Friday, December 10, 2010

Friday Five - Uplifting

Today's Friday Five invites us to consider "Who or what lifts you up when you're down?" This seems to be a particularly appropriate end to my week. It's been incredibly stressful and difficult, but it's also been a fantastic week. So as I reflect on the week, I am thinking about the things that helped to make it fabulous. In general, these things always help to lift me up, but they have been especially helpful this week.

Hugs - From a friend or a stranger, a person or a pet. I'm a huggy person, so I love getting hugs almost as much as I love giving them.

Singing - What I like to sing changes, but there are a few songs from my "Fun Mix" that are my great sing-along songs. In particular: "Defying Gravity" from the soundtrack of Wicked, "Blessed Be the Name" by LaRue, "Ever Ever After" by Carrie Underwood from the soundtrack of Enchanted, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John and Kiki Dee, "Take Me or Leave Me" from the soundtrack of Rent, and "Smell the Color Nine" by Chris Rice

Children's Books - I love love love picture books, with their lovely artwork and simple but profound messages. Pretty much whatever I can get my hands on. Right now I'm loving The Wemmicks, Curious George, and Dr. Seuss.

Chocolate - Especially chocolate covered nuts or mint chocolate things. And chocolate milk or milkshakes.

Therapy - I have a really fantastic therapist who is the perfect fit for me right now and I am so incredibly thankful for that. Even though it's lots of work, it's a wonderful release and when it's over I leave feeling energized and excited about the work that is still to be done, not drained and defeated by it. If you're looking for a good therapist in the Birmingham area, I will happily share the center's information with you!

I have one that was not an integral part of this week, but still always helps, and that's Chicken and Dumplings. That's always been my ultimate comfort food and it never fails to make me feel warm and happy inside (literally and figuratively)

And our bonus question today was around the song "Jingle Bell Rock." I really have no strong feelings about this one. It's not a favorite, but I don't hate it either. After I hear it for a month, like most songs, it gets on my nerves. But I always enjoy it when I hear it each year!

What uplifts you. Do any of these things do it for you or is it something totally different?

8 comments:

  1. Children's books are such fun; have you ever looked at "Miss Rumphius" by Barbara Cooney? It has a life message in it. And chocolate is uplifting, though I am selective these days, only buying fair trade chocolate.

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  2. Mmmmm, I love Chicken and Dumplings too, but my partner and I have different ideas of what a dumpling is. So I don't make them, just order them at Cracker Barrel when we go there.

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  3. Thanks be for therapy! And singing. Great play.

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  4. :-) Hugs..love it, and the singing.

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  5. GREAT list! And if I could find a therapist like yours, I'd go. Sigh...onward and upward! Lalalalalala!

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  6. Comfort food, especially when someone else makes it! And of course hugs are great. Especially when someone else initiates them.

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  7. Therapy and care of the self is always a good idea! I love music but have to say that off hand I don't know any of the selections you mentioned...(that speaks more about where I'm at these days, than YOU)....and yes, chocolate. always, chocolate.

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  8. Ah, chicken and dumplings! My mother used to make them. I did once, using a recipe from Cook's Illustrated -- took all day as I recall -- family loved it though.

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