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

1. For the lovely New Year’s Eve party last night, and for the people who attended.
2. For the time I’ve had off the past 2 weeks. I’ve been busy, but have had much more downtime than I normally do, and I’ve been loving every second of it. It is going to be extraordinarily difficult to return to work on Monday…
3. For a really great holiday season. I’ve not been on here since shortly before Thanksgiving, and that’s pretty much because I’ve spent the last month cooking, decorating, baking, knitting and wrapping gifts, and spending time with friends and family. And it’s been stellar.
4. For the end of a really great holiday season. Though it’s been great, I can’t deny that there’s a part of me that was craving normalcy and routine again. I will regret saying that in, ohhh, about 3 months.
5. For the fantastic (ummm, 5-hour) nap I took this afternoon/evening. I haven’t done that in, I don’t know, a few years? Yeah, it was great. Really.

1. For my recent awesome birthday weekend! (Which somehow stretched to last about 5 days.) I got to visit Chicago, meet new people, and spend time with family and old friends. It was perfect! (Even though it was my 30th… :-)
2. Chocolate.
3. For feeling productive and knowledgeable at the end of today’s final session. Yesterday left me feeling a little shook-up, but today made up for it.
4. For having some extra knitting time lately. Always a good thing, but before Christmas it’s EXTRA good.
5. Parmesan cheese. Not the sprinkle kind, the block kind. It’s amazing. It’s the umami, I think.

1. That I am finished with work for the week!
2. For the incredibly speedy oil change I received this afternoon. I realized that I was 500 miles overdue, and I’m going to drive 400 miles to Chicago tomorrow, so I had to get it changed today!!! I had a 15-minute window, and they did it in about 7. Nice!
3. For my new hairdresser, who is awesome and gets me in whenever I want. (Like when I called today to get a manicure and eyebrow waxing…for 9 AM tomorrow… :-)
4. I say this one a lot, but it’s so very true…for my amazing, wonderful, supportive friends who are always there for me. I love them and appreciate their presence in my life.
5. For sleep, glorious sleep…

1. That I survived my hellishly long 12-hour work day.
2. The sweet little lady from Zimbabwe who works at the laundromat I go to. She always says the best stuff. Today she said, “Our destinations are hidden.” Who knew sages like to hang out at the laundromat?!?
3. Interlibrary loan. I love that I can get books, music, DVDs from all over the state. I have no qualms about my tax dollars going there.
4. Comfy sweats.
5. Quiet time.

1. Leftover potato soup. Way better the second time around…
2. That this is a three-day work week for me! Then Chicago! Woo!
3. For another warm, lovely day.
4. That I didn’t see any deer on the ride home. I am soooooo terrified of hitting a deer, and have two friends who have done so in the past week, so I was super-scared—but it was okay.
5. For feeling pretty productive today.

1. For the beautiful, unseasonably warm day today! It’s amazing what great weather will do for your mood!
2. For a fun game of tennis with K and B.
3. For having a lovely potato soup dinner party with K and R.
4. For the awesome Stitch ‘n Bitch tonight! It was much better attended than I expected, and I hope that it keeps growing! Plus, I knit one-half of a pair of super-cute fingerless gloves for myself :-)
5. For several new friendships that I am forming with others, and several old friendships that are getting even better. In terms of friendships, I’ve typically gravitated more towards guys, but more now than any other point in my life, I really appreciate the bond I have with other women.

1. That my last three clients cancelled! It was kinda nice heading home before dark…
2. For the wonderful, beautiful, long, restful night sleep I had last night.
3. For my new red puffy coat! (And the smaller size I bought it in ;-)
4. For the nice quiet evening I have in store. Popcorn, a WW peanut-butter cup sundae, knitting, and perhaps some Bridget Jones…sounds like my kind of Friday night!
5. That my sister was able to burn the Hedwig and the Angry Inch soundtrack, which is apparently no longer in print. I’ve been listening to it non-stop! (Especially “Midnight Radio.” My God, what a beautiful song!)

1. Making it through this day despite sleep deprivation.
2. That I had the necessary materials to construct a makeshift bed in my office for a little afternoon siesta… :-)
3. Mashed potatoes.
4. Plymouth baby alpaca yarn.
5. Comfy sweaters.

1. That I am an auntie to the most beautiful baby in the universe!
2. That I made it to Florida and back in one piece. Woo AirTran!
3. That my sister and brother-in-law are making a smooth adjustment into parenthood. Or at least as smooth an adjustment as one would expect.
4. Along those lines, that my sister found a really great man to marry. I couldn’t imagine anyone better for her.
5. For vacation time! I know there are so many people out there who don’t have it, and I am so grateful to have a job where I have ample vacation time.

1. That I made it through the week without contracting some crazy illness from one of my clients!!! knocking on wood…
2. That I was able to go to a very engaging and informative training session today.
3. That I had the motivation to be productive, despite being kinda sleep-deprived and not being in the world’s greatest mood. I cleaned my apartment, finished my niece’s baby blanket, did most of my packing, and ran a few other errands.
4. Cookies.
5. For newfound hope.