Living

I'm grateful for:

• breathing.
• dancing. 
• singing. 
• hugging the people I love.
• being able to tell a friend I love him and say goodbye face to face.

Coziness

I'm grateful for:

• My expensive juicer that waits patiently for me to return to it again and again.
• A clean kitchen.
• Weather that is not FREEZING, as it is in other parts of the country.
• The soft glow of candlelight.
• A good book to read.

Newness

I'm grateful for:

• a fresh outlook.
• finally being well after 3 weeks of illness.
• days that are getting longer again.
• being courageous.
• being assertive.

Support

I'm grateful for:

• being able to sleep late into the morning after a sleepless night.
• my husband who works hard, allowing me to stay home with my kids.
• relatives who know how to fix cars.
• a generous son who is working his way through college with two jobs and still offered to help pay for my car repairs because he uses my car too. (I told him, "No, thank you.")
• loyal friends who get me and care.

Convenience

I'm grateful for:

• my dishwasher, washer, and dryer.
• hot showers.
• clean sheets.
• leftovers in the fridge.
• heat at the touch of a button.

Thanksgiving

I'm grateful for:

• my sister who is hosting Thanksgiving at her house this year.
• an easy stress-free holiday coming up.
• my parents who are healthy and close-by. 
• my in-laws who are also healthy and close-by.
• those of you who read and give me a reason to write and share my journey.

 Happy Thanksgiving!

Strength

I'm grateful for:

• a whole week of sunshine!
• the fact that my body is getting stronger.
• having healthy food choices in my fridge and pantry.
• a friendly neighborhood to walk around and about.
• hope.

Safety

I'm grateful for:

• the sun shining this week.
• the unconditional love of my immediate family.
• healthy and safe kids. (I was scared over the weekend by a fatality on our corner right around the time my son was driving in that exact spot, but he answered his phone when I called to make sure he was okay.)
• new resolve.
• my mind.

Nourishment

I'm grateful for:

• home-cooked meals, even if I am the one doing the cooking.
• the ability to nourish my family and getting their praise and appreciation in return.
• my always-needs-cleaning kitchen that has everything I need to get the job done. 
• butter.
• cheese.

Comfort

I'm grateful for:

• the fact that every new day is a new beginning.
• a warm, cozy house.
• my patient (with me) and supportive husband.
• my kids who are just SO good and funny and kind.
• my fuzzy slippers, which are perfect for relaxing and unwinding, but not ideal for wearing all day, every day.

Grateful

This is a very good list!

10 Simple Things You Can Do Today That Will Make You Happier

Right now I'm combining 1, 4, and 5 by taking walks outside with my daughter, but I think I will work on intentionally adding the other items on the list to my life on a more regular basis.

I'm going to start with practicing gratitude by listing 5 things for which I'm grateful at the end of each of my posts.

I'm grateful for:

• the pretty dew laced spider webs we saw on our walk today.
• this gorgeous sunny day.
• my daughter who has made it her mission to get the two of us moving.
• the extra income coming in right now.
• friends who support me and lift my spirits.