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31 Days to Keep a Tender Heart: October 31

 
Well, I did it. I blogged for 31 days on one topic.
I was reminded of last fall when I blogged almost every day during Fire in the Night. I find that having a challenge to write daily helps me to write more. But, I also tend to put pressure on myself to do it perfectly, which means that I have to post every day. I intentionally chose not to blog on Sundays, to give myself a day of rest, and I took a few more days when I didn’t have anything to write. This protected me from the pressure of perfection because I started with an imperfect goal.
I hope that my heart is tenderer today, October 31, than it was on October 1. But, I am realizing more and more that I have to fight to keep a tender heart. Pursuing the goal to write about having a tender heart almost daily helped me to do more heart checks and take action when I discovered hardened places.
I haven’t had any big discoveries or significant insights. The only thing that felt really different was that I was inviting others into what I was thinking and feeling on a more regular basis. What was happening with me became the material for my posts and I opened the door for other people to see behind my “fine” façade. So many of you shared wonderful feedback with me and I really appreciated your words and reactions.
I have come to accept that I am a “blogger”, though this was much more difficult for me to see than it was for so many of you. I really do enjoy writing. And, I think that there is something valuable and vulnerable and healing in sharing my thoughts and feelings in a public way on a regular basis. I don’t know how often I will be posting now that October is finishing, but I have the intention to make it a regular habit.
Still Counting Gifts:
·         #625: How Lily always waits to greet me just outside the bathroom door
·         #626: Making coffee
·         #627: God values me and my work, however small we may seem
·         #628: Teaching others how to fight for joy and overcome suffering
·         #629: Doing things for the first time
·         #630: When Karyn picks out my clothes and everyone complements my outfit
·         #631: Finding a TV show to share
·         #632: Going home at the end of the day

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