The Fabulous Friday Five (and Satisfied Saturday Six) is about taking the time to focus on the good things. Post 5 (or 6) things that made you smile during the week. It doesn't matter if it happened to you, in the news or to someone else. Just put aside the negative for a moment and share pleasure. Because happiness and smiles are precious and balance the world.

1. I made it through the week without totally losing my cool. I am a bit disturbed by how often this shows up on FFF/SSS, like it's a huge accomplishment or something. But it is, sometimes. I actually did break down and cry at work on Thursday, which was horrible. However, it was because something went right and one of the knotty problems I have been dealing with for a couple of weeks sorted itself out and will be OK. And my client forgave me. What actually made me cry was her email about the situation, which started, "It's OK Terry. It's going to work out fine and I am not worried about what you do for me. I trust you..." And another client with a thorny problem I haven't been able to solve yet has also told me a number of times that she's not worried and she trusts me. Do I have to say how badly I needed to hear that this week when everything else was making me want to scream? I have to admit, it has meant a LOT to me (even though it was embarassing at the time) that so many of my clients and temps asked me if I was OK. And they were genuinely concerned about how bad I sounded. It tells me that I have connected to them in a good way and am not just a mule. And it also tells me that some of the people I work with are really good people. And I AM appreciated by the people I serve. And I guess, in the end, that matters more than being appreciated by the people I sit next to, with whom i don't Really work. I just kind of share space with them. The people I serve are the ones who matter.
2. I only debated with myself for about 10 minutes yesterday about staying home from work. I was sick, I needed the rest, and I am entitled to sick days. I didn't feel guilty about it. I went to work twice this year after being up all night with food poisoning. I have worked above and beyond my job description and done well. I never call out sick, or if I can't make it to the office, I work from home. And I REALLY WORK when I am at home. But yesterday I did not work. I took a for real sick day and did not feel bad about it at all. That's a big deal for me.
3. I helped Melissa through a mental breakdown on Tuesday. She never has breakdowns, but she's had a very bad couple of weeks. Her grandmother died last week, she missed her mid-term exam at school, and she is flipping out. I was so glad she called me and I was able to help her. We had a really good talk. We're supposed to get together today, but with my cold, we may trim our plans. We'll see. But it was kind of a first for Melissa to call me when she was having a tough time. I'm no glad that she's having a tough time, but I am glad she is trusting me with more of her emotions. It's a big step for us (remember last week's angst that I lean on her more than she has leaned on me in 11 years?). And in the end we were laughing together and thanking each other for being there.
4. I had a nice time grocery shopping this morning. It shouldn't be a Satisfied thing big enough to make it to my list, but it always gives me a lift. Not only getting yummy food (don't go shopping when you're hungry!) but also, I ALWAYS encounter very friendly and helpful people. I chat with people, or they will offer to help me get things off high shelves, or whatever. I am grateful every week that this ordinary errand adds some good feelings to my week.
5. I joined eclecticwitches on their regular site, not on LJ. I was debating, because I was afraid it would be a big group and not as private as I needed it to be (the US can be ridiculous about privacy and what employers have legal access to when profiling), but found out through sabethea  that it is actually just right for me. I am not one to join online groups, generally, so it was a brave thing for me to do. Made much easier by the love and support that Sabs and the other LJ members showed me on the LJ version last week.
6. As a result of joining eclecticwitches, I have started to re-read Bard by Morgan Llwellyn, the book that really helped guide and inspire me in my faith. Fiction or not, it is a book that I relate to on so many levels. I think it was really important for me to pick it up again just now, and see the notes I've made over the years, the lessons I have learned and need to be reminded of. It almost feels like I am reconnecting with the person I want to be, and I hope that it will help me through this tough time, when I feel like I have lost myself. 

When I read back on this SSS, I realise that a lot of this is stuff I did NOT feel good about at the time. What changed? My attitude about it. A day off to gain perspective. Especially the work thing. Because I made an effort to look at what was good, to look at what I learned, to look at how many people care about me and find ways to show me, in small and big ways, I found things to be Satisfied about this week. I needed an attitude adjustment. And do you know how I found it? sabethea . Since I started theis FFF/SSS she has faithfully done the meme every week, no matter how tough things are. She always finds something good and sticks to this "program." I haven't been as faithful to it, and I started it! She inspires me to keep on trying. We've emailed back and forth about this meme and how grateful we both are for it, and each other. But I want to publicly acknowledge and applaud Sabethea for keeping the spirit of the FFF/SSS alive and well.