Monday, December 5, 2011

"9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway"

1) I am grateful for the wide swings in emotions I've experienced today. I cannot remember a day recently when I was as aware of laughing and crying as I've been this Monday.

2) Today especially, I am grateful to have a warm, cozy home, and to share it with lovely people.

3) I am grateful for the author of this post, and for my Daddy who proudly proclaimed his love of #9.

4) I am grateful to work for a woman who is concerned with my well-being and happiness more than she is concerned with my duties.

5) I am grateful that the Universe is reminding me that there is always more work to do-- I am diligently trying to become a better person, and I hope to not feel finished with that process for a VERY long time.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Remembering gratitude

1) I am grateful for the incredibly blessed life I am able to experience.
2) I am grateful that my Mom, Dad and Lydia will be here in two and a half weeks.
3) I am grateful for Krystin, and her ability to make me think critically about my assumptions.
4) I am grateful to work with an awesome group of people on the 2012 HRMA Board
5) I am grateful to have taken the last exam of my academic career this evening. Two papers, a group project, two quick presentations and I am FINISHED!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Sunday evening thanks

1) I am grateful for unexpected reminders that we are more connected than we realize.

2) I am grateful Krystin is taking concrete steps to move her life forward. I am so proud of her, and feel lucky to know her.

3) I am grateful that I enjoy cooking. I imagine it is a tedious, never ending task to feed yourself when you dislike the process.

4) I am grateful to have been raised in a culture that encourages me to think for myself.

5) I am grateful for this comfortable, cozy home.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Ode to ABQ

1) I am grateful for unexpected expressions of community-- sitting at a bar doing homework, and realizing that I worked with four people here and know at least five* others. Sometimes the smallness of this city is stifling, but sometimes it is incredibly comforting, too.

2) I am grateful to be starting as a full-time, benefits-eligible, exempt employee on Tuesday, November 1st! ! !

3) I am grateful that my life is anything but boring. Occasionally I convince myself that I would rather have routine and boredom, but that's mostly my longing for stability. I thrive of the excitement that comes with uncertainty.

4) I am grateful to live during this time, in a place where women have infinite choices. This has been on my mind

5) I am INCREDIBLY grateful for the amazing slice of pizza I was just gifted from the Manager of Tractor, by way of donation from the pizza joint down the street. I love this town!

*make that six, by the time I finished typing.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Good hugs

1) I am grateful that I was able to sleep in this morning.

2) I am grateful for the roasted vegetables over polenta I had for lunch today.

3) I am grateful for the beauty of fall in New Mexico-- I ADORE the slight chill in the air after the sun goes down.

4) I am grateful for good hugs.

5) I am grateful for JT and the Clouds, Po' Girl, and other soothing music.

Monday, September 26, 2011

New practice

Today is a hard day. I feel sad, and self-involved, and my pride is hurt, and I want to get out of my heart and my head.

I cannot articulate the gratitude I have that my new practice-- new response, really-- to this misery is to consciously reinvigorate my life with gratitude. Here I am.

1) I am grateful that I have friends who are loving, and accepting when I cry. Krista, Ben, Halee: no one tried to shush me, or to minimize my (hyperbolic, to be sure) emotional reaction. They witnessed, accepted, listened. I adore you all.

2) I am grateful for lovely song lyrics, and easy, smooth melodies that circle through my head, grounding me and reminding me that worrying you are not enough is the most common of human experiences.

3) I am grateful for my deeply trusted belief that everything works out when and how it is supposed to-- we are all moving toward a better tomorrow. Sometimes I need to trust that I'm getting there, even if it is happening at a speed I would not choose.

4) I am beyond grateful for a home full of comfort and solace, and fabulous people and energy.

5) I am grateful for the abundance of time I am discovering of late. Every time I begin to feel overwhelmed, another pocket of freedom unexpectedly opens up. Thank you, Universe, for helping me to create the space to live fully.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Thursday

1) I am grateful to have challenges set before me regularly in my work.

2) I am grateful that those challenges help me to stretch my mental capacities.

3) I am grateful that I have an upcoming long weekend that will allow my brain to relax, too!

4) I am grateful that I am meeting such amazing and incredibly inspiring people in this town.

5) I am grateful that I can count on 8 hours of sleep tonight.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Wednesday

1) I am grateful that my Strategy professor canceled the quiz she had planned for tonight's class.

2) I am grateful that I was able to make incredible progress on a project at work today.

