Day 107 in Gratitude

While in my kitchen making dinner tonight I watched a tv program about a man who is paralyzed from the neck down. He endures many tasks during the day that for most of us take a matter of a few minutes. For him, just getting out of bed, getting to the bathroom to wash up and brush his teeth takes him over three hours. Three hours! Think about that. The next time you jump out of bed, walk by yourself to the bathroom, wash up and brush your teeth without anyone's assistance, some people aren't as fortunate. He has to wait for someone to turn on lights and open doors. He literally can't do any task without someone's help. His outlook on life is so inspiring and his motto; "whatever life hands you, you just keep going." Truly inspiring.

Today I am grateful for working hands, arms and legs. Thank you God.

What are you grateful for?

Day 58 in Gratitude

You never hear anyone get on stage after winning the Oscar saying, "I did this all myself."

I'm so inspired watching the gratitude speeches. Every actor seems not to have enough time thanking each and every individual who helped and supported them on their journey. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we, in our everyday lives, acted as if we had just one an Oscar? Think about it...tomorrow, during your day, act as if you had just been awarded the most prestigious of awards for doing what you do. Think long and hard about every individual who has helped you get to where you are today and thank them. It doesn't matter how you thank them. Send up a prayer, write a quick note, send an email or make a phone call but please, take a moment and say thanks. Offer gratitude where gratitude is due. You will brighten someone's day and in turn, brighten your own.

I would like to thank my husband for always being there to support each and every one of my dreams.

I would like to thank my boys for enduring my constant quirkiness and never ending embarrassing moments of hugs and kisses when their friends were around.

And most of all, I'd like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to just be - I am so enjoying the ride...thank you!!

What are you grateful for?

Today I Commit To Loving Myself

I recognize that love is a choice.

Today I affirm my commitment to choose love. I vow to cherish myself, in spirit and in truth

to be gentle to myself and to give myself room to dream.

Today, I release old judgments of being less than.

From this day forward, I enter into a Divine Covenant;

To treasure myself fully and to love myself fully and to love myself unconditionally

For I am the Beloved, in whom God is well pleased.

Day 21 in Gratitude

Today was hard. My husband and I are going through a tough transitional period and it's difficult on both of us. These past two years have been a roller coaster of moving many times, unemployment, losing a house and more. I am thankful we can talk through the more challenging days and try to understand each others feelings as best as we can.

We had plans to go out for dinner with friends tonight but I'm not feeling well. I am grateful to have stayed home, in my pajamas, eating tomato soup for dinner and watching a silly movie.

I am grateful for my life. No matter what the challenges life brings I love my life. I love the ups and downs, the uncertainty, the lessons to be learned, the roller coaster. God gave me a safety belt and a positive attitude to get through anything with a small crying fit and a smile.

What are you grateful for?

Day 20 in Gratitude

I was listening to NPR today as they reported these numbers: The number of unemployed persons decreased by 556,000 to 14.5 million in December, and the unemployment rate dropped to 9.4 percent. Over the year, these measures were down from 15.2 million and 9.9 percent,respectively. I guess one would say these numbers hold some hope that things are turning around. I personally feel they are but as my readers already know, I am an optimist. The unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 9.4 percent in December of 2010. The fact remains, these numbers are staggering, shocking and unacceptable. More and more people go to bed hungry, cold and without any jobs to sustain them. For those of you who have jobs whether menial or with prestige, I encourage you to count your blessings. I was without work for almost a year, my husband has been unemployed now for one year and actively continues to look. Currently I have been employed for 4 months and for that, every morning I say THANK YOU GOD.

I am grateful for my health. I have many friends and acquaintances who are struggling to hold on to theirs. What some go through on a daily basis while battling their illness; pain, uncertainty, sickness and fear I pray for your comfort. I wake every morning and forget how healthy I actually am. My feet keep holding me up, my eyes see, my heart beats normally and my breath goes without any guidance. For all that, I am truly thankful.

On a lighter note, For Christmas this year my three boys bought my husband and I tickets to see Wicked.
"A breathtaking success story, of a magnitude the theater has not witnessed since the peak years of 'The Phantom of the Opera' ~ The Washington Post.
"This musical has it all in one 'WICKED' brilliant package, women together with memorable music, clever lyrics, and a heavy dose of humor." ~ Boston Globe.
We were blown away. The best play I've ever seen, my husband enjoyed it thoroughly. You want to skip out of the theater humming the songs with a huge smile on your face. Thank you guys, what a wonderfully thoughtful Christmas gift, we loved every minute of it!

What are you grateful for?

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?

Amazing Women

I came home from a Woman’s Retreat this weekend tired but refreshed and inspired.

This retreat was up in the mountains of Arizona, 7000 feet. Driving up to the campus my ears kept popping and my sinus was confused and sometimes angry. I was constantly air chewing and yawning to keep the pressure in my ears from blowing! The air was crisp and clean, the sun glistened on the lakes, the trees smelled of pine. If I closed my eyes and forgot where I was, I would believe I was in Wisconsin. At night the stars appeared brilliantly in the sky, I was awestruck. Being away from the bright skyline of Las Vegas was welcoming.

I met many inspiring women. Women who have gone through trials and tribulations that you wouldn’t wish on anyone yet have come out stronger and more beautiful than they ever would have imagined. This wasn’t a retreat to pour your heart out and hope that someone was there to pick up the pieces. This was more a retreat to introduce yourself, to connect, to talk about what matters most to you and to share, if you were willing, your fears, your dreams, your aspirations.

The most awe inspiring of the weekend was the simple fact that these women have such a strong faith in God. A faith that is unwavering, a faith that is constant, neverending. Let me give you a few lines of a song that they sung, to give you a better idea of the level of their faith;

Nothing can separate, even if I ran away
Your love never fails
I know I still make mistakes but
You have new mercies for me every day
Your love never fails
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes in the morning
And when the oceans rage, I don’t have to be afraid
Because I know that you love me
And your love never fails
‘Cause you make all things work together for my good

I have to be honest, I do not have a faith like this. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in God but I do not live at the level that these women do. They’re on a first name basis with God, they have daily conversations with God. They have devoured the Bible at Bible study classes. They put their hopes, their fears, their dreams in his hands and … let go.

I, on the other hand, am a continually reforming control freak. I, most times, feel that if I only did this…or if I would have done that…or, I can and will do this and it will fix that. It is exhausting! And, when things are going well, I can pat myself on the back and say “great job!” but with that thought process, when things are not going well I can beat myself up knowing that I must have done something wrong and only I can and will fix it NOW. What an ego! Seriously!!

I truly believe as women, mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, business professionals, we think we should have the answers for every situation that arises. Is the title we carry how we define ourselves? Why is this? Is this the way we were raised? I don’t have all the answers. All I know is that I honor and respect these marvelous women I spent a weekend with. I honor and respect them for who they are and the faith that they live by during good times and bad. I honor and respect them for the passion that lives inside them and keeps them going day after day after day. And I hope to call them friends.