30 Days of Gratitude - Day 30

It's finally over.  When I started 30 days of Gratitude I thought it would be easy.  How hard can it be to write about something you are grateful about during the day?  But it was hard, much harder than I thought.

I always had something I was grateful for, but how to translate that into a blog post that didn't sound obnoxious or cocky was difficult.  No one wants to hear that I was grateful I got to sleep in until 9 am on a random Tuesday or that I watched Ellen while I worked out.  It would imply my life is easy and that I don't work.  Though I know that's not true, I wonder what others think.  Perhaps I shouldn't worry about others because this is my blog not theirs.  But I do think about those things.  I do care what others think and how they feel.  Whether it's right or wrong, it's how it is.

As I look through my posts during this challenge I see that much of what I was grateful for are things, tangible things.  When did that happen?  When did I begin to place such esteemed value on the object/things in my life, that I felt the need to write about them?  Life is about people, emotions and events not things.  It makes me feel so shallow.  Something I will definitely need to think about and work on.

I have a great family.  My grandmother is still alive and lives nearby.  We get along well and I see her fairly often.  Though I am struggling with some of her neediness and wish my mom lived closer to help more.  I get along well with my parents and see them several times a year.   I love my husband and children.  My oldest daughter and I struggle with many issues and I hope and pray that one day we will have a close relationship.  But she is 21 1/2 and so sometimes I wonder if that opportunity has passed.  I hope not.  I adore my sister and her family.  We see each other often and I love spending time her.  I have good friends.  And great relatives on my husbands side of the family.   Family and friends - that is what I should be grateful for, because those are things that matter.

And good health.  You get to a certain age and you have friends that become ill or pass away.  It's hard and makes you think about you own mortality.  But today, right now, I am in good health.  And the people I care about are in good health, relatively speaking given age etc.

I am grateful that I am living and breathing.  I am grateful that I am loving and kind.  I am grateful to have a great family and friends and that I am in good health.  There is nothing else I need.  I am blessed.

What are you thankful?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 29

Today I am grateful for many things:

My husband's not-routine endoscopy and colonoscopy went well.

The policeman who pulled me over only gave me a warning.

The new medication is keeping my hiatal hernia from being problematic.

I had a chance to lay low with my husband all day after his procedure.

I got a text from my son saying saying "I love you".

I made an excellent batch of vegetable soup to last the week.

I've done well the past month to continue my quest to get healthier.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 28

I am so grateful that I had the time to get the house decorated for Christmas including the tree today.  I love the stockings hanging on the mantle, the tree and all my snowmen and Santa Claus decorations.  It's very festive.  I really pared down and was selective in what I put out this year.  And I am pleased.  I think this is the first time I have ever got it all together before December!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 27

I am very grateful for all the hugs I got when leaving my sister's house today.  I LOVE hugs.  They exude warmth and love.  My daughters got up long enough to say goodbye, then they headed back to bed for a few more hours before going back to college.  I got a hug from each of them and an "I love you, Mom" from Sarah.  Then I got a hug from my sister, her husband and my two nephews.  I left this morning knowing and feeling that they were glad we/I was there for Thanksgiving and that they love me.  And I love that feeling.  Then after a long car ride, hugged my grandmother when we dropped her off at her place.  And another hug from my son as we dropped him off at his fraternity.  All in all, a very huggy day.  Yay!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 26

I am grateful for family games.  We had the most rousing game of Bezzerwizzer tonight and oh what fun it was.   It's a trivia type game where you can answer questions about a variety of topics.  You have the option of challenging, called Bezzerwizzer, and switching categories, called Zwap.  It's easy to learn, easy to play and a blast for all ages.  We got the game this summer and played it numerous times at the lake.  With our kids in college, it has since sat in the cabinet collecting dust.  My sister reminded me to bring it for Thanksgiving.  So glad I did!  If you don't already own Bezzerwizzer, I suggest you go buy it.  Your family (of all ages) will thank you.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 25

I am very grateful that I had a chance to take an hour long walk with my sister and husband today.  It was chilly and cloudy and felt so invigorating.   Walking is great exercise but even more so, it's stress relieving.  The fresh air clears my head and gives me energy to focus on the myriad of things in my life.  The past month has been a difficult one for me and I have so much on my mind.  Between the calorie burning and stress relief, walking is win:win in my book.  I am hopeful I'll get a chance tomorrow for another nice walk.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 24

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.  To me it represents family and a time to reflect on what's important in my life.  I have always enjoyed being around my family; my parents, my grandmother, my children and extended relatives.  I have a close relationship with my parents and really missed them this year.  They live in Nevada and for a variety of reasons they aren't big travelers on the holidays.  Though my 95 year old grandmother was with us today and it was very special.

We spent today with my sister's family and her in laws and her brother-in-law's family.  To me it was a magical day.  Usually I host a dinner for 18-22 people from my husbands side of the family.  It's always fun, everybody pitches in, but it's work - the cleaning, prep and cooking - it takes some serious organization.  But today our family were guests.  I did make the cranberry sauce, contributed some wine and other ingredients but nothing compared to what's involved when it's at my house.

I was able to visit, observe and relax.  I not only enjoyed the food but all the people today.  From the three year old to the 95 year old there was a story to be told or something to be learned.  Some people view family gatherings as a curse, I think of them as a blessing.  I am not always happy with the neurosis that my family exhibits, the rudeness, the attitude.  But I love my family and I tell them.  Often.  My nephew said that as much as he enjoys his friends, spending today with them and not family would be weird.  And I totally agree.  I love my family and if I didn't have these wonderful people in life I'd be lonely and sad. I am so grateful for my family and the bounty of Thanksgiving.

What are you grateful for?