A New Twist

Look at what I found:

It is called  the 365 grateful project, and it sounds like just what the doctor ordered for me.  Watch the video - it is quite sweet and simple.  I'm already taking a photo a day (or many, most days), so now I just need to reflect on these moments and truly appreciate the little things.  Sounds like a way to get me out of my funk. (Have I mentioned that I've been in a funk?  Yes, I have.  A big one.)

Let me know if you decide to give it a go, too.

On Thankfulness and Gratitude

So you know how I have been trying to cultivate an attitude of gratefulness and gratitude?  Well, while reading Psychology Today over the weekend, I came across an interesting article about a ballerina turned ad exec who has a blog devoted to thankfulness.  Every day she writes a thank you note, and most are not directed towards a person.  Some of my favorites:

So true, so true.
Hope you had a great weekend.

Gratitude and Gratefulness

Here is what is on my list today:

1) Time to myself.  To think, to write, to read, to do as I please.

2) A great conversation with a friend.  Wasn't expecting it, but what a nice surprise it was.  Learned a lot about my friend and, in turn, myself.  I've been feeling happier and more like my normal self since.

3) Going to bed at 6pm.  (Ok, I didn't fall asleep until 7pm.  And then I woke up at 9pm to have a bowl of cereal because I was starving. And I stayed awake until almost 11pm reading.) It's amazing how much easier it was to get out of bed at 6am this morning. Shocking?  Not really.

4) Sweet hubby.  I ask a lot of him, such as last night when he bathed the girls, brushed their teeth, dressed them in their pjs, read to them in our bed, and tucked each of them in.  Because I was pooped and was already in bed myself.  See #3 above.

5) Shining sun.  So much more pleasant than a grey sky.

Gratitude: part 2

Over the last week I kept thinking of things that I am grateful for, so continuing on this post, here it goes:

1) Cousins.  Over the Thanksgiving holiday break, we went to visit my hubby's family in North Carolina, and the seven cousins on that side of our family were able to spend lots of time together.  The giggling, playing, tickling, hugging, loving, merrymaking was just awesome to hear and see.  My girls had such a blast with their big and little cousins, and I am so grateful that they were able to spend time together and have so much fun.

2)"That's a mitzvah, remember to enjoy it." These lovely words were emailed to me on Monday from one of the women in my book club.  It made me smile, laugh, and remember not to get so worried about the upcoming holiday fair that I am organizing for my daughters' school.  I have been a ball of nerves all week and my mind is absolutely racing with everything I need to get done, so to have her take a moment to respond to my group email about why I can't be at our meeting this week really made me appreciative.  I love my girls' school and I am happy to do whatever I can to help, and I just hope the school and the vendors make some money!

3) Health.  A very close family friend had triple bypass surgery on Wednesday of last week, and he is now home recovering.  Thank goodness for awesome doctors, an awesome hospital, and good friends and family, of course.  GP, we have been thinking about you and are wishing you a very speedy recovery!

4) Tomie dePaola. Yes, I just wrote a post about him and his incredible children's books, but really, his books make me happy.  My girls love them, my husband loves them, and I love them.  The stories are great and the illustrations are fun, and I am grateful that this artist has chosen the path that he has.  Our story times are richer for his creative mind.

5) My therapist.  Yup, I am grateful for her.  I have been in therapy on and off for half of my life (I'm only 33 so it's not that long...oh, who am I kidding, yes it is!), and I am extremely happy to have someone to talk to about my funny little intricacies and help me to understand them.  My girls know that on Monday afternoons I go to see Dr. S and hopefully they will see no stigma in anyone seeking help when they need it.

Gratitude

Did you see this article in yesterday's New York Times?

Ok, so here are five things for which I am grateful:

1)  P, L, and B - my sweet, wonderful, loving, exhausting, funny family.  I could really list each of them separately but I think that would be cheating.
-P is my sweet, sensitive, 5 year old who just wants to please and help, when she isn't being melodramatic or sucking her thumb.  Sweet girl.
-L is my feisty 2 1/2 year old who loves to get a rise out of everyone and be a little trouble-maker at home.  At school, she is a sweet little helper who does nothing wrong.  So she saves it all for us at home.  Lucky us.  No, really, though, she is strong and feisty and wonderful.  And she loves to cuddle and caress my face when I lay in bed with her.
-B is my awesome hubby, my partner, my saving grace when I feel like I am going to rip my hair out.  Our marriage isn't always mushy gushy romance or picture perfect, but we laugh together and love one another, and we are on this incredible journey of marriage and parenthood together.

2) My extremely supportive parents - they would really do anything for me, my girls, and B, and for that I am extremely grateful. My brothers who are so smart and funny - truly unique and wonderful dudes.  I am grateful to have my family.

3) Friends - Where would I be without my friends?  Old friends who know me so well and are always there to support me; new friends who have helped me through the transition of moving to a new place and away from everything I know.

4) Photography and Pottery - my creative outlets that give me so much peace and joy.  I just love creating things, and while I will probably never sew a quilt or paint an oil masterpiece (although my gum balls were pretty awesome), I can capture a great photograph and throw a pot.  Or at least I am working on those two!  I still have to learn Photoshop Elements to make my photos better, but I'm working on it.

5) Time to myself - as I sit here at Starbucks, I am grateful for the time I have to myself right now.  The time to be with myself and my thoughts, and to do exactly as I please.  This also goes back to being grateful for B, who is off, out and about with the girls, while I am here alone.  What a guy!