triple digits a few times. Obviously, that means it’s the perfect time to…

1. Attend outdoor concerts. We were the lucky folks who managed to squeeze in two amazing concerts in the same week. Mumford and Sons and Brandi Carlile both played outstanding shows that made us come home feeling inspired and ready to work on music of our own.

2. Help friends move. I mean, I would have picked last week or maybe sometime in October if given the option, but glad to help regardless of the weather. I love having the opportunity to show up and support my friends, even if sadly, I won’t get to see them for awhile now. Transitions like these bring great opportunity for growth though, and I am really excited for whatever is next in their lives.

3. Replace your car. Please, just go now. That way, you can avoid the unfortunate situation that we are in. Our dear, 20-year-old Honda broke down on the highway (you guessed it, in the middle of one of those wicked hot days), so we sold it to the mechanic for a whopping $300. It’s been a bit of a rough week with one car while trying to find another one that fits our criteria (not because we’re fancy people, but because we are incredibly practical people).

On a completely serious (and unrelated) note, I want to say that today, my heart is heavy. There are a lot of terrible things in the world and the shooting in Charleston, SC, is certainly among them. I don’t have all the words to say, other than to please pray for that community and continue to love your neighbors.

Thursday Three

June 12, 2015Samantha Gratton

Hey there, Thursday. Looks like you came and went without even giving me the chance to blog. So, hello midnight oil (or blue computer glow, whichever) and early morning Friday. I’m still only going to give you the typical three (no Friday Fives in this house), because I’m ~~lazy~~ tired.

1. Beach days are beneficial. We squeezed in a quick trip in to the beach this past weekend, and it paid in dividends of waves and sunshine. Thankfully, it’s only 2.5 hours away, we have good friends who welcome us into their home and we both absolutely love the ocean. Something about sitting out all day with only the sound of the waves, the sand under your feet and a small beach bag of essentials to get you through the day–it leaves room for the big conversations and a clear head. Plus there’s always the bonus salt water in your eyes, nose and mouth…what’s not to love?

2. Tell the people in your life what they mean to you. I’m not going to say it’s your last chance because this isn’t some sort of fear tactic. Tell them because they need encouragement and appreciation, and you are the perfect person to give it to them. Tell them because you want them to know.

3. Growing a garden takes work. But you knew that right? You have to water the plants, make sure they get enough sun and prune the branches until it grows the way it’s supposed to. Growing as a person takes work, too. You’re going to have super hot and miserable days, intense rain and some serious pruning. Expect it. So often I look around and ask why it is I am struggling with whatever thing is hard in my life at the time. But instead, I need to remember the pruning and energy that is taking place as I grow and develop and hopefully, one day, produce some sort of fruit.

Thursday Three

June 4, 2015Samantha Gratton

I’m going to be real and say that I’m tempted to just skip an entire week. Skip writing the Thursday Three, skip catching up on laundry, skip checking the mail, skip whatever it is that I’m supposed to do. I’m back from driving around the country and have all the things just waiting patiently for me. Sure, I was traveling, but since I was working remotely the whole time and seeing all sorts of people, it wasn’t really a vacation. So here I am, home, and ready for rest.

Here’s three short things for Thursday…

1. You can do more than you think you are capable of. That can be both empowering and downright overwhelming.

2. Life is changing. It’s going to keep changing. We find ourselves in patterns we like, and patterns we don’t. Relationships will change, people will change, routines will change. We celebrate, and we grieve, and then transition into what’s new.

3. Sometimes epic is actually ordinary. And in even crazier moments, ordinary is epic.

Thursday Three

May 29, 2015Samantha Gratton

Hey there. Here’s to a late night and a late post. Turns out I have a knack for overbooking myself and trying to be everywhere all at once. But that comes from wanting to be with people and wanting to say yes to everything that’s good. So, I can’t complain too much.

1. I’m back in my hometown. I can’t help but have so many mixed feelings when I visit. I have so much love for a place I called home for years, where I met and married my husband and where I spent the first few years of adulthood. It’s exciting to see all the vibrant spaces and some of the great changes that are taking place. It was such a great springboard for me and will always hold so many memories. Yet as happy as I am to be here it’s not home anymore. Instead, I miss a place and people that a mere three years I ago I never knew. The good news is, I’ll be heading back soon.

2. Everyone loves ice cream. I think I have had or been offered ice cream almost every night since this road trip started. It’s seriously impressive, especially for someone who doesn’t usually eat much ice cream. That just seems to be the treat of choice this time of year.

3. Not everything holds monetary value. When you’re building up skills and investing so much time and energy into a certain thing, whether it’s creatively or professionally, your goal often starts to be about getting paid or getting a job. Being monetarily compensated for something gives you some validity for the time and effort that went into it and confirmation that you’re doing well (don’t get me wrong, I think it’s important to get paid and take care of your family and bills). But over time, that hustle towards different things can cause you place more value on paid things or work things instead of relationships, rest and leisure. The parts of life that we held so closely as kids (free time, fun, friends) are considered less important than working and making money.

I understand why it happens and some of that change is important (it’s what motivates us to show up to work everyday), but I think we need to have an awareness about when it becomes too much. We need to be realistic and know that “doing nothing” is just as valuable (if not more) than “doing something” …for the sake of our own wellbeing. Weighing our options in how to use our time and energy from a monetary standpoint may seem the most logical, but it’s not the most beneficial.

