Okay lovely members of the Finding Joy in Gratitude (F.I.G.) Collective. It’s time to talk FIGs! (If you’re wondering about the hullabaloo, here’s some context.)
FIG COLLECTORS AROUND THE INTERWEBS
Julie, Engie, and Jenny started collecting FIGs in January (Week 0). I’m awarding each of you extra gold stars for your enthusiasm to start practicing early.
Julie, Jenny, Allison, and Lindsay have also posted their Week 1 FIGs; if you haven’t already had a chance to review their lists, I promise these posts are MOOD BOOSTERS. You will also be rewarded with cute photos of cats, stories about bloggers meeting in person, an adorable birthday slideshow, and what I am unofficially dubbing winner of the “Most Unlikely Setting for a FIG” category which was…at a wake.
Let’s all take a deep breath before pausing to admire this sunrise Engie was fortunate enough to witness on an early morning walk with her dog, Hannah. Here’s what she wrote:
“Look at this sunrise from Tuesday!! Wisconsin in winter is not my favorite but just look at this gorgeousness. I am grateful both Hannah and I are healthy enough to walk to our local park to see views like this. I am grateful the air is clean. I am grateful it is safe enough for us to walk there in the dark by ourselves. I am grateful that I have the appropriate winter outerwear so that I can take this walk and be comfortable. Every morning walk is a treasure.”
ccr’s first FIG was meeting Philbert the egret, and yes her post contains pictures of her new avian friend.
Joy (O’Toole) sent me a photo of of her FIG printable. Seeing a paper copy made my heart so happy!
Here’s a more detailed description of Joy’s FIGs for the first week:
- Making sourdough bread – backstory: I did a class at the library on this and 60 people showed up. It was so fun. [That does sound fun! I’ve never made sourdough bread but now I’m hungry!]
- Roman’s Bible study video on Romans 8 – one of my favorites.
- A book so good that I lost track of time while reading – was almost late for work…oops. [You know I’ve been struggling to put down engaging books recently. A good book can be such an wonderfully immersive experience. For the purposes of my sleep hygiene, sometimes too immersive!]
- 50 degrees and sunny for my morning walk – what a delight to get too warm while walking and feel the sunshine on my face.
- Meeting with my writers group- such great writing and getting in the weeds with them on their work is so fun.
- Baxter’s ear is healed! – Our Maine Coon boy cat has had an ear infection for months and after much money, medication, and a small surgery, it’s finally gone.
- Haircut today! – overdue, for sure.
Suzanne, who is posting her F.I.G. roundup today, sent me a photo of these cheery tulips. She writes:
“I am grateful for their beauty, and because they remind me that spring is coming…It was a rough week, but when I look back on it from a FIG perspective, it was full of treasures.”
mbmom11 send along some of her FIGs from the week:
- I ran races with a toddler cutie while his big brother played basketball with my kids. So much fun. [If anyone can find joy in the moment, it’s toddlers!]
- 2. I found the right clinic for my kid. The first visit was today – I’m walking much lighter now. [Wishing you a wholly positive experience and I’m so glad it has already provided stress relief.]
- 3. A goofy but modest cat. [The Modest Cat. Does anyone else think that sounds like a comic book character in the making?]
ELISABETH’S FIGs
In a twist that should surprise no one, the printable was woefully undersized for recording all my FIGs. Instead, I turned to a notebook John gifted me for Christmas (brand-new in package at a thrift store; a December FIG – who said I can’t do this retroactively). Voila – it is now my official FIG record. I write down the date and then however many FIGs I can recall at the end of each day. I’ve numbered them so I can watch my collection grow over time!
Here’s a selection from the week:
1 Feb (Saturday)
- 1 | Pink cheeks from the cold snow; outside with friends.
- 2 | Watching Mom dice carrots; her precise method and just having her at my table with a willingness to help.
- 6 | Late-night outdoor play with friends; glowsticks and twinkle lights in a winter wonderland.
- 7 | Peanut butter cups in my ice cream.
- 12 | Library staff that know me well (my account was open before I made it to the front desk).
2 Feb (Sunday)
- 22 | A hot shower and clean hair.
- 26 | Kids settled early in bed.
3 Feb (Monday)
- 27 | Rapping to Ice, Ice Baby in the SUV with the kids at 8:30 pm.
