Dear ,
Happy almost-May! You may have heard me mention my recent book, TAG, I’M IT, a daily practice of thanksgiving, acknowledgement, gratitude, and intention. I first came out with a 365-day version, and then a Lenten version.
I'm heartened to have had a number of people tell me how much they love this practice. One of them referred to it as her "new best friend." I love this kind of feedback!
And I also love suggestions. I was asked by several people if I would make a thinner, more portable version that wasn't as big of a commitment as the yearlong TAG, I'M IT. I thought this was a great idea, and am happy to honor this request. The three-month version of my TAG, I'M IT! Daily Practice is now available on Amazon, just in time to begin in May.
I thought I'd share one of the gifts I listed in my own TAG, I'M IT! back in January, the day after I received three big boxes holding numerous copies of the 365-day TAG, I’M IT!
I’d bought to have available for sale at my open house, I met with one of my monthly writing clients, Jay. He positively beamed after looking at a copy of my book for a few minutes. He was, he told me, taking an online course with noted neuropsychologist Rick Hanson. And he could tell, Jay said, that this process of mine would help people to actually “rehardwire” their brain’s natural inclination toward negativity by habitually “taking in the good.” (One of Hanson’s books is
titled Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence.) Jay’s words brought more affirmation—and a shot of pure joy. Because to share a simple, method that can, in five to fifteen minutes a day, make an appreciable difference in the quality of people’s lives is a dream come true for me.
If you're interested in Rick Hanson's work, you can hear him speak at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foYqdGapEuI (3 minutes, 16 seconds) and/or https://www.youtube.com/watchv=jpuDyGgIeh0 (13 minutes, 45 seconds).
This three-month journal offers, in only five to fifteen minutes a day, a simple way to experience a substantively greater sense of contentment—and fulfillment. The practice of
writing out your “T”s (things you’re thankful for), “A”s (actions you can acknowledge yourself for), and “G”s (gifts you’re grateful for) is a transformative one, especially combined with the final step, “I’M IT!,” in which you intentionally choose three do-able, most-important-to-you actions you’ll take the next day. You’ll find that you’re living your days with more joy, presence, purpose, and intention.
Whether or not is calling your name right now, I wish you a month full of goodness and gratitude! I'm grateful for you, and the good you do in the world, in and out of your writing.
Love and light,
Maureen
MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide
to the Craft of Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and three collections of poetry, Ten Thousand Cicadas Can't Be Wrong, This Scatter of Blossoms and When the Leaves Are in the Water.
She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, "We are meant to midwife dreams for one another." Maureen also believes that serious "word work" requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best
learn—and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours!
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