Hey guys.
I did it. I found my way back. Like, in a real way. I keep hearing and reading about doing what we love and loving what we do and you know what? Me, not writing, was kind of like me not thinking about tacos. Only, kinda worse, you know?
Anyway, I’ve found a way to schedule writing and reading and commenting.
I promise it’ll be better than the new Full House or even slicker than those Detroit Lions throwback jerseys, which actually look like a kid just peeled all the Lions stickers off. I’m grateful for a chance to breathe some new life around her.
I’m grateful for the chance to re-engage new friends here and post some long-overdue guests posts and maybe even see some of my old bloggish friends return.
So my weeks will look like this:
Monday: Just me. Writing. Maybe mindfully.
Wednesday: Go Ask Daddy returns, at a new time.
Thursday: Guest posts. I have a ton!
Friday: Gratitude and shit. I’m kidding. Just gratitude.
Saturday-Sunday: Weekend Reads. I have a lot saved up too.
And, it’s Friday, so how’s about stuff I’m grateful for?

1-Dreams. Even better: plans. I’m using the app Todoist. If you don’t get to everything on your to-do list, it’ll reschedule where it sees fit. Can it also match my socks?
2-Conversations with Hayden in the morning. Just three weeks after ACL surgery, the kid is off crutches. She’ll walk to the table to sign her letter of intent next Thursday.
3-My ability to donate double red blood cells. They’re able to give my blood donation to babies and cancer patients. So worth it in exchange for Oreos any Coke in tiny cans.

4-Mantras. “Do your best, release the rest,” is a good one. “Don’t wait for brunch, it’s Capn Crunch” is another winner.
5-Easy nights to actually rest. There haven’t been many. I haven’t enjoyed them fully. When I get another one, in 2019 or 2020, I promise to enjoy every moment.
6-Meditation. It has saved my life. No exaggeration. Without a still mind, I’m not sure how I could have navigated this life. Challenges can take your breath away.

