Elisabeth from The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist blog hosted her annual February F.I.G. Collective. F.I.G. stands for Finding joy In Gratitude, and the goal is to write down something we’re grateful for each day. Elisabeth even provided a cute and handy worksheet to keep track of all the FIGs. Here’s my list:
I had a few tough things during the month, and this worksheet helped me stay focused on the positive things. And there were so many positive things! (Yes, I listed my FIG for tomorrow, because I know I will be feeling grateful for a clean sewing room!)
I was overcome with emotion at the kindness of people this month! I got a lovely birthday card from Engie at The Time for Change, and I got a postcard from Stephany at Stephany Writes.
A lovely reader, Dulcie, sent me a tiny gnome! I can’t even begin to describe how much I love him! I’ll be writing more about him in my next post.
And then Nicole (or Gnicole, as I call her) from Girl in a Boyhouse, sent me an autographed copy of her book Inhale, Exhale. Wow! What a lovely gift! I’m going to read her book again!
My artist friend, Rebel Challenger, agreed to an interview on my blog, and it was so much fun!
I see I didn’t even list drawing as one of my FIGs, but it was a HUGE FIG during the month. I took part in Making Art Everyday, hosted by Lisa Bardot. This month’s focus was on sticker-style art.
I drew a bunch of photo doodles during February. Drawing brings me so much joy.
I hope your February was filled with many wonderful moments, and that March will bring you even more!
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That’s a lot to be grateful for, and a great way to remind ourselves of how it’s the little things in life that can make all the difference. Yay to Gnomes. I love them. And love the tiny sketch squares too. How joyful.
Thank you, Alexandra! ❤️ Little things do make a huge difference in life. I should keep a FIG list year round.
These are so wonderful! <3 What a wonderful month of finding JOY 🙂
Cow antics are so funny to me 🙂 Currently my rooster is just screaming his head off – which is far less funny, LOL
Thank you Rebecca! Oh dear, roosters certainly can be vocal! Cows are so entertaining, and I love watching them frolic when the weather is nice and they’re feeling good.
WHERE TO START?? What a month of FIGS! I have to say that the plumbing thing, wow, nothing makes you more grateful for running water than when it’s not available. I remember a few times in Calgary we’d have water disruptions from main breaks and I would have low-level panic feelings the whole time. And I don’t know if you know this but Calgary had a HUGE water main break in 2024 (so after we moved), it was INSANE and there were water restrictions for the entire summer. Anyway, water! Just think of everything that happens for us to have clean running water: scientists who have figured out how to clean water for safe use, plumbers, engineers for the water system, technology that allows water heaters…I mean it’s amazing!
Okay, wow, I will never get finished with this comment if I talk that much about WATER. But water! It’s so important! It’s so amazing that we have it with the touch of a finger.
I’m so happy your A1C is doing well! You haven’t spoken much about that but I’m sure it’s been a source of concern for you. But with your Peloton, well, that’s helping a lot I’m sure!
THE TINY GNOME. Eeeee! So cute and I love seeing him with my book xoxoxoxo
What else, what else. Oh! Your drawing! I love your daily drawings, and you know I don’t play favourites, but the sleepy star and happy heart? So cute. Oh! And your photo doodles, when you post them on IG, they bring me SO much joy.
Thank you, Gnicole! Yes, running water is so important, and I agree that we owe a lot of thanks to scientists and plumbers, and all the people who keep our water flowing and safe. All of our water stuff is in my sewing room closet, and the main pipe burst early one morning. Luckily, my husband heard it, and was able to get the water shut off fairly quickly – but it still made a big mess. The floor was SO soaked. Ugh! The plumber came and said the pipe had rusted through, and our pressure tank was also rusted and about to go, so we got that replaced. And then we found out that the pipe to the hot water heater was also rusted and seeping. Yikes!!! Now everything is all new and rust-free. My sewing room carpet finally dried out, and I cleaned the room thoroughly. I love seeing it so tidy!
I’m so glad that you love the tiny gnome! So many happy things for you this month to offset the rough spots. I feel like it was quite recently that we had to replace our well pump, but in checking I find that it was in 2018. Time sure does fly…
Dulcie, I absolutely adore the tiny gnome! Thank you so very much for sending him! You are so sweet! ❤️ Isn’t it amazing how time flies? Our well pump was 30 years old! The new one works so much better, as in I can take a shower and not scream if someone flushes the toilet! It’s amazing!
There’s nothing like a plumbing issue to remind you to be thankful for water and not having plumbing issues! February flew by but was a good month overall. I had a really nice birthday and the Brandi Carlile concert was such a high for me!