3) I am grateful that I was blessed with a smooth day today.

4) I am grateful to have responsive groups of people that I work with in a wide variety of situations and organizations. I get to be part of some pretty awesome accomplishments.

5) I am grateful to feel at peace with my body today.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Tuesday

1) I am more grateful than I can express to be actively engaged in work that feels both stimulating and fulfilling.

2) I am grateful that my friends are willing to meet me for happy hour on short notice.

3) I am grateful that our kitchen is nice and (almost) shiny clean, thanks solely to the efforts of Katy.

4) I am thankful that my parents are bringing baby girl Lydia for my graduation and to visit.

5) I am thankful to know that many men value wit, personality and a sharp sense of humor more than they value skinny thighs. I am similarly thankful for me deeply held belief that I will meet one who values me specifically, and whom I respect/value in return.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Monday

1) I am grateful to have been excited to go to work this morning.

2) I am grateful to have both of my work groups set up for this semester's classes.

3) I am grateful that the lentil stew I made tonight came out MUCH better than it did last time.

4) I am grateful that my roommate is learning her way around this city. I hope it helps her to feel more at home.

5) I am grateful to be able to help out friends who are struggling with difficult career situations-- even though the help seems small, I am thankful to be able to try.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sunday

1) Today, I am grateful for the reminder that some other than I may benefit from my completing this practice in a public forum.

2) I am grateful for the moment of joy that came from singing "Standing on the Side of Love" during today's contemporary service.

3) I am grateful for the wisdom of Angela's sermon today, and in particular for the (paraphrased) truth that is still resonating: "Sin is not breaking a rule; it is what diminishes us, and is an offense to our fullness as human beings."

4) I am grateful for the opportunity to walk with a friend tonight, and to stretch my understanding of this Universe a little bit more.

5) I am grateful for the moment of connectedness I found this evening-- sitting on my front bench, drinking tea, watching the wind dance through the trees and the lightning flash across the sky.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Day 2

1. I am grateful for the opportunity to stretch my brain and to exercise my learning muscles at my new job.

2. I am grateful that I was able to enjoy a beautiful, relaxing pedicure this evening.

3. I am grateful for the abundance in my life.

4. I am grateful for avocado soup and seitan fajitas with lovely friends.

5. I am grateful that I can be there for people who have given so completely to me.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Day 1, take two

1. I am grateful for friends who are willing to pick me up when I've had a lot to drink.

2. I am grateful for the opportunity to have a great conversation with a friend I was worried may not like me anymore.

3. I am grateful for co-workers who are willing to pick up my extra shifts now that I've quit my second job.

4. I am grateful for a Sunday sermon that spoke directly to the core of who I am, and who I want to be.

5. I am grateful to have spent today in the company of people I love and respect.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Day 21: Loved and special

1. I am grateful to start being able to give back to those at work who helped me through the tough times.

2. I am grateful to have earned a B in Finance!

3. I am grateful to have been given a full Young Adult Scholarship to attend General Assembly this June.

4. I am grateful to be completely done with two of my three classes before finals week even starts.

5. I am grateful that my Mom felt loved and special on this Mother's Day, even though I could not be there to give her a hug. Please know that I love and appreciate you, Mom!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Day 20: Rest

1. I am grateful to have time to let my mind and body rest.

2. I am grateful to have had a nice evening at work.

3. I am grateful that Halee cleaned the bathroom today.

4. I am grateful to have cooked lunch at home.

5. I am grateful for my Mom, more than she knows.


Friday, May 6, 2011

Day 19: Finished

1. I am so grateful to have finished and handed in our marketing project.

2. I am grateful to have had tonight off from work.

3. I am grateful to have spent time with Lauren and Anna this evening.

4. I am grateful for good wine and Italian black truffle cheese.

5. I am grateful to have come home to a nice, quiet house.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Day 18: Remembered

1. I am grateful to have remembered to write my gratitude list tonight.

2. I am grateful that my partner and I were able to accomplish so much on our marketing project today.

3. I am grateful to have three unanticipated days to finish the quizzes for marketing.

4. I am grateful for the chance to see my family soon.

5. I am grateful for the A- I earned on my Globalization midterm.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Day 17: This time around

1. I am grateful for the nap I was able to take this afternoon.

2. I am grateful to have learned about the Freedom Riders today, even om Oprah.

3. I am grateful to Bethany and Gareth for providing me dinner and good company tonight.

4. I am grateful to feel like I accomplished some parts of the marketing plan today, and that the rest will be completed tomorrow.

