Sunday Thinking

"Living authentically and leading with our truth makes us catalysts of change, healing, and growth."

The weekly Sunday Thinking newsletter is quick-hit content that aims to provide a booster shot to your thought process as you end and start your week.

“What makes life worth living? No child asks itself that question. To children life is self-evident. Life goes without saying: whether it is good or bad makes no difference. This is because children don’t see the world, don’t observe the world, don’t contemplate the world, but are so deeply immersed in the world that they don’t distinguish between it and their own selves.”

― Karl Ove Knausgard, Autumn

I. Control the Controllable

There are many situations in life you do not control, but you often contribute to them.

  • I cannot control the rain, but I can control my clothing.

  • I cannot control your feelings, but I can control my kindness.

  • I cannot control my opponent, but I can control my response.

You cannot control most outcomes in life, but you can usually influence them. Releasing your attachment to the results does not mean releasing your responsibility to the situation.

Source: James Clear The 3-2-1 Newsletter 

II. Lessons Learned in 2023

11 unforgettable truths 2023 taught me: 

  • storms are temporary 

  • intuition is your compass 

  • people pleasing burns your energy 

  • joy happens in the present moment 

  • gratitude attracts more good things 

  • you can't be everything for everyone 

  • embracing change makes life smoother 

  • small daily victories can improve your life 

  • when you think someone is great, tell them 

  • your inner peace needs you to say no often

  • it's not a real connection if you have to force it

Source: Yung Pueblo, The Way Forward

III. A Gratitude Journey

  • Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

  • Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

  • Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.

  • Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.

  • Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character.

  • Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

  • Be thankful when you’re tired and weary, because it means you’ve made a difference.

  • It’s easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

Source: Author Unknown, Be Thankful Poem

IV. What We’re Excited About

Search Party: Chaos at the Park

Your search for the perfect family game is over. Search Party: Chaos at the Park is an epic 3-D pop-up search-and-find adventure. 

The people of Chaos City amusement park are in trouble and it's up to you to follow the characters around the park to help answer questions and solve mysteries! 

Over the course of 15 missions, you'll sabotage mad scientists, help parkgoers find love, and more. With fun pop-up structures and a highly intricate board packed with hidden objects and kooky characters, including 300 hidden items, the whole family will have a blast. 

The game is perfect for players 8+, so parents, siblings, cousins, and friends can all get searching together. Find it at Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Relatable.com. 

Brought to you by What Do You Meme? Family, a Relatable brand.

V. Question

Imagine your best self a year from now. Where would you like to see more growth and joy?

VI. This Week, I Will

  1. Prioritize learning

  2. Prioritize gratitude

  3. Prioritize movement

  4. Prioritize staying present

  5. Prioritize stress management

The Last Words…

"Find the magic in the everyday moments. The small things. The things that at times you brush off or move through quickly. Because they seem boring or mundane. They seem so small that they're not worth thinking about, nor remembering. But as time passes and you look back at life, those will be the things that hold the most magic. Those little things will be what you crave more of. Those everyday things will be what warms your heart. This is your reminder to enjoy them today. To look for them, love them, and treasure them. The small things really do become the big things."

― Lisa Buscomb, Everyday Moments