- 29* | Coming home from skating: Belle had emptied the dishwasher, cleaned her room, moved my laundry from the dryer, done her laundry, cleaned the shared bathroom, set the table, and prepped her school lunch for the next day. The only thing I prompted her on before I left the house was the bathroom, so I was blown away.
*Trust me, there were some less-happy parenting moments this week, but those didn’t end up on my list.
4 Feb (Tuesday)
- 30 | The smell of the hairdresser’s shampoo (was it peach?).
- 33 | Belle’s enthusiasm when recounting details of her school ski trip.
- 36 | Seeing Indy in his bedtime garb – it’s hard to take him seriously with no shirt, Christmas PJ bottoms, a robe, and fuzzy reindeer slippers. Melts my heart.
5 Feb (Wednesday)
- 37 | My heated foot mat.
- 39 | Peach and Mango Bubly. They’re both such delicious flavours.
- 41 | Belle’s dry sense of humour.
- 42 | Cottage cheese.
6 Feb (Thursday)
- 46* | Indy spending a birthday gift card + allowance at a sporting goods store – when the cashier totalled the bill she asked if he wanted to round up with the donation going toward a national program dedicated to ensuring all kids get access to sports. He said an enthusiastic “Yes”. His reasoning? “I play sports and I want other kids to get to play them too!” It made me happy to see him so willingly spending his own money to help others.
- 47 | Hitting FIVE consecutive green lights.
- 48 | My new socks fit!
- 50 | I tried black coffee and it wasn’t half bad. For some reason this feels like a life victory?
- 52 | A crispy, buttery, gooey grilled cheese sandwich for supper alongside tangy quick-pickled cucumber slices.
*Ditto above – it wasn’t all empathy and generosity. There was lots of button pushing and sibling fighting and selfish behaviour, too.
7 Feb (Friday)
- 56 | That I restocked healthy-adjacent snacks on Tuesday so we could grab breakfast replacements at 5:55 am.
- 57 | That I never have to think about cost or eligibility when I visit outpatients. Our system has so many flaws, but I believe deeply in publicly-funded healthcare.
- 58 | That Belle remembers (and specifically brought up) that time years ago she woke up sick in the middle of the night and I went in to care for her and we ended up on the couch watching Sugar Rush at 2 am. Just the two of us. She said it’s her best “sick memory”.
- 59 | Doctors. Nurses. X-ray technicians. Intake staff. Workers who keep the hospital clean, manage the technology, clear the walkways of snow. The volunteer greeter who genuinely seems to care.
- 60 | NO PNEUMONIA!!!
- 63 | Indy bought BodyArmour on Thursday. Water made her feel sick. We so rarely have an electrolyte drink in the house; this was perfect timing to have a bottle in the house and he willingly gave her his beloved treat*.
- 64 | For money to pay for fuel/electricity in these bitterly cold winter months. What a blessing, yet I so rarely stop and appreciate the sheer magnitude of that privilege.
- 67 | John/Daddy’s home. What a joyous relief for everyone.
- 68 | A delicious waffle for supper. Every bite was a treat.
*When the chips are down, their true colours shine – they are two wonderful kids who love each other deeply. But…oh do they ever have their moments.
That wraps up the first week of FIG collection. Now it’s your turn.
- Are you collecting FIGs this February?
- If so, what has been your favourite FIG?
- What’s your biggest barrier to establishing a gratitude practice (time, circumstances, personality)?
- If you have siblings did you/do you fight with them?
- What’s your best “sick memory”?
I’m going to take (at least) Monday off since this is a bonus post. Keep on counting FIGs – your Monday FIG can be having one less blog post to read!
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coco
this is so nice to read! I was going to do it but the jet lag and endless to do things during my non-hallucination hours of the day just went by too fast! I will live through your ladies.
I used to write down gratitude things in my journal, I find it easy when I am intentional about it, then I forget and stop noting them. should get back to the practice.
Elisabeth
It does tend to take intention as it’s so easy to let moments slip by without recognizing how much there is to appreciate.
San
I posted my F.I.G.s for the week today and I read everyone else’s and it was so nice to see all the small happy things that people were able to find in their day to day light, even though things feel so heavy right now. But it’s a good reminder that there’s always something to smile about.
