Day 12 in Gratitude

Good morning! I am so grateful to have had a safe, uneventful flight into Atlanta! This ice/snow storm has really paralyzed this city and airport. Cars and trucks stranded on the roadside, people can't get in or out of the city. Mother Nature really did a number here. With all that, the Atlanta city dwellers don't seem too bothered. Smiling and laughing as they tell their travel horror stories to each other, they're very inspiring.

I am grateful to have gotten a good night's sleep. Sometimes I struggle sleeping in hotels longing for my own bed and surroundings. I think I was just so tired, I had no problem whatsoever.

I am grateful to have watched the Atlanta sunrise this morning. Looking out my hotel window which faces northeast, I saw the most perfect sunrise. I always wonder if God boasts every morning when the universe puts on such a display of beauty. Thank you!

What are you grateful for?

Day 11 in Gratitude

Guard your thoughts carefully. The quality of your thinking determines the quality of your life." - Brian Tracy

I am bursting with anticipation on what this blog is going to grow into. I am planting seeds of gratitude and thankfulness in the knowing that it will become contagious. I will continue to post my daily thoughts and will also add articles and interviews from others on gratitude. So, today, I am grateful that I feel so inspired, strong and passionate with a purpose. A purpose to stay grateful in all things and to share my authentic self with my readers.

Today I am grateful that the universe continues to bring to me other inspirational, motivated and confident men and women so that we may feed off of each others enthusiasm and together make a difference in the world.

Tonight I am feeling a bit sad that I have to be out of town for 7 days and away from my husband. He is such a ray of sunshine for me. He's a bit kooky, just one of the things I love about him. He's also an intellectual, another aspect of him that I adore. He always says, "I'm a simple man" which is true and yet, not. He is simple yet complex. So tonight, I am grateful to have someone in my life that means so much to me and I will miss him so.

What are you grateful for?

Day 10 in Gratitude

Every Monday night my husband and I take a class learning more about metaphysics and the power of oneness. We made a commitment to ourselves that this new year we would surround ourselves with like-minded people and we have begun! Tonight in class I mentioned starting my 365 Days In Gratitude blog and everyone welcomed the idea and wanted to hear more. For that, I am truly grateful.

In that same class, there is a woman who dedicates her time to all of the administrative tasks that go into holding such a class. She works seamlessly behind the scenes and I want to recognize her. I am grateful to you (you know who you are) for all the time and effort you put into making that class run like a well-oiled machine.

I am grateful for something that most of us take for granted every morning. This morning when I walked into the living room, the sun was so vibrant it made me smile. I sat on the couch for just a brief moment and basked in it's glory. Normally in January the midwest is inundated with gray skies but not this morning and for that, I am grateful.

What are you grateful for?

Day 9 in Gratitude

Today has been an amazing day. I had the opportunity to speak with an entrepreneurial woman from South Carolina who is starting an Elite Mastermind Group. She was focused, passionate and driven. I always marvel at the power of women who know what they want and go out and get it - very inspiring. I am grateful to have had an inspiring conversation with such an amazing woman. You know who you are - thank you.

My youngest son was home for a very short time this weekend. I mentioned in a previous post that he was home to attend the wedding of a dear friend of his. I am thankful to have spent the time I had with him, I enjoy him so.

I'm leaving out of town in a few days. I'm not ready to go on this trip. Tomorrow night after work I have a class from 7-9pm. I have Tuesday after work to pack and leave Wednesday morning. My fabulous husband helped me in every way today. He had gone out to run some of his own errands and stopped at the health food store to buy me some of the things I need to go on my trip. Then as I was starting to get my clothes ready for the trip, he came into the bedroom with fresh fruit because he knew I was hungry. I know, I know, you're all falling in love with him...how can you not?!? I am so thankful to have him in my life!! Thank you baby, I appreciate you.

What are you grateful for?

