Since gratitude seems to always being the common theme in my posts and writing, I figured it seemed appropriate to run a series on the power of gratitude. When I'm having an especially difficult time, my saving grace is always gratitude... It seems to me to be such a great way to de-stress myself, put my priorities back in order and just make me feel good. Today's Gratitude List: My health. So often overlooked, it's amazing how much I have taken my health for granted over the years. I've got so much to be thankful in this area, and when I sit back and think about it, I flood myself with gratitude for how lucky I am.
My family. I've got awesome kids, who I'd give my life for in a heartbeat, a husband who works his butt off to provide for the family, cool step kids, awesome brothers with wonderful families as well as my extended family. I'm truly blessed...
My friends. I've developed some wonderful friendships over the years and the Internet age has blessed me with the ability to get to know people across the world I would have never had the chance to meet.
My job. I couldn't work for a better company. I love what I do. I work for a dental lab as the new doctor coordinator for the crown and bridge department. I talk with dentists' offices all day long, cultivating relationships. I couldn't ask for more.
My awesome boss. My boss is the polar opposite of my last manager. My boss treats me with respect, tells me when I'm doing right and wrong and never shames or threatens me (did I mention my last boss was a putz?)
My readers and how you've all enriched my life. Hearing from all of you, be it in a comment or an email keeps me doing what I'm doing. Hearing how my words have helped just one person, makes all of the work worthwhile.
Our furry friend, Brooklyn (shhhh, she thinks she's human) What's better than cuddling up with a four-legged family member? I never had a dog when I was married the first time, and when I got divorced, I lived in places that didn't allow dogs. Imagine what a wonderful surprise it was when I met my husband and he had the sweetest, most loving dog? Ahhhh, how I can pass the time with her...
My gorgeous view from the house I live in the tallest house on the street. One side of the house gets the sunrise (which overlooks the steeple of a nearby church) and the other side, which has the deck, gets amazing sunsets... I'm such a visual person and to live in such an amazing place, in the middle of the city, is a blessing beyond compare...
My laptop with its wireless connection. Are you surprised to see something like this on my list? Well, don't be! I'm thankful for so many things... I used to have a dinosaur of a computer with dial up access. I'm truly grateful for what I now have!
Along the same lines - .the Internet and what it's brought into my life. The Internet gives me an outlet to pursue my dreams is a pretty cool thing. My voice can be heard world wide for next to nothing, cost-wise (counting my DSL bill here - and yes, I know I can get free Internet in certain places.)
In keeping with my ADD-type writing style, I'll add my calming essential oil burner, giving me a calming scent as I write. I used to light candles. Nice scent, but that's what it was... just nice scent. Essential oils just calm like nothing else I've ever encountered. (bonus - I got this burner and 3 types of oil at a thrift store for less than 5 buckaroos!) These are but a few of the things I give thanks for daily... Some may seem trivial, but when you learn to give thanks for all of the things in your life, you learn to look at your life a lot differently... Finding the Positive in the Seemingly Negative I'm also learning to be thankful for the problems that show up because they're always there for my growth. Yes, that one IS a bitter pill to swallow... But I'm learning that embracing everything with a grateful attitude helps me cope on a daily basis with a much better attitude than when I ignore the bad things or wallow in my pity pool... Who likes a whiner anyway??? So, I guess my point is this: Step back and take stock of your life and give thanks for everything that's there... THEN you can decide what you don't like so much and do something about it... A Better Way Wouldn't it be nice if every time you started to have a "crap attitude" you would turn those thoughts into something that feels better, thereby bringing your mood back around to something better? That what gratitude does... When you're down in the dumps and nothing seems to be going your way, ask yourself this question: What is the lesson for me here? Sit back and really think about what the lesson could be and then be grateful for the lesson... It's always something you need, whether you know it or not. So, find the lesson and be grateful for it... I'll betcha your attitude will improve. And, even if it just improves just a little bit, isn't that much better than dwelling in Wallowsville? The Challenge, Should You Choose to Accept It I challenge you to look at your situation from a different perspective the next time you're in the middle of turmoil in your life. Look at your situation. REALLY look at it and once you see it for what it really is, then be thankful for it. It's not an easy thing to accomplish, but with practice, it gets easier. Once you've stepped back and disentangled yourself from the emotional roller coaster you've been riding continuously, you'll find you have a renewed sense of "what is" that you didn't recognize before. You find your situation much easier to view objectively than it once was. The more you practice this, the easier it becomes. So, that's your challenge. I hope you decide to take me up on it. Let me know how your attitude improves because of it. Mine has... Won't you join me in your very own gratitude adjustment?

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