I think my favorite F.I.G. of the week was being back home in my own space and sleeping in my own bed and being reunited with my Peloton. These things give me a bit of stability in an unstable world.
Elisabeth
Routine can be such a comfort in tough times. I can completely relate to the relief of being home in your own space with things that help you feel grounded <3
Lisa’s Yarns
Hooray for John being home! I know he’s been gone on back-to-back trips, which is really hard on the family. I’m so impressed by the number of things that you noted this week. I only put one thing down per day! My gratitude muscle definitely needs some work. The highlight of my week was definitely the blogger lunch on Wednesday. That is probably going to be one of the highlights of my year as those ladies were all so delightful!
Elisabeth
Awww. How awesome that everything worked out for you all to get together for a sunny meetup in Florida.
Yeah, back-to-back trips are tough; though much easier at this stage in parenting versus when they were toddlers!
Suzanne
This was such a mood booster, Elisabeth! Thank you so much for leading the gratitude charge!
Elisabeth
Thanks for participating. I loved reading your list <3
Jenny
Ooh, I love Engie’s description of her early morning walks. I agree- my favroite FIGS from the week were the sunrises! I loved reading this, and I have to go back and read everyone else’s posts.
Why do kids have to bicker so much??? I guess we just have to accept it. I know my sister and I did when we were little (ugh, SO sorry Mom and Dad!) It’s sweet that Indy and Belle love each other so much though. Just keep that in mind in the low moments!
Elisabeth
You know how I feel about early mornings; I’m a lot more likely to see sunsets 😉
The bickering crescendoed last night and my goodness it was intense. And then, this morning, it was like they were the best of friends. Whiplash, but I do realize it’s normal. Maybe it’s part of social development? Being able to learn how to deal with conflict, assert power, etc. I never relish a conflict, but I suppose they ARE learning some things in a safe environment. I’d rather they bicker at home where they can retreat to their own rooms or go for a walk to cool off versus fighting with someone at school!
Lindsay
Thank you for celebrating these FIGs, Elisabeth, as well as for reminding me to look for them! My biggest barriers are a swirling mind and a lifelong mental block around letting myself savor things like this (that I’m working on!). It’s such a joy, and one I hope to continue beyond February.
PS: I’m so excited, I’ve never gotten a Superlative before haha!
Elisabeth
I can so relate to a mental block about savouring. I think my default, for most of my life if I’m being honest, has been to feel suspicious if I feel content or relaxed. It’s like my brain starts screaming: “Something’s not right??! You’re not stressed enough. Go do something!”
Thanks for participating and congrats on your win 🙂
Birchie
That’s a nice fig harvest for the first week!
My fig list was a bit easy this week – the stars aligned so that I got to go to FL and meet four of our favorite people.
Elisabeth
If only we were all so lucky to have that as a FIG this week, but I’m delighted everything worked out. It sounds like it was 2 hours that you’ll appreciate for a lifetime.
Jan Coates
The “sick memory” that jumped into my mind was from when my mum was living/dying with us for her last six months. I was helping her use the bathroom one day, and I asked her if she was mad about what was happening to her at the young age of 70. She looked at me in great surprise, and said: “I feel like I’m the luckiest woman on earth.” She was so happy to have us caring for her during those months. And I’m grateful that the frigid snap has disappeared for the moment and for getting to work with four enthusiastic, smart 10-year-olds on their writing projects for six consecutive weeks:)
Elisabeth
What a wise reflection from your mother. I think we tend to have choices about how we respond to adversity and how wonderful she felt cared for and loved, despite less-than-ideal circumstances.
I’m sure it is a mutual joy with the writing mentorship <3
Nicole MacPherson
Wow, what a great week everyone has had with their figs! I feel like I am always collecting figs, often spurred by a beautiful sky or Rex snuggling me or my family just being themselves. But sometimes I have overwhelming gratitude for the house and having things like running water. Running water is amazing. So is electricity! Yesterday I had a Galentines party and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to have moved here and to have been folded into this really amazing circle of women. I will never not be grateful that my friend Sammi just took me under her wing, and here we are. She also gave me info about the best nail salon in town, and you can bet I’m grateful about that!
Elisabeth
Nicole, I love how gratitude comes so naturally to you. You are always on the lookout for joy and delight.
I appreciate the range of FIGs, too – running water to a nail salon!
Michelle G.
