Expression

Day one hundred fifty three: Today I posted a really long description of our week past. Maybe a couple of you made it all the way to the end. That's okay with me. It helped me to write it. I was able to more fully reflect on our experience.

I've learned that it helps me to process things by expressing them somehow outside of myself. Through conversation, writing, reading my writing. Something that requires me to take what is inside my head and get it to the outside. The transition stretches me. It makes me think things through more completely. Sometimes I'm not content with the first "draft," but I know I've made progress. My post earlier included "lessons" I learned this week because I remembered talking about what we learned with Jason. Those "lessons" are the kind of things I find through expressing my thoughts.

Earlier today I tried to explain it to Jason...it's like in my head thoughts float around formlessly and seem to be characterized mostly by the emotion I connect with them. When I try to explain them to someone else, I am able to see the flaws in my "logic" more clearly. Further, I am able to take a seemingly negative experience and see the positive side just because I take the time when I am expressing myself to someone else. In communicating to someone, I try to see what they are seeing (or hearing) and that makes a difference in how I continue. They also respond - adding to my conclusions or thoughts or redirecting me altogether.

I'm rambling. I know. Sorry if I've lost you or just plain bored you.

I appreciate the things I gain by expressing myself. I am challenged by processing itself (forming my thoughts into logical statements) and by the discovery of flaws to correct. God put me together this way...at least to my understanding at this point. Hmmm...let me try that again. He definitely put me together the way I am...this is just my present understanding of what "this way" means. More clear?

Thank you, God, for helping me to grow and understand and learn simply through the communication process. This idea seems like one more reason we as people need each other. We need community. Thank you for providing community, but also for giving us purpose to connect.



What's this about? I decided on my birthday to make a commitment to being intentionally thankful. I challenged myself to post one thing I am thankful for everyday this year.