Fresh FIGs: Gratitude Collective Week #2

For anyone joining for the first time—welcome! Here’s a peek at last week’s basket of fresh “FIGs“.

Before I dive into the literal dozens of FIGs we’ve collectively gathered over the past seven days, I need to pause and say: your participation and enthusiasm mean more to me than I can adequately put into words. I know it’s cliche… but it’s true!! I believe this little band of online gratitude warriors is doing powerful stuff! When we intentionally notice what’s good, I can’t help but think we become more patient, more generous, and more understanding.

So—thank you, thank you, thank you.

Okay! Let’s talk FIGs.

I love when fig terminology pops up in “real life”. A book I was reading referenced the passage in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar where she used a fig tree as a metaphor for life choices:

I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor…and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila…and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.

It’s a haunting image.

But what struck me is how our current gratitude practice feels like a gentle antidote to that paralysis. Instead of starving under the fig tree, we gather and notice! We fill our proverbial baskets! We don’t have to choose just one shining future—we can savour the small sweetnesses already within reach.

FIG COLLECTORS AROUND THE INTERWEBS

Kae is up first. She tracks daily gratitude prompts on a spreadsheet! Her FIGs included:

• An empty grocery store.
• Her hot tub. [She’s trying to convince me to get one; I think she’s right—our family would LOVE it.]
• Church and dinner with her son.
• Warm weather.
• New workouts (helpfully designed by ChatGPT!)
• A free iced tea.
• A phone call with her dad.
• A dual-monitor setup for work. [Sing it, sister! 2+ monitors forever!]
• The Olympics.
• A couch nap.
• Holding a new puppy (Canelo).

For SO MANY MORE FIGs, check out her full post.

Sarah already has a well-established daily gratitude practice and is continuing strong in February, recording her FIGs (she calls them “One Good Thing”) in her Midori Hibino. Highlights: a walk-and-talk with Kae, a mani/pedi, Pilates, finishing a long stretch of clinical days, and the Super Bowl. (More details here.)

Suzanne‘s post is overflowing with FIGs: sunshine, butter melting over warm sourdough bread [YES PLEASE!!!], the weather, a treadmill that miraculously revived itself, apple crisp bars, and a family movie night featuring an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Stephany‘s basket included: watching the Olympics with friends, the Super Bowl, her rheumatologist, a walk in the sunshine, and flexible work conditions.

Rebecca recorded another week of FJIGs:

• February 8th: On a cold, grey, damp, and frankly miserable day, there is something extra wonderful about delicious food and curling up under a blanket to watch the Olympics. [Yes, yes, and yes!]
• February 9th: The sun came out after several cold grey days, and the chickens’ favorite dust-bath location was apparently open for business. They made a “poultry pile” for some communal grooming, and it was hilariously adorable. Bonus FJIG: Mr made the most amazing guacamole to go with our burrito pan dinner.
• February 10th: Y’all. The sun is out full force and we are well above freezing! Like in the 60s. It was warm enough to uncover my pansies and do some flower work, and then I indulged in some quality time with the chickens. Pecan was especially glad to get cuddles and climb all over my shoulders. Bonus FJIG: A dazzlingly bright sun dog in the sky!
• February 11th: Family dinner night with my parents, brother + his fam, which meant not only lots of cute kiddo time but also visiting the family cats! Bonus FJIG: A book I’ve been on hold for forever was finally returned, nearly 2 months overdue! Yay for happy library holds pickup day! [As a fellow reader, truer words have never been spoken.]
• February 12th: Leftovers in the fridge means dinner is already cooked.
• February 13th: After clocking a 45-minute walk, I officially walked every day Monday-Friday this week! Yay! I rewarded myself with an afternoon of figure skating and crochet.
• February 14th: A lovely day adventuring with Mr, featuring an enormous burger, a trip to Starbucks {of course}, and finding cats in the greenhouse.

She writes: One of the biggest takeaways so far in this month-long project is definitely celebrating the small things. And I think we’re all discovering and embracing this too. As I mentioned in a comment somewhere: anyone can see the big things, but the small things are for our hearts. [Love this!]

Julie’s list includes blog-friend texts, a porcupine (yup, you read that right!), yoga, LEGO, and flowering trees. What a diverse lineup!

