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October 2017 Blog- Discovering Virtuous Character Strengths
As I find myself getting this blog out a month late this October, I recognize how quickly time seems to slip away as the hot, hot summer has now made way for the welcome change of cooler temperatures this fall. I am writing this on Halloween night and I reflect on my own excitement and delight at dressing up in costume every Halloween and walking with anticipation from one house to the next in our neighborhood. I always loved those houses that had Halloween decorations up as the neighbors seemed a bit more friendly and inviting. We carried pillow cases to hold our treats for the evening and would excitedly pour out the candy onto the living room carpet at the evenings end. My youngest brother and I would often trade candy, with size usually being considered as well as the specific type of candy bar or treat. My mom would make homemade popcorn balls and wrap them in saran wrap. Of course, all the neighbors knew they came from the Mesing house and the parents didn’t need to worry that they weren’t safe to eat. Some of the neighborhood kids would feel disappointed if they failed to get a popcorn ball but got candy instead.
The character strengths chosen for the last three months of the year include: Joy, Perseverance, and Love. Let us consider how we might strengthen each attribute during these final three months of 2017.
October– Joy: “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness”. Synonyms: delight, jubilation, triumph, rejoicing, gladness, exhilaration, exuberance”. Quote: “I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun”.- Charles R. Swindoll
November– Perseverance: “steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success”.- Synonyms: persistence, tenacity, determination, diligence, dedication, commitment”. Quote: “Grit is that ‘extra something’ that separates the most successful people from the rest. It’s the passion, perseverance, and stamina that we must channel in order to stick with our dreams until they become a reality”.- Travis Bradberry
December- Love: “an intense feeling of deep affection “; ” a person or thing that one loves”; “a deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone”. Synonyms: attachment, endearment, intimacy, beloved, adore, devoted to, smitten with, be in love with”. Quote: “Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing, and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.”- Ann Landers
Happy Fall to you all and I wish you great joy, perseverance, and love in the coming, chillier months.
Warmly,
Linda Cook
LMHC