7-Crowded coffee shops that turn into hour-long conversations at a table in the sun. Sometimes not getting the seat you want puts you in a better place.
8-Positive mindsets. It’s not always. Sometimes, it’s not often. But then there are moments its emerges from junk. And it feels more like default than an effort.
9-That feeling when you sort shit out before your day. Again, not always. Not often, in fact. But when you do, you feel Captain AF.
10-Lightness. Air. Humanity. Compassion. Sometimes they feel like they’ve been furloughed. But they’re there. Working. Usually without pay. Four horsemen of Zen.
Sorting shit out before your day – man, isn’t that the best feeling ever? I can’t tell you the last time that’s happened for me, but when it does, it’s pure gold.
I’ve been gone a long time, too, but sometimes I thinks that’s what it takes to make sense of it all. Sometimes things have to come apart at the seams so it all starts to fit better.
I’ve been searching for a lightness, too, and I’m touching it these days. It feels like a snowflake on my tongue, fleeting and wonderful and cold enough to make me pay attention.
It’s so beautiful.
Welcome back, Eli.
Kind of fitting you’d be the first welcoming me back, Core. Welcome back to you too. What a !@#$! incredible day.
Lightness is there and I see it best when I’m not looking. When I stick to the plan. When I don’t waver. Because when you don’t waver sometimes it looks like you’re walking through sewage and broken glass or at least through a vegetarian marketplace, but then before you know it there’s the sweet smell of vanilla or that spongy ground they make for playgrounds or even a cheeseburger and doesn’t that make it worthwhile?
Even if the vanilla and squishy ground and burger aren’t there yet, or you don’t know when they’ll come or where they’ll come from. Because whatever part of the journey you’re on, that’s what you’re supposed to have. And very rarely is the path really strewn with sewage and broken glass.
Ah. It just feels good to write. Even if the last time I sorted shit out was when Flock of Seagulls was in the record store.
Welcome back, Eli. You already feel the power of choosing for yourself – what feeds your soul – quite literally. Your gratitude list is wonderful, and sprinkled with your sense of humor, is so much fun to read. I hope you will honor the gift you have by continuing to share you and your writing with all of your readers. And…you’re right about meditation. Talk about soul food! 😉
Thanks, Carrie, for being here. Love how you put that, about choosing ourselves. Who else can if we won’t?
Soul food for sure. I’m so glad to be here with friends again.
Welcome back! A positive mindset is definitely something we’re all striving for, isn’t it? I’m glad you’ve found a way to bring blogging back to your life. I know I need to probably blog a little less this year, to fit in other things, but I can’t imagine NOT blogging. Also, that’s awesome your blood can go to babies and cancer patients!!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Thanks, Lauren! It doesn’t even have to be perfect, but moving toward positivity makes such a difference.
I’m glad you *do* blog. I miss visiting your page!
Welcome back my friend! I have missed your words and I cannot wait to see what you have up your sleeve! I am just getting started with meditation and wow. It’s amazing. I had tried yoga awhile back which has some similar practices, but I would find myself too caught up in making sure I was doing the poses right that my mind just wasn’t quieted or calm. Straight up meditation? That calms me right the F down. And I love it. Anyway, here’s to 2019 being a fantastic year. Great to have you back.
So good to be back Beth – I felt so bad seeing you guys reading and sharing and having nothing to share.
Isn’t meditation the best? Meditation makes everything easier, even yoga! Love being back among the posse!
Great to see you back, Eli. I think we have all had a time when life explodes and leaves crap strewn across our landscape. I found it refreshing to be free of the baggage for a moment, and some of the detritus never made it back in the baggage. 😊 While it is a pain in the patootie it often makes the journey easier. Here’s to a lighter load. 🍸
It’s awesome to be among friends. Landscape crap is the worst. I also love that you introduced the word ‘detritus’ to this space!
Here’s to lighter loads and more words written and read!
Ha. “Detritus” is on my favorite word list. Here’s to a 2019 worth celebrating.
Glad to see you show up in my reader today. Thank you for an amazing post, topped off with one of my favorite Melody Beattie quotes.
It was awesome to be back in the reader, Kath! Melody nailed it with that one, didn’t she?
welcome back, eli. i can feel your positivity coming off the page. i knew you were never far away. i love the positive approaches you’ve taken in your life
beth, thank you. i’ve just missed this all. i feel like i got benched like joey harrington. i miss this crowd!
ha, poor joey, haven’t thought about him in a long time. ) glad you’re back on the field –
poor joey indeed. there should be a club for quarterbacks like him. i’d want to join!
Grateful to see you here. “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” ~ Herm Albright
Meems, so great to see you. Herm’s quote is worth every minute of positivity!
Welcome back! Nice list of thankfuls, especially donating blood.
Thanks! I try to go back the day I’m eligible to donate again. (Last time they gave me ice cream, so there’s that.)
Welcome back! Sounds like you are off to a great start. Love your list! Life can definitely get complicated, I am glad you found a way to at least stay partially sane! 🙂
Thank you! I’m so looking forward to reading posts next. Sustained partial sanity is as much as I could ask for!
Welcome Back Coach! Gratitude and shit is cool! I can feel the lightness in this post! I should work on meditation but Im afraid I will just fall asleep. But maybe thats good, because sleep is always good right? Glad to hear ACL surgery recover is underway! Sending you guy all the best and hoping life goes easy on yall and you have more than just a few easy nights! Glad you are back!
Thank you, Kim! Maybe I should just do a feature and call it Gratitude and Shit. So glad you could feel the mood of this post.
Your visit means a lot to me!
Great to have you back in the blogsphere, Eli. Hope 2019 is a better year for all of us. Looking forward to reading your posts. _へ__(‾◡◝ )>
The best part of being back is being back in touch with my friends. Here’s to a great 2019 for you, too. I miss your place!
I miss the 6-word challenge. ( ᐛ )و
Duly noted! There’s one in the works, in fact. I need to send out more invites …
(*’∀’人)
Great to have you back! I’ve actually been slacking a lot on the writing lately, but I’ve really been making an effort this week, and it feels great. I need to get that app….sounds great. And those mantras…the best.
Thanks for stopping by Shann! I’ll be so glad to see your words again. That app helps free my mind – I am not continuously running through a to-do list I must remember because I put things in the app as I think of them.
And the app schedules it for me!
Hey there, friend. Welcome back. Gratitude is a powerful thing. Love mantras. Love the crab cakes even more. They’re from the land of my people. Perhaps I’ll find myself returning to the blogging world, too.
Ouch, ACL surgery is no joke. I wish her a swift recovery. I love your ‘gratitude and shit’ on your schedule. LOLOL
I’ve been slack-jacking a shit ton in the last year, it’s awful. But I digress. 🙂
Yes to donating blood and positive mindsets. Good to see you back my friend. 🙂
Xo
I so hated to see Hayden have to go through it, but she has been the model patient. You know, gratitude and shit really resonates, doesn’t it?
I’ve slack-jacked on reading your words lately. Let’s both get back on track.
Oh it’s so good to be back. It’s like a 10-pack of tacos for my soul good.