The Gratitude Division - November 2023

Despite the fact that November brought some challenges, it still had an abundance of things to be grateful for. Have you been developing the habit of a regular gratitude practice? I highly recommend it, if you haven't started already. Intentionally focusing on the things I'm grateful for has been such a great life-vest when I'm swimming in the seas of difficulty. It doesn't change the storm, but it keeps you buoyant! Thanks, gratitude!

Without further ado, here are some of the things I was grateful for in November 2023.

The Eras Tour at the Movies!

I wasn't a Swiftie before, but I kind of am now. I'd been hearing all the buzz on social media over the summer about this tour, so when I got an email from my local movie theatre that a tour film was being released I pounced on tickets. You see, my dear husband is a secret Swiftie. While we were not willing to shell out thousands of dollars on concert tickets and travel, I was definitely curious enough to pay for a fancy recliner seat at the theatre just to see what all the fuss was about. And holy moley! All I can say is... I get it now. I totally get it.

Taylor Swift's music isn't necessarily my music, but she's really good - there is no denying her mastery of her craft. The woman is talented!! That was, hands down, the best concert I've ever seen. 

On the downside, my husband ended up not being able to go; on the plus side, I got to take my friend who is soon to have a newborn and will likely not have time for things like Taylor Swift concerts for a while. So, I'm grateful for that part too: I got to spend some time with my friend. I'll just have to watch it with my fella once it's available on streaming and I absolutely WILL want to watch it again. It was SO good!

My Wedding Anniversary!

I am forever in love with this human. ❤️  Need I say more?

Telus World of Science Edmonton (TWOSE)

For the third year in a row, I am purchasing the IMAX Annual Pass for the TWOSE location. This is a gift that Santa brings for my husband and I; it's been such a worthwhile investment. We enjoy the cinematography of the IMAX documentaries and some of the storytelling that the film-makers do is top notch (others miss the mark, but the camera work never fails). The pass is a good deal too and having it reminds us to make time for these films. We usually go to see a matinee and then go out for a lunch date. At any rate, I'm always grateful for it but I was reminded of it because the Passes for 2024 went on sale this month. As an added bonus, if you buy a pass in November you'll be entered into a draw for a $500 prize (this post is not sponsored, I'm just sharing info). So, I'm grateful for the experience, I'm grateful that I got to check something for the holidays off of my to do list early in the season, and (with a little luck) I'll be grateful to win a prize!

Our favourite film that we saw this year (so far) was Australia's Great Wild North. It was amazing. Great cinematography and the audio experience (both sound engineering and music) were second to none.

What are you grateful for this month? 

Do you have a favorite IMAX movie that we should check out?

Let me know in the comments.

As we enter into the busy season of holiday planning and in the context of global events that are very concerning and upsetting to watch unfold, I encourage you to take time to notice the small moments of joy in your life. Joy and sorrow, gratitude and anger, contentment and anxiety - they can all co-exist in the complex emotional landscape of our lives. If you find yourself getting stuck in one emotion and it's crowding out the other experiences, then I encourage you to speak with a mental health professional (licensed in your area) for support. If you live in Alberta, Canada and you'd like to speak with me, please feel free to contact me through my website - Calder Mental Health Services.