5. I am grateful for the A- I earned last semester- not having a 4.0 is helping me to feel much less anxious about grades this time around.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Day 16: One way or another

1. I am grateful that I cooked lunch today.

2. I am grateful that finance will be over tomorrow, one way or another.

3. I am grateful for Trader Joe's nondairy ice cream sandwiches.

4. I am grateful for my belief that things work out the way they're supposed to, in the end.

5. I am grateful that I did not need to go to campus today.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Day 15: So close

1. I am grateful to my coworkers for giving me one more night off from work.

2. I am grateful to feel like I have a decent handle on the material for the finance final.

3. I am grateful that the landlord has not switched over the heating, so we are able to have heat tonight.

4. I am grateful to know my sister Krystin, who turned 21 today.

5. I am grateful that this semester is so close to being over.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Day 14: Smooth, easy

1. I am grateful for a safe, warm home to protect me from the howling winds and snow of New Mexico's spring this morning.

2. I am grateful for the wind, which made today so unbearable that I could justify spending all day in bed reading.

3. I am grateful that tonight was a smooth, easy night at work.

4. I am grateful that I have plenty of time to complete my marketing and finance work this week.

5. I am grateful for the bursts of sun shining through the clouds this afternoon.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Day 13: Practice

1. I am grateful I was able to convince myself to complete this practice tonight, despite wanting to fall into bed.

2. I am grateful our roommate's dinner party spontaneously disbanded shortly after 11:00 pm.

3. I am grateful for the perfect bites of food I had tonight: grilled salmon with chard, butternut squash and rice with burre blanc; lemon tart with cherry compote and basil.

4. I am grateful to be on track to finish my marketing homework on time.

5. I am grateful that Krys' flights were smooth, and that she will celebrate her birthday surrounded by family.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Day 12: Reminder

1. I am grateful to have seen the movie I AM this evening.

2. I am grateful for the reminder that small choices can effect change in the world, and for the idea that nothing in nature takes more than it needs.

3. I am grateful to have a stranger recognize that I have a glow about me, especially on a day where I am struggling to see it myself.

4. I am grateful for a chance to offer a glass of water to people who needed it, and to have a nice conversation with them.

5. I am grateful for the quiet in my house tonight.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Day 11: Link after link

1. I am grateful that I finished my marketing project on time today.

2. I am grateful that I had leftovers to eat for lunch.

3. I am grateful for the incredibly long shower I took this afternoon.

4. I am grateful for the time to follow the rabbit hole that is the internet (especially Twitter!). I learn fascinating things by following link after link after link.

5. I am grateful that I have only one more Finance class left this semester.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Day 10: (mostly)

1. I am grateful for this for gorgeous video, and for Chookooloonks for posting it.

2. I am grateful that I (mostly) followed the finance review this morning.

3. I am grateful that the heat in our house is still on during this last burst of cold weather.

4. I am grateful for the fantastic lunch I made this afternoon: homemade huevos rancheros with Anna's homemade salsa, sauteed kale with onions and brown butter turnips. :)

5. I am grateful for the opportunity to remain involved with the SHRM Student Chapter Board next semester.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Day 9: Respect

1. I am grateful to be part of a few teams whose members value and respect my opinions.

2. I am grateful to have an upcoming job interview!

3. I am grateful for the fresh vegetables I picked up from LPO today.

4. I am grateful to have made a (small) dent in my marketing homework today.

5. I am grateful for the chance to go to bed early tonight.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Day 8: Luxury

1. I am grateful to have caught the error in our Finance project calculations fairly easily.

2. I am grateful for the luxury of time, and the way it is allowing me to listen to what my body needs.

3. I am grateful for spontaneous dinner invitations (especially when the food is wonderful and the hostess is flexible enough to let me help).

4. I am grateful that my aunt Di's surgery went smoothly, and that her eyesight will be better soon.

5. I am grateful for the sweet photo of my niece sent to my cell phone today-- it made my day brighter!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Day 7: Renewal

This has been a lovely Easter. I am beginning to appreciate the concepts of resurrection and spiritual reawakening as they may apply to my life. I am also appreciating the tremendous support system built into my life in Albuquerque. I miss my family deeply, but am incredibly thankful for my friends and those who care for me here.

