Giving thanks on Thanksgiving

Today is supposed to be 5 minutes of giving thanks for what I already have. I already went in to some detail about how grateful I am for work and my mom. I'm also insanely thankful for all the wonderful people that are my friends and family. I feel so lucky that they love me and are in my life. I'm thankful to have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, (more than enough) food in my stomach, my health, a car to borrow from time to time. I'm thankful to be back in Austin, especially on Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday, and I missed it last year. I'm thankful for words of kindness and all the ways people and the Universe take care of me. I'm thankful for my cat. I love my Stinky Monkey. I'm thankful to be alive and for the journey that is my life.

Day 4

Ok, so today I'm supposed to write a letter of thanks for the "negative" things in my life. Honestly, this is hard for me. I'm great at recognizing how good "bad" things were in hindsight; not so good at recognizing them while they're happening. So, what I'll say is that I'm thankful to be alive, to have struggles to overcome. And I'm very thankful that they're really not so bad...if my "negatives" were compared to how hard you'd have to fight a fish, I'd be looking at reeling in a perch or small catfish rather than some folks who are up against a marlin. The difficulties of yesterday made me the woman I am today, and I'm sure the small difficulties of today will make me a stronger person in the future.

Day 3

Today I'm supposed to write about something I feel grateful for...

I've been especially thankful lately to be back at work in ISSS. I love, love, love the people I work with. Like, how many people get to go to work everyday and hang out with some of their best friends? How many people get to help others AND laugh and be ridiculous? Darcy sits next to me and alternates between whale sounds, clucking like a chicken, saying "Oh no you di'nt!", and singing songs that simultaneously make me laugh and drive me crazy. I'm really excited about the people who have come since I left too. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. In addition to the great co-workers, I see students from around the world, some of whom are doing some really interesting research. We see weird ones, normal ones, fun ones, mean ones, ones you just want to put in your pocket, ones you hope you never see again. I love it!

I'm also incredibly thankful for my mom. She is sooooo good to me. I don't know if she really knows how good she is or how much I appreciate her. She has taken such good care of me...always really, but especially since I've been home. She doesn't make me feel burdensome being home. She cooks for me. I feel comfortable here. A few different people have offered to let me stay with them or in their house while they're gone to get some "time away," but each time I think, "Why would I want to leave the comfort of my home?"

Ok, I could go on, but it's late, so I'll stop. There are still 18 more days (and of course the rest of my days after) to express my gratitude.

The ABCs of Gratitude

Gratitude Challenge Day 2

I am grateful for...

A. All the adventures I've been on

B. Breakthrough

C. Chances to cut loose on the dance floor

D. Darcy and her D&Ms

E. Emergence

F. France and all the time I've gotten to spend there

G. Gui

H. Hi-speed internet

I. Interesting coworkers

J. Juan

K. Knowledge

L. Laughter

M. Mom and dad

N. New experiences

O. Opportunities to learn and grow

P. People who surround me

Q. Quality time with friends and family

R. Ridiculous amounts of patience and giving my mom has shown

S. SoodieSood

T. Traveling

U. Unexpected acts of kindness

V. Very changing weather in Texas in the fall

W. Working in ISSS

X. Xenophiles (awesome! I just had to look up words that start with x and found one I love!)

Y. You

Z. Zen

Gratitude Challenge Day 1

Ok, I know I haven't blogged in almost 3 months and there's lots to say, but not for now. I'm starting a 21-day gratitude challenge (http://www.gratitudechallenge.com/), and today is day 1. So, the first day's assignment is to express why I'm doing this challenge. The answer is I have a couple friends who are doing it, so I thought I'd do it with them. Plus, I figure it's always good to be grateful for the things in life. I already feel like I am pretty grateful in general, but it'll be good to really concentrate on it for the next 21 days. So, here we go...