I can’t seem to resist a 30 day blogging challenge. In October it was Blogtoberfest, NaBloPoMo in December, and Small Stones in January. This month, it’s the A to Z Challenge. I am starting a few days late, but I have enough left that if I post every day, I can do the whole alphabet. Everyone else is on D today, but that’s okay.
One of my favorite memoirs, for the writing and the title and the idea, is Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. Amy Krouse Rosenthal, the author, describes the book this way: “It is a sort of alphabetized memoir…(my) life in encyclopedia form.” When I first read about the A to Z blogging challenge, I immediately thought about her book. So, the fact that I can’t pass up a blogging challenge and that this particular one reminds me of one of my favorite books in my favorite genre of books means I’m all in. Let us begin…
A is for acceptance. Knowing my limitations. Understanding that nothing more can be done, nothing else is necessary. Agreeing with reality, not grasping or rejecting. Letting go of wishing I were somewhere else or that things were different. The willingness to tolerate what is, to meet the truth where it resides, where it rests, to stay and rest with it. Experiencing the situation, connecting with it. Making no attempt to change, protest, reject, or exit reality. Seeing reality for what it is, wholly and accurately. Welcoming, embracing the genuine nature of things. Letting go, surrendering, softening, yielding. Relaxing into what is, as it is.
In honor of this challenge, to get started in the right way, I offer you one of the all time cutest videos, Kermit and Joey Singing the ABCs.
Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray) 
Oh, how this post resonates. Everything you say above, Jill, are all things I’m doing my best with…to be with things just as they are, to allow, to welcome, to let go, to surrender. Amazing how difficult this can be sometimes.
That video made me giggle and then cry. Such pure sweetness.
Thank you for being so perfectly you. You nourish me.
The video, especially the “I love you” at the end, is one of my very favorites.
I’m still hoping that this summer, I might be able to see you in person, to tell you to your sweet face how much I adore you. Until then, I’ll keep saying it in these virtual spaces: I adore you.
Yes, Jill, it was particularly the “I love you” that got me right in the heart.
I would love to meet you in person. Please keep me posted on your plans.
Thank you for brightening my day today. Things have been pretty cloudy for me lately–you are just the warmth and sunshine that I needed.
I adore you right back.
You inspired me to try the challenge too! I’ll be blogging from my Dutch blog, but still! I enjoy reading your ABC so far, can’t wait to see more. 🙂
Yay, Lindsay! B is for Bunnies!