It’s a cold and blustery Sunday in June – windy, rainy, overcast. A perfect day for sitting inside where it’s warm, having no place to go and thus some time to spend simply contemplating the meaning of life. (Did you fall for that? I actually haven’t been contemplating any such thing, really.) Or have I? What I’ve been doing is realizing how joyful I am when I am not busy, not in a hurry, and not worried about anything in particular. I am just happy to be happy with my completely ordinary existence. Grateful for all the simple, ordinary things in my life that I try to remind myself every day should never be taken for granted.
What brought all this on? you may very well ask. And also know that whether you ask or not I’ll still go ahead and tell you anyway. I’ve spent the morning watching You Tube Videos of Dr. Brené Brown.
Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, is an American scholar, author and public speaker, who is currently a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Over the last ten years she has been involved in research on topics ranging from vulnerability, courage, authenticity, to empathy and shame. She has written notable books like The Gifts of Imperfection (2010) and Daring Greatly (2012), and she and her work has been featured on PBS, NPR, TED and CNN. (Wikkipedia)
I’m so impressed by what she has to say that I’ve downloaded her books to my Kindle. Reading them is going to be next on my agenda for this lovely lazy day.
If you’ve never heard of her, here’s a Super Soul Sunday video with Oprah to get you started listening to her very wise advice about being enough, having compassion, and whole-hearted living. It will lead you to many more links, and if you have the time, her TED talks are well worth the twenty minutes or so it takes to listen to them.
Listening to her talk has made me appreciate even more all the incredible people who are brave enough to tell their stories here in the blogging world. What an incredible way this is to reach out and express how we feel, to give and receive empathy and understanding. To know that none of us is ever alone.
Breathing Space 
On the whole the blogging world has proven for me to be a wonderful community. All the barriers people put up in the physical world don’t seem to exist in there. I love it. I have downloaded some TED talks before and think they’re great. i’ll look up Brene Brown.
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There are some amazing TED talks – I get off on a tangent and then can’t drag myself away. And yes, the blogging community is an amazing place where we can ‘meet’ people we’d never come across in or finite little worlds otherwise. Communication is a beautiful thing.
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I just read this book and posted about it on my blog! Brene must be hot right now! xo
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I came across a blurb about her on facebook and it was all downhill from there! lol Very interesting stuff, being able to reap the benefits of her years of research.
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I agree with you about being happy to be ordinary! I had not heard of Brene Brown but I will follow up on your suggestion!
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I don’t think we fully appreciate how extraordinary being ordinary really is. I hadn’t heard of her either until yesterday – glad I stumbled across her work.
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I just started reading Daring Greatly again. I’m at 44% (it’s so funny how we Kindlers discuss our progress). I took a break for some Pat Conroy (South of Broad) and I’m thrilled to be back with her. That big Ted talk that she details in DG on vulnerability turned me into an immediate fan.
Blogging has released me in no small measure. There are still some things I’m trying to express without hurting my parents (per your pictured plaque) and that’s what’s keeping me sitting in my hands for the moment, but like you, I love seeing the bright spots in the everyday.
Once again, I’m thrilled and grateful to read what you have to say. It’s always a treat.
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It’s so hard to express our ‘stories’ when we are aware of the vulnerability of the other people involved in them – I’m completely there with you on that. We all remember things differently and obviously can only experience them from one perspective.
I’m excited to read both of the books by Brown that I downloaded, but since I’m at 27% in my current book, they will have to wait for awhile. lol It does seem weird not measuring our progress by pages.
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This is the core concept of AA and Al-Anon. An attitude of gratitude = joy. The idea is old and has been around the 12 step programs for decades, Happy she found it and is sharing it. Good for her. Dianne
Also: Fake Til you Make it.
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Sometimes it just takes another perspective for more people to get it. Thanks Dianne. ♥
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I came across Brene Brown three years ago and she has been popping up again quite a bit. I love her!! I watched her clips from Super Soul Sunday just last week and found them so beneficial. I too would like to read her books but need to get through a few other ones first…..I really enjoyed your post.
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Her books are next on my list! She has a beautiful way of pointing out the obvious – which isn’t obvious at all until she points it out. lol Yes, looking forward to more of Brene Brown for sure.
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You know i love this, Grandmalin. I saw the TEDtalk last year and was blown away. Many of my posts that i reveal things about myself were inspired by Brene Brown. Let’s get vulnerable. Let’s be grateful. Let’s find peace and joy. Hoooray! {{{Hugs]}} Kozo
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I definitely was thinking of you when the subject of gratitude came up. Your gratitude posts and thankfulness for all the little things that make life big are amazing and inspiring too. And very hug worthy. 😀 {{{hugs}}}
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Amen to that!
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