Day 8 in Gratitude

We had friends over tonight and the conversation spanned so many topics I can't elaborate. But, to that point, I am grateful for lively, non-judgmental conversation where everyone had their say and didn't feel threatened by majority.

I am grateful that my youngest son is experiencing one of his good friends entering into holy matrimony tonight. We had in-depth conversation about matrimony and maturity levels. I've learned that marriage, no matter what the age, is a matter of the heart.

I am grateful that my husband painstakingly made a wonderful tray of appetizers for tonight's guests even tho he wasn't eating anything! He is in the process of a full body cleanse and is on day 2 of the liquid diet...thank God there's only 2 days of liquid only. He went to the store tonight, bought food, cut cheeses, meats and other goodies for everyone else never partaking in any delicacies. That's commitment!

What are you grateful for?

Food, Eating & Gratitude

Last night my husband, youngest son and I were watching a show called ‘The Best Thing I Ever Ate, If This Was Your Last Meal” It’s a show on the Foodie cable channel, a station that seems to be on often in my house.

My youngest son, who LOVES food, and I mean, LOVES food. This young adult will try anything, cook anything and devour anything. He loves good food; Chilean Sea Bass is one of his favorites, and loves junk food; a burger the size of his head with bacon, cheddar cheese, fried onion, etc. So his last meal he was describing a montage of a little bit of everything. He went from gourmet macaroni and cheese to Chilean Sea Bass to a chili, cheese hot dog with french fries on the dog. I can just feel the indigestion. My son ended by saying, "I just love going to new restaurants and trying new food." ...gratitude.

My husband, another guy who loves his food, loves cooking, loves kitchen experiments and having people over to experiment on, and soaks up recipe books like a sponge to water. His Last Meal Menu was more like Kung Po Chicken, Orange Beef, Pot Stickers, or anything Szechuan. My husband ended by saying, "I used to love this restaurant that was in up North in Chicago, that chef offered the best Szechuan around." ...gratitude.

Now it was my turn to answer. I couldn’t think of any one meal, one dish that if I knew it were my last meal, I just had to have. They kept pushing and prodding me for an answer. Indian! No, Ethiopian! I just love going to an Ethiopian restaurant, eating with other individuals whom I’ve never met, sharing a table and plate, great conversation and eating with my fingers. Dining Ethiopian is characterized by the ritual breaking of injera and eating from the same plate, signifying the bonds of loyalty and new-found friendship.

I realize that for me, it isn’t about the actual food, it’s more about the experience. When we go out for dinner with friends or my boys, I never concern myself with where or what we eat, I leave that to someone else. I just soak up the atmosphere of great conversation, love, sharing and laughter. The next day, I am always so grateful to have had the experience. I believe that if we adopt this kind of an attitude, a continual attitude of thankfulness and gratitude, we’ll inspire others to do the same. If we practice daily gratitude we’ll automatically extend inspiration wherever we go.

And so, just another reason I started this blog. I begin and end every day of life with some expression of thankfulness. Whether when waking I offer a quick “Thank you God, for this life, for my body, for my family, friends and loved ones” or at the end of the day when blogging on my 365 Days of Gratitude blog.

Now I think I’ll go make myself some chocolate and strawberry waffles, or banana pancakes…for some reason, I’m hungry. ~Namaste

Day 7 in Gratitude

I am grateful to have made it home from work safe. It was snowing and freezing. The streets were a sheet of ice and one of the main roads was crazy slippery. Everyone was driving no more than 10 MPH. Every time we stopped at a stop light, starting was like trying to gain your footage on an ice skating pond.

I am grateful for my son, driving up from college, made it home safely. I always worry about my boys driving in the snow. Why? I have no idea. My boys were raised in the midwest and are used to driving in blizzard like conditions. I'm the one with the lead foot, not them.

Tonight, when I came home, I made both my son and I tomato soup and grilled cheese. It's such a comfort food! I am grateful for comfort food and the memory of comfort food! It brings me back to when I was a kid.

What are you grateful for?