You don’t have to be a grandma to have a brag book.
In fact, I’d like to suggest that you have one looooong before then. That you start one, even before you have kids yourself.
You see, my blogging friend Kirsty set a prompt for today’s blog post – to share what I am most proud of.
As I mulled it over, there were quite a few things that came to mind (and so there should be considering I have had nearly 50 years on the planet!).
And then I thought, wouldn’t it be great if each of us started a brag book – kinda like a diary – while we are still at school. What better way to conquer the blues, or those days of self-doubt, than to pull out our very own non-grandma brag book and remind ourselves of the things we are most proud of.
Because otherwise, especially when we are in a funk, it is all too easy to forget them. I know this from experience – many years ago, when I was in the depths of depression (before I was diagnosed), each member of my connect group was asked to mention one thing they liked about themselves.
I couldn’t think of anything.
Seems crazy, but that’s how low I was at that point.
Fast forward to today, and here are just a few entries from my non-grandma brag book …
Janet’s Brag Book
I am most proud of:
- My two children. They have grown up to be awesome young adults, and I feel privileged to be their mum.
- My marriage. First of all, being lucky enough to choose a great guy (I was engaged before and very nearly married somebody else – what a tragedy THAT would have been!); and to have somehow clocked up 26 years, not just of marriage, but of actual wedded bliss – something that seems all too rare in this day and age!
- My business, Front Page Web Writing. Looking back to when I started working from home, I had absolutely NO IDEA what I was doing. Somehow, I managed to pick myself back up after my redundancy nearly 4 years ago, dust myself off, and create a job for myself that I love. I’ve gained new qualifications along the way – a Diploma of Digital Marketing, a Certificate 4 in Small Business Management, and was accepted as a full member of the Qld Society of Editors; I’m even a finalist in this year’s Redland Woman in Business awards (winner to be announced on 6 August). Just last week I had a meeting with a new client, and I was actually confident and knew exactly what I was talking about. I’ve come a long way baby!
- How I have managed to not just survive, but thrive, after what I went through as a young ‘un; I have managed to put the past behind me, and create a life of love and light.
- My resilience – see last two points.
- I’m also proud of the fact that over the years I’ve become a really good cook (if I do say so myself!)
Isn’t it interesting that not one of these things is of a material nature?!
Now it’s your turn. If you blog, I challenge you to dedicate a post to creating YOUR non-grandma brag book; if you’re not a blogger, why not actually buy a scrapbook and fill it with pictures and make a note of the things you are most proud of?
Or you could just leave a comment below, and bookmark this post – so whenever you have a down day, you can pop back and remember the things in your life that are worth bragging about!
After all, why should grandmas be the only ones to have the fun of a brag book?!
Linking up with My Home Truths.
I LOVE this idea! I guess as a blogger and scrapbooker I probably do these things already, individually, but I never thought to actually put them together in one place!
Go for it Cate – and I reckon it’s something fun your could do with your kids too 🙂
I didn’t know only grandmas could brag 🙂 I like the idea of having a physical brag book – maybe with photos – that you can look at on a downer day.
That’s a great idea. I’m terrible at bragging or accepting compliments. A brag book may be just what I need.
You certainly do have so much to be proud of. Hope you get that award. You deserve it!
Great idea! I’ve recently started a book blog so may have to take up your idea!
Awesome idea Janet! I know I wanted to balance out last week’s prompt with a more positive one this week and it’s been lovely to read (somewhat belatedly!) everyone’s sources of pride. It’s good to have a brag every now and then!