I ran across a blog today where a woman who had just lost a close relative was fighting to stay positive about life. She wasn't a religious person, but she often turned to Astrology in times of darkness. The horoscope she pulled up that day fit perfectly. It told her to count her blessings - literally. List out 101 things she was grateful for. It sounded overwhelming, but she took on the project.
While my life is actually going pretty darn well at the moment, I think it always a good exercise to take the time and really focus on the positive parts of our lives. I think my ability to look at the positive side of things more often than not is a huge contributor to my current state of happiness. I used to focus on the negative a lot - it was easier to blame the world or the people around me for things going wrong than to take responsibility for my own emotions and feelings. The truth is, if you just let life just happen to you without accepting your own role in your happiness, you are going to be pissy. A lot. I know folks like this. Nothing is ever good, it's always bad. You know what I'm talking about. The people who can never say anything positive about what's going on in their life - it's always "this sucks," "why me," "blah blah blah." Shut the hell up and tell me what you are grateful for - there has to be something. In fact, there have to be at least 101 somethings. Take the time and list them out and see how lucky you are. Count your blessings - at least 101 of them. Go. NOW. List them and tell me about them.
Here is my first stab:
1. I have a partner in life who challenges me, listens to me and wants the same things I do out of life.
2. I have enough funds to buy good beer - or the cheap stuff if it tastes good!
3. I have a job which although is sometimes tedious allows me to help people better their lives.
4. All three of my parents are still healthy and living, and they are an active part of my life.
5. I am healthy.
6. I have great pets.
7. I have a roof over my head and a safe and warm place to sleep at night.
8. I never have to miss a meal.
9. I was able to attend college and obtain a masters with the help of parents, scholarships, financial aid and loans. And I have the ability to pay those loans back at a decent interest rate with manageable payments.
10. While I don't shop regularly, I have the ability to go out and buy new pants, shoes, etc, when I need them.
11. I finally paid off all my credit cards!
12. I have some really cool friends.
13. With all the bad judgement calls I have made in my life, I have never been seriously hurt or seriously hurt anyone else.
14. It's great to know I can and am living healthy without eating meat!
15. I have access to clean and tasty drinking water.
16. I have a few close friends who are willing to listen, and I have friends who call me to listen to them.
17. I have been able to travel to South Africa numerous times (and England once), and I can honestly say that international travel changed my life for the better.
18. I have found the strength to ask for help when I need it. This may sound simple, but it is one of the hardest things I have learned. (Thank you to Karen, my former therapist!!!)
19. My parents have always believed in me and told me I could be whatever I wanted to in life. I had no idea how important that was until I met people who have parents that never said anything similar.
20. I am thankful Mike and I are covered by health insurance shall either of us fall ill.
21. I am thankful Mike got a job so he can be what he wants to be when he grows up.
22. I am glad that the only thing I really want to be when I grow up is someone who helps out other people. I can do that a lot of ways.
23. I'm glad I have friends who do super cool stuff and tell me about it so I can sometimes live vicariously through them.
24. I'm thankful I grew up in a small town and had close friends there. It taught me a lot about life.
25. I'm thankful that I have regained contact with may of those good friends from high school!
26. I'm thankful for Facebook allowing me to keep in touch with so many people who have crossed my path at some time.
27. I am happy I am a quick learner. I may get frustrated early, but that happens right before I break through the barrier and start understanding what I am doing.
28. I'm happy that I don't have many enemies in life. There are a couple folks who I know are definitely not too fond of me, but for the most part I am well liked. That's a nice feeling.
29. I'm thankful for good eyesight and ability to hear.
30. I'm grateful that I am at least to #30 on this list. This is hard!!!!!
...to be continued
2 comments:
I enjoyed your list. Looking forward to Part 2.
Hmmm...101 things? Quite a challenge (not that they are not there but to think of them all!)
I'll see what I can do!
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