Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary. ~Margaret Cousins

Idol.  As in American. 

Imagination.  My son has the best imagination.  Today he is the son of Hermes.  Tomorrow, maybe a superhero. 

Ink.  I hate writing in pencil. 

Ice Cream.  Non-Fat Sugar Free, Lactose Free.  I guess that means flavored water.

Intelligence.  Enough said.

Insurance.  It’s expensive, but I’m sure glad I have it.  I just wished it would pay for lipo.  I need mw some lipo!

Gosh…I can only think of 6.  Help me out…Can you think of 4 more?

“Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting.” ~ Author Unknown

Last night I started to look back at my list.  As of yesterday, I have been keeping my list for an entire week.  Yep, 7 whole days.  It feels good to do something everyday that was so hard in the beginning.  Honestly, I forced myself to do the Gratitude List because I was feeling like a jerk for not being about to see the positive in my life.  So, the Gratitude List was born.  And I must tell you, it really is making a difference in my life.  Things don’t have the same affect on my that it once did.  I’m less likely to fly off the handle if something outside of the norm happens.  I reflect on those things in my life that I’m gratful for.  Everything else doesn’t seem to matter.  Looking at my list, I noticed alot of tiny things (like fabric softener :0)  ) mixed in with big things (like family).  Don’t get me wrong.  I would never compare the two.  It’s just that I never stopped to think what my life would be like without those “tiny things” until now. The power of gratitude is amazing.

Gratitude- Letter H

Home.  Dorothy was right.  There is no place like home. I sometimes get to travel with my job.  I get to see amazing places and stay in fancy hotels.  I still can’t wait to back home.

Habits.  I’m hoping my gratitude list become habit for me and that I never take those things around me for granted.  I just wished exercise would become a habit.

Hairdresser. My mom once cut my hair in 5th grade (the night before school pictures).  OMG!  What a nightmare.  I thought I would never forgive her for cutting my bangs so short.  Now, I rely on the skill of a real hairdresser.  My mom has many talents.  Cutting hair is not one of them.

Harry Potter.  Why at 35 years old do I love him so much?  Probably because of his courage and determination.  His loyalty to his friends and his desire to succeed.  Yes, I get more out of the books than just kids with magic wands and cool flying broomsticks.

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Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. ~Cicero

First let me say that I am sorry for forgetting to post up my gratitude list for letter F.  I was so excited to be home from my trip, it totally slipped my mind.  So, to make up for my forgetfulness, I’ll post BOTH F and G today.

Today is Monday.  However, I’m not stressed, the weather is beautiful, I worked hard to get my work caught up before my trip and I have no complaints.  Perhaps my gratitude list is doing more for me than I thought.  Or at least my mini-vacation.  My weekend trip was so much fun.  I really had a great time with my Mom, sister and sister-in-law.  We shopped (ALOT), I spent way too much money (AS USUAL) and ate lots of great food (MY FAVORITE).  I am really grateful for the trip and the time I got to spend with the girls.  This is the first time we all have really spent with my sister-in-law for any extended period of time.  Honestly, it was so much fun.  She really does fit in with us, which may be a good thing (or maybe not).  I’ll let her decide.

Here is a double dose of gratitude…

Letter F

Flip Flops.  One of life’s many pleasures.  I love my flip flops.  I’m guess I have around 20 pairs.  They are super comfy, but I admit, I probably wear the too much and too often.  I even wear them to the office!

Friends.  I have few friends, by choice.  I love them all and would do anything for them.  I’m a firm believer in quality, not quantity.

Fruit.  Yes, even the chubby girl loves fruit.  I had the best California fruit salad on my trip.  Delish!  My favorite is probably watermelon, but grapes are a close second.

Fairy tales. You are never too old for fairytales.  I miss reading fairy tales to my son after tucking him into bed.  It helps that I have a niece that I adore.  She truly is a little princess, even if she is turning out to be just like me (or so her mom says!)

Fabric Softener.  I love me some fabric softener.  I swear…this makes me a happier person.  My mom never used fabric softener when I was growing up.  My clothes practically “crunched”.  I love the way it makes my towels fluffy and the smell it gives my clothes.  I never wash without it!

Free Gift with Purchase.  Isn’t this the best? I love to buy something that I was planning on buying anyway and then getting something free. How super!  Marketing geniuses, I tell ya!  I was grateful to receive a free lipstick for FREE when I recently purchased skin cream from Clinique.  Bless them!

Fat Free.  Yes…always on a diet. Always in search of something fat free.  Makes me think I can eat more!  Not always true, but it does make me feel better at the time.  I’m grateful for those 12.4 seconds before shoveling a genetically modified fat free brownie in my mouth.  Fat free usually means guilt free.  Well, at least for 12.4 seconds.

Feelings. There is nothing wrong with showing emotion and having feelings.  Sometimes even hurt feelings end up being a positive thing.  I should know.

French Manicures. I’m so grateful for my monthly manicure and pedicure at the salon.  I always feel so fantastic when I leave the salon with my fresh french manicure.  So classy.