Thursday Three

May 21, 2015Samantha Gratton

It’s time for me to make a mad dash (or sorts) and write the first three things that come to my head to sum up the week. I’m so glad you seem to like reading it…it makes me feel less crazy and justifies taking a few random pictures.

1. People will surprise you. I’ve experienced such kindness from strangers this past week. People I’ve never met before became fast friends and brought a certain sweetness to my day. Being willing and open to accept that generosity and hear life stories has brought so much joy and abundance to my life.

2. Trust your instincts. Yes, be open. Yes, take chances. But also, use discernment. I’d love to say everyone is kind and considerate in this world, but I can’t. Hope for the best but keep an eye out and step away if needed. Know what your boundaries are, and when they’ve been crossed.

3. Appreciate the small things. Go to a local coffee shop and talk to the regulars. Count all the cars with stick figure families on the back window and think of all the kids that love having a sticker to represent them. Admire a skyline or enjoy a sunset. There’s beauty and delight to be found in the little moments.

Thursday Three

May 15, 2015Samantha Gratton

Today has been such a jam-packed day that I feel like this could be called the “Thursday Thousand”…yet I can’t even think of what to say for the three. How to sum up the week in a few paragraphs? That sounds nearly impossible. So instead I’ll just spout some basic life lessons and call it good for the day.

1. Be right with your people. Those people in your life that you want to have relationships with, whether it’s your family or your friends–make sure to get right with them. There will always be something else to do and another to-do list to cross off or another idea, creative project or work responsibility to tend to. But in a week, month, year, decade, whatever–it’s those people and those relationships that you’ll care about most, so care about them now.

2. Community is both created and pursued. There are seasons in life when maybe community happens more naturally, be it in college or during the “best summer ever.” But more often, finding and being a part of a community requires intention, thought and time. You have to seek community, even when it doesn’t feel like it’s ever going to pay off. Finding community sometimes means finding a lot of rejection first. And then, once you’ve found it, you have to be willing to accept it and fully participate in that community. That takes an incredible amount of effort, transparency and perseverance, but ultimately, it’s worth it.

3. Creativity matters. We need creativity to solve problems, to find inspiration and to lift our spirits. That creativity comes in so many forms and can be absolutely amazing. It drives me crazy to think that people can put creativity solely into an artist or craft box. You have creativity in you. Don’t let the artists, musicians, writers and designers be the only ones who take ownership of the word. You are creative in some way, I’m positive, and you need to use that for the benefit of both yourself and others.

Thursday Three

May 7, 2015May 7, 2015Samantha Gratton

Well hey there, Thursday. It’s been a full week somehow…there are literally not enough hours in the day. Oh, how I wish I could simply skip sleep sometimes. But then again, what would I do? Just watch a few more movies? There’s only so much time one can dedicate their brains to working and side projects before running out of energy and productivity. So, I guess sleep is good. Let’s stop this babbling and get on to the good stuff…

1. Sometimes what’s “broke” don’t need fixin’ …just love. The vacuum cleaner I thought was broken for…uhm, months….turned out to just need a little extra TLC. Isn’t that just the analogy for everything in life? Okay, it needed a LOT of TLC. In the four and a half years of owning it, we’ve replaced a few parts but apparently never cleared out the hose. Here’s a gross display of everything I’ve ever tried to clean out of our house but instead just stored in the bottom of our vacuum…the hubby called it the “dust rings of our marriage”.

2. Remember to make due with what you’ve got. Last week we both battled some sort of cold/sore throat/allergies/virus–who knows what. We also had a little gig to play at the end of the week. Practice was weak, the hubby had a little loss of voice scare and we even tried to figure out a plan B…but somehow we made it through the end of the night. All things considered, I thought it went pretty well. It’s easy to get stuck on things when an obstacle is right in front of you, but the trick is to not limit yourself by your own fears of a potential problem. I’m constantly trying to remind myself that–not always succeeding, but definitely going to keep on trying.

3. Keep asking what inspires you. Maybe that’s through an interesting video, encouraging poster or a collection of quotes and images on tumblr. Maybe for you that means reading the thoughts of others in blogs or books, listening to a great podcast, attending a presentation or admiring the craftsmanship and artwork of a completed project. Don’t worry about what particular form your inspiration comes in (as long as it is excellent/encouraging/true), but continue to pursue it–continue to be inspired. Make a habit out of seeking out inspiration and surround yourself with it for motivation. We all need that extra encouragement and excitement so we can create and do things to inspire the next person.

This Week’s Three

May 1, 2015Samantha Gratton

Let’s just squeeze this in real quick, shall we? Because the week went faster than I planned and last night we practiced for our gig tonight.

1. Don’t underestimate people. Such a generic statement…that will continue to be generic, but I just feel it needs to be said. There are amazing people out in the world, people who will jump at a moment’s notice to help or can’t wait to be your friend. There are people who are absolutely brilliant stuck in a job that doesn’t capitalize on their skills, and there are people who might be the most loyal friend you’ll ever meet but you met them on a bad day. I don’t care who it is, they’ve got worth and value. That includes you, too–don’t underestimate yourself.

2. Date night is the best night. We had a gift card to some new sushi place and devoured that entire plate of sushi. I had my doubts that we could do it, but it was delicious.

3. I’m a happy planner. Some people are happy campers, but I didn’t grow up camping. No, instead I spent my time planning whatever was next in life. This is not always a good thing…but it is my thing. Lucky for me, I’m in the midst of planning a trip or two and a few shows to see this summer. I’m so excited to see Jim Gaffigan soon!