I stayed at a cheap roadside motel after losing everything — job, apartment, relationship. The clerk handed me a key and said, “Room 7. No deposit tonight.” I asked why. He said, “You look like me ten years ago.” When I checked out a month later, I left enough cash to cover another stranger’s week.
When my dad passed, I couldn’t bring myself to clean his garage. It smelled like oil and dust — and him. Our new neighbor came over one weekend, said his kid’s bike chain broke, and asked if he could use some tools. I told him to excuse the mess. Explained the reason. A few hours later, I saw the garage door open again. He’d cleaned it, organized it, labeled everything. Said, “Didn’t want you to forget what this place was built for.” I cried. It was the first time I’d gone in there in months.
When I was 19 and making minimum wage, my debit card was declined at the grocery store. I just stood there, humiliated. The guy behind me said, “Hey, I think you dropped this,” and slipped a $20 onto the counter like it was mine. He never looked back. Didn’t need credit. Didn’t even smile. That’s what made it hit harder.
Want to expand your gratitude muscle? Reflecting on beneficial absences—the invisible good things in your life—is one way to do that.
Ask yourself:
What’s something you’ve taken for granted that could have easily gone wrong—but didn’t?
When did you narrowly miss a very bad outcome?
Who showed you grace by withholding judgment and discipline when you deserved it?
Who honored your autonomy by not giving you unnecessary help and advice?
In the end, gratitude isn’t just about what’s seen and said—it’s also about the criticisms swallowed, the advice people resisted giving, and the disasters we narrowly missed. –Berkley
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”– Albert Einstein
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
This week, practice embracing softness in your life: Ask for support: Reach out to someone you trust and let them know what you need—whether it’s a listening ear, a moment of connection, or just someone to sit with. Be gentle with yourself: When you feel the urge to push through, pause and ask, “What would kindness toward myself look like right now?” Celebrate vulnerability: Share something honest with a safe person in your life. Notice how it feels to let someone in.
Journal Prompt: When was the last time you allowed yourself to lean into softness? How did it feel, and what did you learn? Softness isn’t the absence of strength; it’s the truest expression of it. By receiving care and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, we learn to extend gentleness to ourselves and others. This ripple effect transforms not only how we heal, but also how we move through the world—with compassion, courage, and grace. 🖤Dr. Akilah
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
Real Life of an MSW 