What Is In Your Bucket of Awesome?

Each of us has a story to tell and we can decide HOW we are going to tell it. I had always been one to just sort of let life move and I would just float along on the current. Not making any REAL intentional choices. Over the past 5 years, I have worked to become more intentional and specific in my thoughts and my choices. I don’t just let life happen, I consciously choose joy and I CREATE the life I want.

I loved Kathryn Thompson’s “Drops of Awesome” blog post. I am a HUGE proponent for positive self-talk and positive affirmations and this really resonated with me. When I saw that Kathryn Thompson had a new a journal coming out called “Bucket of Awesome” and I could tell my blog readers about it…I JUMPED at the chance.

Bucket of Awesome is a fantastic tool to allow you to meander through your life prompting you to write the things you remember (or not – in my case sometimes) in a positive light. You can skip around and take the time you need to write about the things that you would like.

I loved the introduction! I found myself nodding and laughing as I read it. I firmly believe that we each have a story to tell. Kathryn shows her own ability to “tell story” as she encourages and shows how we each can tell our OWN stories. She tells a story about her daughter not wanting to clean her room that I laughed out loud while I read. It helped illustrate the fact that many of our stories can be “told” or viewed in a negative light or a positive light. I identified with it so much! My children hate hearing me tell them “you can CHOOSE to be happy.” Life is a choice and we CAN choose joy!

I saw this page and did not turn to others. I am a “flipper.” This is a self-coined term that means that I like to pick up a book, FLIP through it, then delve deeper into the specific details. Why does this matter? Well, this page has ONE page to tell ABOUT ME! I am complex! There are questions like “Favorite Movie and TV shows” that only has a 2 inch horizontal line in which to complete this answer. I found myself trying to write in my best minuscule handwriting so I could effectively answer these questions. I completed the section and looked at it with satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. I had completed my first deposit in my “Bucket of Awesome.” Then….I turned the page. Only to find 3 FULL EMPTY pages on which one could write answers! I exasperatedly sighed and thought “REALLYjQuery112407067977889934747_1491615922786?” Why not space out the questions and allow for those extra lines to be utilized by the questions? Oh well. ***Make sure you use those extra pages!***

This section allows you to get a feel for the book (and continue to work on your minuscule handwriting skills – seriously getting a cramp) and the style of questions you might encounter along your journey.

The book is then broken up into more manageable bits like: Birth and Babyhood, Childhood, School Years, Adulthood, Love, Work, Resilience and Struggles, Character, Accomplishments, and All the Rest.

As I have moved through this book I found myself smiling at a forgotten memory that was stirred up by the prompting questions. I also brushed cobwebs off of other memories that had long been tucked away. Or found myself struggling to put a positive spin on a perhaps less-than-glamorous memory. In any case, I have found great joy in reconnecting with my past, making connections with who I have become, and who I would like to be. I really felt AWESOME!!!