Fridays.  No explanation necessary!

On to G… (7 days and counting)

Girl Talk.  I enjoyed alot of this over the weekend.  We laughed and chatted into wee hours in the morning.  What a great time.  (I know I already mentioned that)

Getaways.  I hoping to get to take another trip very soon.  My weekend trip really was relaxing and I’m grateful for that.  This is the first Monday in a long time I can remember feeling grateful and stress free.

Games.  Sunday is game day with the fam.  We have so much fun.  Gee, my family loves to compete.  There is nothing like a good card game to put us all in serious mode.  I can’t wait until the weather cools.  Then back to wiffle ball…

Google.  I would know nothing if not for Google.  NOTHING.

Geeks.  Hello, my name is Shannon and I am a geek.  So are most of my friends.  This is a good thing.  Embrace it!

Garlic.  I guess you know I’m not a vampire…Okay, it makes my breath stink.  Who cares?  Not me.  I love it.

Girdle.  Don’t laugh.  All fat chicks own one.  The feel horrible to wear and are so uncomfortable. However, when wearing one, I’m a whole size smaller!  Boy, am I grateful for that!

Grapes.  My second favorite fruit!  I’m eating them right now.

Grandparents.  I had the pleasure of getting 30 years with my grandparents.  I miss them, but will see them again one day.  They were both great people and I loved them very much.

Giggles.  Laughter is also the best medicine.  See my blog title… Plus, you burn calories when you laugh.  I obviously don’t do this enough…hmmm….

I’m on a role.  Tune in tomorrow for Gratitude-Letter H.

“Reflect Each Day On All You Have To Be Grateful For And You Will Receive More To Be Grateful For.” -Chuck Danes

It can be so easy to forget to express the appreciation we feel for the little day-to-day things that happen in our lives.  When life gets tough, it’s not hard to overlook the blessings we receive from those around us.

This week has been great.  I have learned many things this week because of my gratitude list.  I have reconnected with long lost friends.  I have met several new friends.  I have encouraged others to keep a gratitude list (on paper or in their minds).  I learned a lesson from my son.  He is wise beyond his years and his heart is as big as the sun.  I yelled at him because I had a bad day.  Ten minutes later he said, “Mommy, what letter are we on?  Is it ‘D’?  I’m thankful for doves.  Doves stand for peace.  Don’t you like peace and quiet?  Oh, quiet.  That is a good one for Q…” I’m grateful he did not hold my bad behavior against me and pleased that he is enjoying the list.

I’m on a girl’s weekend shopping trip in Gatlinburg, TN.  Me, my sister, my Mom and my sister-in-law are all shopping ourselves to death!  I bought a new Coach pocketbook in red patent leather.  WOW.  I love this bag.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to spend time with the fam!  I’ll post pictures soon…

Have a great weekend.  I’ll still be here…Only 21 more days…

1.  Experience.  “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you wanted.”  A great quote from a wise man by the name of Randy Pausch.  The world is not the same without him but better off for knowing his story.  The Last Lecture.  Check it out!

2.  Energy.  My son has enough for everyone.  I eat lots of protein everyday and this really helps with my energy level.

3.  Education.  Boy…is this important.  I’m grateful my mother encouraged us to continue our education.  She wanted better for us than what she had.  I never understood that until much later in my life.  Thanks, Mom!

4.  Eyebrow waxing.  Why did no one tell me about this sooner?  I walked through half my life looking like Groucho.  It hurts, yes…but my goodness…it sure makes a difference.

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Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.   ~William Arthur Ward

Today I have started and stopped writing at least 5 times.  While I can think of the things I am grateful for, today I find it hard to appreciate those things I am thankful for because I find myself focusing on the negative things (can you say run-on sentence?).  Bad stuff is just going to happen, no matter what I do.  It is how I handle it that determines the outcome.   I have so far to go-still.   I need to re-read Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.  I hope this challenge will be a good lesson for me.

Here’s my ‘D’ list…

1.  Decisions.  I don’t always make the best decisions, but my intentions are always good.

2.  Diet Mountain Dew.  I’m not sure I could live without this.  Okay, I can, but I don’t want to.  Truth is…you don’t want me too either.  I don’t drink coffee.  The caffeine must come from somewhere.  Hey, I’m at least grateful it is calorie-free.  I donw a 12 pack almost everyday.  Thank goodness I’m no alcoholic!

3.  Digital Camera.  Boy, I sure love my camera.  I have captured so many memories with this thing.  The older I get, the less I can remember.  It is nice to have pictures to look back at and reflect.

4.  Diet Cookbooks.  I’m a horrible cook.  Without these, I’m an unhealthy cook.

5.  December.  This is a hectic month for my entire family, but we also have tons of fun.  Some of my best memories are putting up the Christmas tree at my mom’s house.  She has the most beautiful tree.  My sister and I usually wrap about 1000 presents for my mom.  Even though we complain, we really don’t mind doing it.  We are all still “kids” and count and shake presents, just like when we were 8.  Really, like 1000.  No kidding!

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