• Saturday – Facebook Memories
• Sunday – Pretty Sunrise
• Monday – Rest Days
• Tuesday – Flowering Trees
• Wednesday – Plant Advice
• Thursday – My Blog Friends
• Friday – Black Power Kitty
• Saturday – Penelope the Porcupine
• Sunday – Yoga

Sophie is sharing FIGs from Australia.

• Her son’s smooth transition to school.
• Making a deadline to submit a sample of her Young Adult Urban Fantasy novel for a commercial fiction Masterclass. [All the gold stars for this, Sophie!!!]
• Coffee shops (including that they open by 6 am).
• Rain and cooler weather.
• Flexible work so she can help a friend who broke her leg. [I’m sure this means so much to her!]
• Her daughter’s enthusiasm for rock climbing classes and her Tamagotchi. [Love the throwback!]
• Cuddles.
• A NYT subscription.
• Roasted tomatoes (and the oven that cooks them)!
• Waking up to bird song.
• Reading to her kids.

For lots more gratitude, check out her full post.

It’s not always rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes there’s incessant drilling during a massage. Sometimes you spill protein powder everywhere. Sometimes the dentist costs a small fortune. Jenny kept things real with some “anti-FIGs” (we can ALL RELATE), but also celebrated a happy blogger meetup (Darlene and Debbie)!

Later, she was back with a FIGgy post which included a birthday celebration for her cat, Foxy, who turned 1 on Valentine’s Day!

She also surprised her husband with a book of special poems… and was thankful for face cream, good books, sleeping in, and chocolate!

Nicole is feeling grateful for all the wonderful adventures from her trip to Southeast Asia, along with the warm reception her book Inhale Exhale is receiving. Plus… Galentine’s Day!!!

Lindsay went above and beyond, serving up a baker’s dozen of freshly baked FIGs. Here are just a few:

• Her dog Maysie.
• Learning about the history of libraries.
• Exchanging memes of “hope and solidarity” with a friend.
• Tai chi.
• Reading Inhale Exhale.
• A warm chai latte.
• Light on the drive home from work!
• Warm, soft chocolate chip cookies. [Pair that with a warm chai latte and Inhale Exhale and you have yourself a perfect afternoon of reading ahead!]

For lots more, check out her post here…

On a day when I was emotionally wobbly, I received the most beautiful email from Engie. It MADE my day.

She wrote:

1. Last year I won a giveaway on your blog that contained a Canadian flag ornament, some maple syrup, and some lip balm. Can I tell you that I have had this lip balm in my heated vest pocket and my winter coat pocket all winter long and it’s the BEST lip balm ever? I would never have discovered it without you. I’m obsessed with it. 

2. On your January demerits and gold stars post, I mentioned that I had been procrastinating on dealing with a contact lens rebate. That post spurred me to get going and do the things and I got an email yesterday that I should get it in the mail in 7-10 days. Woot woot! I probably would still have it on my to-do list if your post hadn’t encouraged me to action.

So, I’m grateful for you and your lovely presence on the Interwebs. 

In addition to these lovely FIGs (I’m blushing), Engie shared a post chockablock full of delightful FIGS including:

• Being home by herself. [One of my favourite things EVER!]
• Her good health.
• Warmer weather (no winter boots required for walking Hannah)!
• An art museum scavenger hunt. [So cool! I need to do this with the kids in Europe.]

• Zelda the cat. [Obviously.]

Diane’s basket is overflowing (see the full post here):

• Sunlight in the morning. On Tuesday, I did my daily morning yoga in my bedroom instead of the basement. I pulled up my shade, and as I was doing my upward dog, I noticed that I could see pink sky when I had been used to the sky still being inky black at 7am in the morning. The days are starting to get longer.
• On the other side of the day, I walked out of work at 5:30pm one day and it was still light outside. After all those days of being stuck at home with the snow, the longer stretches of daylight are like fingers of hope and growth and the end of the tunnel.
• Our tax guy. I had to fill out new tax paperwork as part of the transition at work, and I was so very confused by the form. So I sent my tax guy an email and he told me exactly what to write in. Thank goodness.
• Getting to watch the 14 year old play basketball twice -once for her middle school team and once on her rec team. Her face always lights up when she sees me at her games, and I hope mine does too. [Awww!!]
• Getting to pick up the kids after school. That moment they get off the school bus lifts my heart. I hope I never get tired of my kids coming home.
• To that end – school bus drivers. Some of the roads still are barely passable because the snow has not been cleared out to the curb. Grateful for the bus drivers that navigate that and get our kids to and from school safely.
• That quiet sliver of time between getting home with the kids and starting dinner. A few times last week, the 6 year old and I got the watercolours out and made a piece of art or two. A relaxing transition from the work/school day into the evening.
• Crisp clean sheets to slide between after a long day.
• Birdsongs and fat robins hopping in the snow. Spring is coming.
• A quiet office before the rest of my team arrives. I try to get to work half an hour before the rest of the stage managers get in; I love the stillness of the office in the morning and the ability to knock off some tasks without interruption.

