Daily: Reflect on at least 5 things for which I'm grateful (Happiness Manifesto #2)

Today I am grateful for:
1. Apple cider.
2. J’s mastery of making Chicago-style pizza.
3. A really nice weekend.
4. A real date night on Friday!
5. Slow progress with the clutter.
6. Clean clothes!
7. Sending a bunch of things to the recycle bin.

Today I am grateful for:
1. A lazing day at home.
2. My best friend S.
3. My dear hubby.
4. Reading Martha Beck.
5. The simple relaxation of petting a cat.
6. PB & J’s.
7. Egg nog.
8. Libraries.
9. Prosperity.
10. Christmas joy.
11. Love to the nth degree.
12. Luck and good fortune.
13. Fortune cookies to say so.
14. Warm feet.

Today I had some gripes throughout the day, but will spin them into positives.

Today I am grateful:
1. To have functioning brakes again.
2. For the lovely snow that covered everything.
3. For my job and all the tasks I could check off today.
4. For my somewhat-reliable coworkers, that they are a bit reliable.
5. For my husband who loves me and supports my financial decisions, eventually.
6. And Haagen Daaz ice cream (on sale!) to make everything better. :)

Today I am grateful for:
1. The world wide web. Learned a bunch already.
2. Journaling.
3. Talented photographers who produce the most wonderful eye candy – can’t get enough today.
4. The creative process.
5. Self-expression.
6. Hershey kisses.
7. Down comforters.
8. The idea of a weekend.
9. Being so blessed with comfort, time, and basic needs met.
10. The awareness that not all have #9.
11. Doing what I can to share my blessings.

Today I am grateful:

It is Saturday, and I got a whole day to do whatever I wanted (1)! That day turned into going to craft fairs left and right (2), where I found many gifts (3), for many friends (4), I hadn’t even set out to shop for (5). I ran into an old co-worker friend (6), then a newish acquaintance (7), followed by making a brand-new acquaintance (8) with a woman who volunteers at a very cool organization I’ve long supported (9), and together we decided we’d stay in touch and hopefully teach a rubber-stamping class at the organization (10)! All the while, I went with a long-time friend (and former housemate) (11), and we had a grand time shopping together (12). Before we even got in the door, she shared a yummy breakfast burrito with me (13). Later in the afternoon I went to a second craft fair, which was run by another friend of mine (14) at her church. There, I ate chocolate pecan pie (15) – yum! – and finally found appropriate gifts for my little cousins (16) – cute, handmade smocks (17)! I feel great having supported all local artisans(18), which inspired me to look for even more handcrafted goodness at Etsy (19). I definitely have Etsy Love all over again, and marked a bunch of things as faves for more gift-giving with attention to my original LIST of folks.

Today was a good day, and I am grateful (20).

Oh, and I forgot to mention the AMAZING S’more Brownie (21) that I bought that was heavenly chocolate-ly rich with ooey-gooey slightly toasted marshmallows on top….aww yeah!

Today I am grateful:
1. For getting through Thanksgiving. (I know, that sounds crazy, but my family life is now crazy, and I just wanted it over with…)
2. That I did get to spend Thanksgiving with my wonderful hubby, my wonderful roommate from B.M. (before marriage), and her wonderful friends. We had a good time, good eats, good games, and good conversation. (Thank you, M, for inviting us over!)
3. For being grateful. I am truly grateful for life, inspiration, friends, my sister, feeling good, finding love.
4. For books, like The Artist’s Way and A Whole New Mind – I love the brain and where creativity comes from! Yay!
5. For a clean kitchen and bathroom! (Sometimes cleaning brings out the begrudging side of me, but I did it with a full heart and it felt great.)
6. For our kitty.
7. For chocolate pudding.
8. For eggnog!

Today I am grateful for:
1. Honesty. True, get-it-off-your-chest, let’s-be-clear honesty. It feels good to not have thoughts lurking in MY head, but rather have them all out on the table.
2. My boss. I have a boss I can really respect and understand and encourage.
3. Checking things off the to-do list. Bit by bit I’m getting the things I said I would do done.
4. Cell phones. I’ve long forgotten the times before them. ;)
5. My sister. She’s a gem.

Today I am grateful for:
1. Cheers. Sometimes you get so stuck in what you’re doing, you feel a little invisible to the world. It’s nice to come on here, and see that some folks value your words and insights.
2. Waking with the sun. I love the fall-quality to the sun these days. There’s a certain glow to it.
3. Michael Pollan. He’s changing the ways I think about food, eating, and nutrition.
4, Our summer intern J. During the big stresses of the summer at work, she made me a bouquet of paper flowers, with prompts of “Sing, Laugh, Smile, and Snack” adorned on the “petals.” She’s currently studying abroad in China, but I want to think of her, and send her my gratitude.
5. Snow on the mountains. It’s just beckoning me to pull out the ski gear from the closet…

Today I am grateful for:
1. Travel. I’ve been gone a ton this fall for work and pleasure, and it’s been great to get away, meet new people, have fun, and get out of the ruts I’ve been in.
2. The Motley Fool. J and I have been getting really serious about getting our finances in order, and we’re using some of TMF services, and really enjoying them. Plus, J and I are communicating very well, and enjoying figuring out our joint goals.
3. Marriage. :)
4. My work. We had a retreat last weekend to the mountains, and despite the blizzard warnings that made us condense everything and pack up early, I think it was very successful, and it made me love all the things about my job again.
5. My boss. We’re enjoying each other’s work styles, and getting a ton accomplished. This feels great.
6. Reese’s Peanut Butter cups. ‘Nuff said.

Where does the time go?! End of October already? Oh dear…

Today I am grateful for:
1. Clean sheets and the transformation a switch of the duvet cover makes.
2. NPR. I learned about a ton today, just by waking up to it.
3. Things that make you say, “Small world!” I met a woman who worked in the exact same village as my sister did six years ago.
4. My grandpa. His legacy has made it so J and I have little to worry about. Thank you, Grandpa.
5. Another morning gratitude of Honey Nut Cheerios! :)