100 Things For Which I’m Grateful

I read the post at http://mostlytruestoriesofkrenaep.com/ ages ago.  I’ve tried doing something like this before, without success, because it had to be done daily.  Then I thought, why not just let my mind think of them one at a time, as I open my heart?

100 Things I’m grateful for (not in any particular order):

1. the snow flurries falling outside my window, glinting in the morning sun as they flitter about
2. my warm house
3. my husband
4. our son
5. our nephews, who’ve survived the military
6. family
7. friends who make this crazy world seem ok
8. our two dogs, who greet me with such intense love first thing in the morning and whenever I return home
9. food, to fill my stomach and make my nose and eyes happy
10. my future that, although really and truly unknown, is there waiting for me, when I get there
11. the memory of how my newborn babe smelled
12. laughter
13. hugs, warm and filled with love
14. love!
15. taking pictures to remember special moments and people and things
16. the camera that I use to take those pictures
17. clean drinking and bathing water
18. newly married and newly engaged friends and family–their joy brings me joy
19. my ability to search for the good in situations
20. books that make me think, laugh, relax
21. cookbooks!
22. the master bath (feels like a spa and took 1 yr., 10 1/2 months, but yay!)
23. my oh-so-comfortable bed
24. the herbs drying in my kitchen
25. music — classical, classic rock, new age, (?? should it be called old age?), some rap, (rap that is poetry, not put-downs) pop, alternative rock, golden oldies, big band, instrumental, …
26. essential oils, as they’ve reintroduced lovely scents for my nose since I cannot tolerate most synthetic scents
27. a perfect cuppa joe
28. a lovely glass of wine
29. a beer that’s so good it makes me smile after the first sip
30. flowers in the springtime and their scent in the air
31. leaves changing in the fall, catching the sunshine and exploding with color
32. snowball fights with my son and dogs
33. watching my son sleep
34. my hair
35. my mama and daddy’s love
36. the trip we took to Ireland
37. the many different birds hanging out, chirping, eating the seeds from the feeder and off the ground under it, and taking baths in the tiny fish pond
38. the new living room furniture that took forever to find because of my severe allergy to formaldehyde and other chemicals used in furniture construction
39. looking through the gazillions of photos I’ve taken, going down memory lane
40. realizing I can go back to sleep after using the loo in the middle of the night.  Better yet–waking up semi-rested in the morning after thinking I couldn’t get back to sleep
41. taking a pie out of the oven that smells heavenly and looks even better than imagined
42. eating that pie, with people who are so happy to also be eating that pie
43. slowly cooking onions in butter and olive oil until fabulously golden brown
44. hearing two owls hooting at each other late at night, while I’m in my study
45. seeing a V-formation of Canadian geese fly over my house, through one of the skylights
46. seeing the full moon through that skylight
47. watching birds of prey, like red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, Cooper hawks, glide calmly through the air, just scoping things out
48. when my car’s wipers automatically (!) swipe because there are finally enough drops on the windshield
49. new plants coming up in the spring
50. the first apple and pear buds opening in the morning light
51. the smell of the woods when hiking
52. helping a stranger smile just by being nice
53. the feeling after doing something unexpected for someone, as in random acts of kindness
54. being joyfully recognized by former students
55. getting cards in the mail from family and friends
56. sharing my gratitude with someone who has done their job, but it was for me
57. cleaning something that got surprisingly grungy, and it looks like new
58. looking at certain shades of red, blue, green and purple
59. laughing until my stomach hurts
60. finishing a reeeeeally good book, and liking the ending
61. going on vacation and learning new things
62. learning new things while at home too!
63. wrapping presents for loved ones, hoping it’s something they’ll enjoy as much as I think they will
64. tasting something that reminds me of my mom or dad
65. hearing a song that reminds me of my mom and/or dad
66. reconnecting with someone I haven’t see in a while, and still being connected
67. having my son sometimes recognize that I’m really not that stupid or boring
68. when my dog, Gracie Jane, talks to me
69.  when my other dog, Spencer, softly snores while laying on my foot
70. driving my pretty “Universe Blue” car
71. being welcomed into our favorite restaurants and the local produce market
72. watching videos of puppies, kittens, and other animals
73. seeing the inside of a gladiola bloom, or a rose or a peony
74. being able to smell the white allysum and raspberry scented red roses through the front screen door
75. holding my honey’s hand while we walk through a store or park or anywhere
76. freshly washed bedding
77. the sound of a gentle, steady rain without blustery winds, thunder or lightening
78. the smell of that rain (petrichor)
79. looking at the river rocks in our yard, marveling at the differences and their history
80. my butter yellow laundry room with photos I’ve taken on the walls
81. the crystals that you can look down into in our granite kitchen counter-tops
82. my collection of old oil cans (based on Wizard of Oz and my dad using that kind of oil can)
83. my mom’s collection of 4 leaf clovers inside the cover of her first cookbook
84. the sound of hummingbird wings as they hover nearby
85. hearing children laugh, especially babies
86. the feeling of a little baby tightly wrapping its fingers around your finger
87. taking someone to a place they haven’t gone to before, and sharing their delight
88. making adventure plans
89. making vacation plans
90. going on a docent tour at the fabulous St. Louis Art Museum
91. decorating for different holidays, like Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and especially Christmas
92. hearing “Susie Snowflake” play on the stereo as the very first Christmas song while decorating (family tradition)
93. tasting the first bite of something that stops the world for a moment because it’s so delicious
94. learning a new skill or improving on one I already knew
95. realizing I’m gently smiling because I’m content and at peace (for the moment!)
96. giving unexpected genuine compliments
97. the smell of a freshly sharpened pencil
98. enjoying a meal or dish that someone made for me
99. hearing my husband or son call my name (when not urgent or panicked!)
100. the occasional realization (ah-ha moments) of how incredibly fortunate I truly am

This was really amazingly fun, rewarding, and enlightening for me!  I’ve been working on improving my attitude of gratitude, and this was honestly an powerful step.  I don’t recognize how wonderful my world is as often as I probably should, but it’s something I’m striving for.  As the old year leaves us and the new one approaches, my gratitude, things I love, things that bring joy list will be added to in order to develop my positive thinking.

You might want to give it a try sometime, just to see!

Sending warm wishes for your journey,

Nance