Sarah came in clutch this weeks with some amazing FIGs:

• Walking with Annabel.
• A cookie-frosting kit.
• A clean car!
• Gilded Age mansions.
• Sunrises…
• Sunsets…

Joy O’Toole sent pictures of her FIG list and wrote the following:

It was a lower key week, thankfully, but there were many things to enjoy, especially the sunshine and warmer temperatures which melted much of the ice. 

Inspired by a new penpal, I started making some miniature journals and folios on my snow days and spent a happy afternoon making something new. 

Reading and books are always FIGS for me and so is my writing group, which meets in the early morning for accountability.

I’ve been eating my grandmother’s clam chowder all my life. It’s always delicious. 

On Valentine’s Day, I made brownies and scattered conversation hearts on top for a fun addition. 

Sunday afternoon naps are always a blessing. [Oh how I love a luxurious Sunday afternoon nap!]

mbmom11 listed:

• cats
• hot showers
• sunshine
• a much-needed heart-to-heart with a friend (she found a hand-made card to send to her as well!)

Among other things, Sam was thankful for: the Olympics, laughter, family, and the “gift” of a true sick day.

And from San,: Green Day (in particular, their performance at the Super Bowl), coffee, Valentine’s mail, and an all-clear at the dentist!

ELISABETH’S FIGS

8 Feb (Sunday)

• 63 | Sleeping in.
• 64 | Josy-Anne’s presentation about Bible translation.
• 65 | Small group. No words for what these people mean to me.
• 66 | People e-mailing me their FIGs!!
• 67 | Skiing at dusk with Indy.

• 68 | Belle made (delicious) pizza. How lovely to come home to supper!
• 69 | A hot shower.
• 70 | In bed by 8:50 pm!
• 71 | People who love me. How fortunate am I…?

9 February (Monday)

• 72 | Sunshine on snow.
• 73 | Instant Pot pasta for supper.
• 76 | Pickleball.

10 February (Tuesday)

• 77 | Clean floors.
• 79 | Canada won silver in a mixed speed skating event; watched it live with Indy which made it more fun.
• 80 | Wreaths and mantle swag are down… it had to happen and it’s done!

• 81 | I’m OFFICIALLY PART OF MEDIAVINE!
• 84 | Sunshine. Always sunshine.
• 85 | Worship music on Google speakers.

• 86 | Skiing. It was perfect.
• 87 | Friendship.
• 88 | Belle cooking; impromptu dinner guests.

11 February (Wednesday)

• 90 | Mom and Dad’s for supper.
• 91 | John got an earlier flight home.

12 February (Thursday)

• 92 | Safe travels for John.
• 94 | A hot shower.
• 95 | An evening nap AND a solid night of sleep.

13 February (Friday)

• 96 | Sunshine.
• 97 | T4s are done!!!
• 98 | Errands. A loooong list crossed off.
• 99 | Sushi takeout for supper.
• 100 | A new raincoat on sale.
• 101 | Leftover salmon pasta for lunch.
• 102 | E-mail from Engie. I’m part of her FIGs <3
  

14 February (Saturday)

• 103 | John. Always and forever my Valentine.

• 104 | A funny meme from Kae.

• 105 | Volleyball.
• 106 | Sunshine and efficient errands and a walk!
• 109 | At-home date night.

That’s a wrap. Let’s look at our harvest.

Sunshine. Hot showers. Text messages. Puppies. Tax help. Guacamole. Clean floors. Birdsong. Library holds. Lip balm. Memes. Blogger meetups. The Olympics. Family dinners. Gilded Age mansions. Sick days.

I love it!

• What was your favourite FIG this week?
• Did someone else’s FIG inspire you to notice something in your own life?