This was so lovely to read! Thank you for keeping positive things on our minds!
Elisabeth
My joy is multiplied reading about everyone else’s joy <3
Common Household Mom
These may not quite count as joy-finding. But it’s what I’ve got right now – noticing nature.
https://commonhousehold.blogspot.com/2025/02/noticing-nature.html
Elisabeth
These are definitely FIGs! Thanks for adding more to our growing collection.
Ernie
This post has some great gratitude moments and some that have made me reflect on some things that I don’t think of often. I didn’t do a formal post, or send you a list for you to post here (is that one option?) but I do feel like your gratitude collection technique has spurred me on to be more aware of the things I’m grateful for.
Last week I saw the most amazing sunset that I’ve ever seen while living in this house. We aren’t even on the beach. So unexpected.
Seeing my favorite high school teacher. I’d tried before, and then when it didn’t work, it slipped from my radar. We had a wonderful visit and I hope to see her again soon.
Coach and I met with the adoption therapist (sans kids) and discussed some tactics/ideas for some of the more irritating moments of this process. It prompted me to go out and buy a used Just Dance for the wii and we had a dance party in the basement last night.
A kid took a fall, and feared stitches and decided stitches weren’t necessary. Dang, these kids can worry me. But the humor in it helped balance it out.
Elisabeth
Sunsets and sunrises are some of the most spectacular experiences in life! They’re awe-inspiring, beautiful, and don’t cost a thing (which makes it even more special!)
I’m glad no stitches were required though – yikes – that doesn’t sound pleasant 🙁
Daria
Posted my fresh figs not too long ago. Little things but important nonetheless. Favorite fig?… Seeing L read independently to herself ❤️
Elisabeth
It is so fun when kids read to themselves. I do wish my kids loved reading more, but any time I see them reading it ALWAYS warms my heart.
Sophie
Love all these FIGs! I’ve been away at a conference this week and somehow all my intentions to do anything planned (FIG, strength training etc), just got forgotten- oops! But a bit later today I’ll do a weekly version of FIG week 1 and post on my blog- and for next week I’ll do it daily, as I’ll be back to routine.
Yay for free healthcare (as we have in Australia too) – I always marvel at that when we visit hospital too. And yay for no pneumonia, what a relief.
Elisabeth
It is such a relief to not have to manage antibiotics. It’s a nasty cold/flu/not sure what else, but it’s NOT pneumonia.
Jacquie
I love the abundance of F.I.G.s everyone is sharing! In addition to the hot chocolates, I’ve enjoyed receiving a wonderful text from our neighbour who celebrated a milestone she wanted to share with me, messaging with my niece who was touring Poland and Prague for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with her brother(he’s a history major), my weekly walk with friends, my birdfeeder keeping the locals fed through our snowy weather, revisiting old recipes and making bran muffins and oatmeal cookies that both my husband I agreed tasted just like we remember, binge-watching Better Call Saul with my husband, and adding more yoga moves to my workout routine thanks to viewing Nicole’s videos. It seems friends and food are what make me happy!
Elisabeth
Friends and food – those really are some of the best things on offer in life. Also, thanks for sending me those pictures of hot chocolate. YUM, they both look delicious and I loved the cookie wand. So whimsical.
Diane
I post things I’m grateful for on all my weekly posts, but this month, I’m making an effort to post at least seven every week, in the spirit of FIGS!
Sometimes I’ll come across something and think, “I’m so grateful for that!” and then by the time I sit down to write in my journal, I’ve forgotten what that thing was. I’m experimenting with keeping a list on my phone so I can jot them down when they come, but this doesn’t quite feel like the right solution because a) I’m trying to spend less time on my phone, and 2) I feel like the logistics of writing it down takes me out of the moment of gratitude in a way that feels performative to me.
So maybe I need to make peace with the fact that some gratitudes are fleeting, like the moment they are in and not remembering it does not make it less legitimate? Or maybe I need to find other ways to let the moment inhabit my being? Maybe if I am aggressively grateful for things, collecting many many many gratitudes, then the odds are that more moments will stick in my memory, like some kind of numbers game? Or maybe I’m just over-thinking this?
