I love lists.
In fact, I love “love lists”, which is why there are so many of them on my blog.
Today’s list isn’t a love list (though it may resemble one when I’m all done), but rather a “thankful list.”
I’m always thankful for the things I love, mind you, but I wanted to put my whole focus on thankfulness today, because I find that’s something easy to forget to be.
So without further ado…
THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR
My family
My friends
Love
Hope
Peace
Faith
Trust
A fantastic temporary home where coffee is miraculously made for me in the morning
The smell of rain after a run of dry days
A run of dry days
Opportunities that are both intimidating and amazing
Toothpaste
A year mostly lacking in pneumonia — which sets it WAY apart from the previous two
Parents who stand with a net below my leaps of faith, just in case
Friends who make me laugh
Friends who laugh at me
Music so lovely I can’t help but cry
Going places I’ve never been before
Eyeballs and ears that work
Goofy teenage boys to keep me up-to-date on the latest weirdness on the internets
Being accepted for exactly who I am, but being encouraged to keep growing
Places where I can be heard, online and offline
Antihistamines — because life without them would be CRAZYTOWN
Good writing that inspires me to do better with my own
The sound of birds singing at 5 am
Solid advice
Fresh flowers
Singing
Hard-won solutions to problems
Losing a little weight, without doing anything crazy or dangerous to make it happen
Hours spent cooking
Having my ideas challenged, without having them discounted
The use of a good camera
Cheesy TV shows that distract for just the right length of time
iChat — which enables me to smile at people who are far away
Tough experiences that teach big lessons
Ginger molasses cookies
Lemons — made into lemonade, or otherwise
Here’s my challenge to you: list ten things right now that YOU’RE thankful for.
Go!
The changing path of the Anomai
The best friend and partner I could ever hope for, whom that changing path is finally bringing home
Figuring out pretty early on that said friend and partner was a keeper
The spontaneous kisses from my son, particularly when accompanied by, “I love you, Mama”
My parents, who managed to find the right balance of guidance and freedom in their parenting of me
My in-laws, whom I love as if they had always been in my life
Knowing what my next step is…
…and the prickly discomfort that comes from not yet knowing how I’ll get there
The intellectual challenge provided by a new world of new friends and new ideas–all in the past year
PIE
Advil
Hospice nurses
A husband with a crazy zest for life
Children who keep me young while aging me
A newfound love for biking
The sun (oh, how I’ve missed it)
Watching Spring unfold
Friends
A good (no make that a great) book
Pinkarat lip gloss from MAC
Love
Family
Bruins
Red Sox
Knowing I’ll never be as cool as my 11 year old
Seeing new opportunities for the near future
Google Voice
Italian dress shoes
At the end of the day, taking off those Italian dress shoes
You
Chocolate cake
Coworkers who make me laugh
Students who make me feel like a good teacher
The opportunity to do something I love
Former students who come back to say “thank you”
Rain
Springtime on the Prairies
Friends
Parents
Being at a place where I generally feel pretty good about myself. Finally.
The basics: family,healthy, home & food on our table
the quiet in my house before the kids wake up
their sleepy snuggles when they do first wake up
my husband’s unwaivering & passionate love & support
my parent’s unconditional, if sometimes misguided, love
the ability to speak my mind & the sense to know when to hold my tongue
my friends who love me even with all my flaws
my ability to hope…
sunshine
fresh baked anything
Lovely tulips that only cost $5 for 3 bunches!
Having a husband who is my best friend.
My wonderful daughters who keep me on my toes and make me feel more love than i have ever felt.
A good night’s sleep.
Girlfriends who are always there.
Good health.
For having who are always in my corner.
My new red lipstick.
Out of the blue phone calls from my mom
Weekly phone dates with my sister
Afternoon coffee
Unexpected kindness
Flowers on my desk
A body that responds favorably when I push it
GLEE (the show and the emotion, as it were)
the colour green
Siri’s snuggles
Anya’s spunk
Rod’s laughter
red peppers
health
discontent, because it makes me look deeper
art that tells the truth
rhythm
David Gray
My list is finally published! Thank you, as always, for the inspiration!