"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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.