31.speaking English
32.perspective
33.having my thyroid disorder picked up and diagnosed when it was
34.that my parents are still alive and enjoying their ‘mature’ age
35.life
36.my baby
37.having the courage to go through ivf
38.that my baby is healthy
39.that she is delightful
40.that my in-laws are not too intrusive 3 years ago

21.having met a soulmate (my best friend)
22.(I don’t think we should do it, but)being able to use all the water I need, and having it on tap
23.having nice colleagues I can talk to
24.access to medical care
25.people I can rely on
26.small inspirations
27.a warm bed
28.eyes and ears
29.hot showers
30.a roof over my head 5 years ago

1.my friends from school still being friends
2.having a man who encourages/inspires me to be outdoors and do sport
3.that I don’t live in Iraq
4.seemingly unimportant technology like ipods which increase the joy factor of life and allow you to personlize your experience
5.sunshine!
6.Having a place to live in
7.that he is there to support me and bring me back to earth when I am gone…
8.every opportunity to be creative
9.not living through a war
10.peace and quiet 5 years ago

This is much harder than what I had expected. Is there really a pessimist hiding inside me?

I am grateful for:

1.not being born a woman in China one hundred years ago and having to bind my feet (this list was inspired by seeing photographs of bound feet without the bindings)
2.being able to travel
3.having a real connection with my parents
4.books
5.the internet
6.having food so easily at my disposal
7.having two arms and two legs
8.having parents who were pedantic about English grammar and spelling and taught me things that I now use in my daily work
9.the hair on my arms being soft and blond.
10.My nephew 5 years ago