1. I am grateful for the opportunity to share this morningms sunrise service with such incredible women.

2. I am grateful for the chance to spend some easy, stress-free time with my extended family today.

3. I am grateful for the moment of pure joy in singing with the contemporary service this afternoon.

4. I am grateful for the subtle reminder (provided by Twitter) that I enjoy sitting meditation, and might consider trying it again.

5. I am grateful for the love and passion my sister Krys pours into her art. I feel blessed to know people who are incredibly talented.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Day 6: Coziness

1. I am grateful that our finance project is finished-- with a whole 4 days to spare!

2. I am grateful that I didn't feel sad or overwhelmed at all today.

3. I am grateful that my Grandmother sweetly sent me the details for dinner tomorrow.

4. I am grateful for good hair days, vain though that may be.

5. I am grateful for the coziness of my bed.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Day 5: Checking In

1. I am grateful for the singing birds outside my window this morning, and the cheerful way they woke me today.

2. I am grateful that my sister is coming to church on Sunday, and hope that she will particularly resonate with our service.

3. I am grateful for chamomile tea, sipped from a huge mug in the company of good friends.

4. I am grateful for my mom's text this morning, just checking in.

5. I am grateful to have discovered that Blogger lets me post from my phone, so I can write this from the comfort of my bed.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Day 4: Wholly normal

1. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to hear Rev. Peter Morales speak this evening.

2. I am grateful for a stark reminder that I cannot imagine what life is like for people who struggle every day to make their families' lives better, all without the documents and papers to support their right to be in this country.

3. I am grateful to have gotten my paper done this evening, with sufficient time to shower, eat and beat the deadline by an hour.

4. I am grateful for the sound of the water in the fountain in our back yard.

5. I am grateful for my mom-- she has been walking me through some things and making me feel wholly normal, although I imagine some parts of what I am going through might be uncomfortable for her.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Day 3: Courage

1. I am grateful for the support and courage to move forward in a direction that is both hopeful and a little scary.

2. I am grateful for the smell of freshly laundered clothes.

3. I am grateful to know my brother and Dad are developing a closer relationship.

4. I am grateful to live in a place where spring actually feels like spring.

5. I am grateful for the ability of music to speak directly to my core, and to cut through all the extraneous noise.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Day 2: Practice

I went to a luncheon today that was all about the stress-reducing power of mindfulness meditation. The statistics quoted were saddening: most people have 65,000 -- 70,000 thoughts every day. Of those, 90% are the same thoughts we had yesterday. Also of those, 95% do absolutely no good for anybody. :/ On the other hand, most people spend 19 minutes and 20 seconds daily fully present in their lives. The rest of the time is spent thinking about the experiences of our lives.

This gratitude practice is another thought, I suppose-- it is consciously taking time to think back on the past of my day. But I choose these thoughts over mindless wandering, and therefore I find it a beneficial practice.

1) I am grateful for my friend Cyanne, who sent me a thoughtful Yogi Tea gift this morning! It made my day.

2) I am grateful that the HRMA Board included me in their volunteer thank-you at today's meeting.

3) I am grateful for the moment of reassurance wherein an Anderson person reminded me that our relationship is outside of the general nonsense of others.

4) I am grateful for incredible people like Vanessa, who reach out with support to help me through this time.

5) I am grateful for awesome vegan mochi from Trader Joe's. Mango = happiness!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Day 1: Inspired

I appreciate that inspiration comes from so many lovely people and places in this life. Tiny Buddha is one of my go-to sites for uplifting and contagious thoughts; please take a moment and look at her site. Recently, I was blessed by this guest post: How to Start a Gratitude Practice to Change Your Life.

I'm going through a hard time right now. Nothing has *happened* per say, but I think I could benefit from this type of gratitude practice and focus on thankfulness. And so, here I am. I welcome your thoughts and comments-- maybe you'll share some of your gratitude with me, too?

1. I am grateful for the beautiful spring weather today-- it is breezy and warm, and the shining sun is fabulous.

2. I am grateful for an opportunity to *not* drive my car for a full 36 hours. Today I caught a ride to school with my roommate and walked home. I don't need to leave my house until mid-morning tomorrow.

3. I am grateful for red curry with tofu and extra zucchini, over brown rice.

4. I am grateful for incredible co-workers who are continually reaching out to make sure I have what I need.

5. I am grateful for the strength of my body-- it has carried me so far, and is growing stronger every day.