Elisabeth
I actually love the fact that some gratitude moments are fleeting and just…there and then gone. At this point I’m only recording FIGs at the end of the day, so there are lots of things that happen that I’m grateful for during the day that slip my mind (or I’m too lazy to write them down in the night). I think acknowledging gratitude in the moment is another side of to the gratitude practice. Stop, acknowledge it, and move on! There are no rules and if it starts to feel like a burden, it’s going to lose some of the fun!
I also sometimes just try to stop at a random point in the day and list some things I’m grateful for in that moment (like when I was grumpy about office work and then noticed things about it that I was grateful for). In that case I purposefully go looking for something to be grateful for; other times, things just seemingly fall into my path.
NGS
I was studying in DC for a semester in college and I went to visit my mom’s family in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving with one of my new friends. I walked in my Aunt Jackie and Uncle Paul’s house and got very very sick. Fever, bed, sleeping for hours. My family just took my friend in and when I wandered down in a haze twelve hours later, my friend was fighting with my cousin over whether or not yeti could legally be used in Scrabble. I was so grateful for my family right then – for allowing me to rest and rejuvenate and for taking in my friend and treating her like family. It is definitely my favorite sick memory.
Elisabeth
Thanks for sharing this; I can see why you have warm memories about that time. And I love that your friend allowed herself to be welcomed and made part of the family!
Also, I’m curious if yeti was judged to be legal?
NGS
I don’t know what the final ruling was because I was sort of out of it, but I feel like it has to be legal, right? It’s not a proper noun. Or is it? Why is this a thing I’m still thinking about twenty years later?!
Elisabeth
From everything I can deduce from my painstaking research (not), Yeti IS a proper noun.
Joy
I loved reading everyone’s FIGs!
Elisabeth
Me too! Wasn’t it so nice to see the range of everyone’s FIGs. I also love that they came in from different age groups and places around the world.
ccr in MA
I’m noticing, looking at my FIGs so far, how many of them are about enjoying getting together with friends. I can use this to motivate myself, when it feels like so much work to get out there—it’s worth it!
Elisabeth
I think friends (and food) are a common denominator in A LOT of the FIGs I’m seeing. It makes sense and I love your idea to have that motivate you!
Maria
This whole post was just wonderful to read! I hope Belle is better quickly and hooray for no pneumonia! I’m also always grateful for the staff of all kinds at the hospital here. So many people do little noticed work there, and so many other people do visible but difficult work. Two of my kids have a genetic issue and when we went for a blood test to confirm it in the baby last month I was so grateful for the phlebotomists who take the time to be compassionate and caring towards a screaming baby and her mom.
I got behind on recording my FIGs but will try to remember to send some for next time
Elisabeth
I am so glad she is not going through pneumonia again. Ugh. I think tomorrow both kids will be back to school and I AM READY!
Bedside manner is so crucial in one’s hospital experience. A few doctors/nurses etc stand out to me over the years.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Oh my gosh what a great list! I love Vanilla Ice! I wish I could be in the car with you guys rapping! Also is that pond the reservoir one? It kind of looks like that. You had so many good things. I have been keeping a list, but must have missed the memo about the weekly posting, oops! So I guess I owe you guys a post, but I will tell you one of my favorites! I was walking back from coffee (which was good too) and a man stopped me to ask directions and my instinct was to say “je suis desole, je ne parle pas bien francais” (I’m sorry, I don’t speak French well), which is kind of my go to when random people try to talk to me on the street, but instead I listened to him, and wouldn’t you know, I not only knew where the thing was that he was asking about, but I could tell him where to go! I was so happy. I mean, really all that I said was, “just up there, to the left” but it really made my day!
Elisabeth
Yes! That is the reservoir pond (there are two ponds; the one where I took your picture is off to the side of the one that gets cleared for skating. Great noticing!
This is such a perfect FIG – it blends your love of languages, travel, and engaging with people in one fun, free FIG. Yay!!
Stephany
I am so impressed at the number of FIGs you captured each day. Some days it was a struggle to even find ONE thing to be grateful for, but I made it happen.
My brother and I fought CONSTANTLY growing up. We are 14 months apart so we were always at each other’s throats. I know it drove my parents crazy! I have one strong memory of my mom abandoning her grocery trip with us because we were fighting so much, and taking us home. There were some Batman fruit snacks in the cart, and I was so sad to leave them behind, hahahaha. (And there’s hope: Now, we’re the best of friends!)