Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.

1. Pungent Jasmine tea that fills the body with calmness.

2. The silhouette of intermingled, leafless tree limbs in winter, reaching out twisted wooden fingers against a grey mountainous sky.

3. Dark, dramatic paint in a room that feels serious and deep, like an 100 year old library with ten thousand books.

4. Multiple candles lighting up a dusky room with music lightly humming in the background.

5. Wintergreen Altoids and the kiss that follows.

1. The sound of kids’ laughter…the best music in the world.

2. Having a day when everything goes right…We all notice the days when stuff goes wrong, but how about when things go right?...people answer the phone when you call…traffic lights seem to all be green…there is a general good mood in the air.

3. Lavender liquid soup. I love this stuff…the mere scent on my hands makes me feel good.

4. Christmas Villages…I can’t help it, I really like them and am a sap for holiday ambiance.

5. The sound of pool balls clacking together…such a nostalgic sound.

Today I am grateful for:

1. reuniting with what feels like long lost family members, which is a good thing about the holidays.

2. Kittens…This week, I got a baby Maine Coon kitty. Her big eyes are so innocent and she is eager to take on the great big world.

3. Sleeping. Sleep is so sweet and calming and I enjoy the big playground of my dream-world.

4. The phenomenon of trust…I know it can be broken and if it were, then I would survive, but I like that I am still able to believe in my ability to trust.

5. Fire in a fireplace…one of the most sublime pleasures in the world.

I saw something truthsayer wrote recently in regard to gratitude and liked her approach. She made the statement, I’m not in a war zone. And that made me think about expressing gratitude with an “I’m not list”. So, I thought I would give it a try today:

1. I’m not in a fight with any of my friends or family
2. I’m not in any physical pain
3. I’m not paralyzed
4. I’m not mentally impaired
5. I’m not heart broken.

and, as truthsayer put so very well, I’m not in a warzone!

Although I realize it is a little unconventional to express gratitude like this, the list made me want to sit up a little straighter and perhaps get outside and take in and appreciate life more. Thanks to truthsayer for today’s new approach to expressing gratitude. :)

1. That I believe in myself and I believe in possibilities
2. That I am EXCITED about being alive!! We are here for such a short time in relation to all of time. We won the lottery in a sense in regard to being able to attend the real home game…to attend the real game of LIFE…It passes so quickly. I’m glad I got to be here!
3. For learning how to enjoy food…I feel like a rabbit savoring all the different types of greens in my mixed green salad.
4. That I’ve learned how to listen to others better…how to get knee to knee with other people and understand them more…how to look them in the eyes (without being creepy), LOLOL!!
5. For 43 and its tremendous influence in my life in regard to making contact with people I probably never would have known otherwise and in taking charge of and completing important goals in life.
6. For the presence of Love in my life, in all its forms and fashions.

A walk in the woods…touching the bark on a tree and smelling the country air.

Getting my heart rate up for a decent amount of time…literally feeling my heart working inside my body.

Keeping in touch with my family.

Coconut milk and super-thin crunchy crackers with hummus.

Walking through my home and being pleased with how it looks and feels.

The house is clean after the dinner party, and improved because of the work done prior to hosting the dinner party.

Time alone to be with myself without interruptions.

A chance to sleep in.

Someone to Love.

The ability to be patient and assess situations before taking action. I feel as if I’m making progress in developing the trait of being able to think and reflect in full measure before acting.