Lisa, that’s so true! It’s easy to take that stuff for granted, but it’s so important! I’m glad the concert was so much fun for you!
So many great things! For me… Kids being cute, seeking hugs which is always welcome. The lights and the feel of a big city (NYC), an injection of motivation from my conference.
Celebrating my husband’s 45th. The YMCA. Swimming. Students. Coffee. TV lol heck, even the quietness of snow.
Daria, those all sound wonderful! I hope March brings you many more!
All the heart eyes for this, Michelle! I loved reading your finished sheet.
Thank you for hosting a wonderful month of gratitude, Elisabeth! I really appreciate it!
Yikes! Not water problems! A burst pipe is such a panic. That repair would definitely be showcased in my list of Gratefuls.
I love your doodle of a lava lamp. My first ever encounter with one of those was at a cousin’s house when I was very little. I think I sat in front of that thing for hours, fascinated by it and waiting for blobs of that stuff to morph and float up. I always swore I’d get one of my own, but I never did. Every time I see one, I get that little buzz of remembrance and joy.
Nance, I never had a lava lamp either. I wonder if they’re still around anywhere. (I looked; yes they are – around $40 on Amazon. I don’t think I need one.)
So many things to be grateful for! 💜
Kari, yes, so many things. 💜
1. I must not have commented over here in a while because this envelope comment card is SENDING ME. I love it so much.
2. This list made me so happy. What a rich and wonderful life you have built for yourself.
Hi Engie! Thank you for stopping by! I love that envelope too. It’s the WordPress theme Scratchpad. So fun!
Love this and love your FIGs! I’m always looking for joy and it keeps finding me. Right now my heart is full of spring. We still have some piles of snow, but it’s melting away. YAY! I find winter kind of hard… 🙂
Maria, I hope spring comes early for you! You are one of the most joyful, positive people I know, and I love following you on Instagram because you post uplifting art almost every day!
You are so sweet! I love following you as well. Your cute art always makes me smile!
Awww, thank you, Maria! ❤️♥️❤️
I think it’s safe to say that you are the only one I’m aware of who included hilarious cattle antics on their fig list. So funny. 8 hours of sleep – for sure that’s something to celebrate and be grateful for. I’m also loving that you got a visit with your parents – I’m curious, do they live nearby or was this a visit out of town? As always, love your artwork. The pig is darling. So whimsical and fun.
My Feb was full of basketball moments. All 3 younger girls on 3 different teams representing their different schools . . . I love it, but I’m enjoying the few weeks of a break before they all start track. We don’t really do much for Valentine’s Day, but that was the only day we could meet our friends for dinner and that double date was full of laughs and stories. We don’t get to see our close friends often, so that was a definite highlight, as was the Sunday when we took my parents and the little girls to see Bernadette the musical.
Hooray for March. Spring is coming!
Ernie, my parents live close enough that I usually visit them once a week. It’s nice, and I feel grateful, because they are such lovely people. Going to Bernadette sounds like fun!
I love this list so much, and I am so honored to be considered one of your FIGs! I’m glad you got the postcard and it brightened your day. 🙂
Is there anything MORE Michelle than a tiny gnome? I hope he gets up to some antics in the dollhouse!
Your drawings are, as always, exceptional and bring me immense joy!
Thank you so much, Stephany! Your comments always brighten my day!
Outstanding list, darling sticker designs, and photo doodles are a completely new concept to this old-fashioned simpleton!
Thank you, Jana! ❤️
Hi Michelle! What a Lovely post! (Sorry I am so late to get here… Life, you know…)
And Thank you for the Reminder to look for and take note of ALL those little things that add up to so much good! And Good for us feelings and as necessary as the air we breathe…….. but so easy to forget. I have struggled with the cold and dark this winter and finally it does feel as though spring will get here…! (After the six inches of snow we got yesterday before it turned to rain and froze to ice….. but hey, it is water and we needed that water!) I am grateful for all the moisture we can get! And yes, I need to put a few gratitude reminders around my house, I have had a serious case of the grumbles and that is not good for anybody. So I am thankful, grateful! for your timely reminder to pay better attention to the right stuff! :):) Little Tiny Gnomes are right up there at the top of the list! 🙂 What a sweet gift, and so well deserved! :):) I look forward to hearing more of his story! :):):)
Hi Betsy! We finally got some snow today, and it was needed so much – but it still made me feel a bit grumbly. It’s so typical of March! I think you and I both agree that a tiny gnome does wonders for the spirit! I’m always happy when I see Mr. Gnome on your blog!