Grateful for Memories

Mostly what I'm grateful for today is that I have options. I can choose to muddle in all that I don't have, or realize that I have a plethora of opportunities available to me.

I am grateful for leftovers. Now my husband isn't crazy about them, but for me, there's nothing better than dinner for breakfast. I can make turkey soup, turkey enchiladas and even heat up the remaining turkey like carnitas. Ham is especially great for split pea soup, casseroles and baked macaroni and cheese.

I am grateful for quiet mornings. This is the perfect time to reflect on all that I have. I can set up my to-do list and get a head start on everything I want to accomplish.

I am grateful for walking. When I go outside and start up a hill, my physiology changes, I become more aware of my breathing, I start appreciating everything that is around me. I enjoy the vibrant colors of the hills that surround me, the songs of the birds, the rush of a stream, and the hawks that circle overhead.

I am grateful when I have made a difference. It means so much to me when I hear from so many of you and you share with me all that is going on in your lives. I'm glad that my gratitude list helps and gives you more awareness about your own possibilities.

I am grateful to have hot water, a working washing machine and clean clothes.

I am grateful for family and friends who support me and hold me accountable. This is a very important piece of advice, when you're trying to create a change within, share your goals so others understand your commitment and can hold you responsible for your actions. Are you your word? Do you have integrity?

I am grateful for the training I have received in life strategy skills as a personal coach. I am now able to create many of my own transformations and see the pain of staying the same and the pleasure I can have by making a conscious effort.

I am grateful to have adult children. These are relationships that I'm always working on and am so happy with the progress we've made. I must lead by example!

I am grateful that with all the sugar I've been eating throughout the holidays that I haven't gained any weight. I am throwing everything away today. I must concentrate on intentional eating.

I am grateful for all the ways we have of capturing memories. I can take pictures and video from my phone, my camera and my camcorder. I love looking back through all those photo albums and reflect back on all that I have been blessed with.

This was forwarded to me this morning and thought it perfect to share:

A 92-year-old, small, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.
Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged...it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice;
I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do..
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.

'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Guns and Gratitude

I don't know about you, but I am really starting to focus more and more on what I'm grateful for in the course of a day. Take yesterday for example when my sister Cyndee was here visiting from Oregon. We were visiting on the porch and comparing stories trying to outdo each other with happy endings. All of a sudden she gets a gleam in her eye and starts talking about the 12 gauge shotgun she just recently purchased and just so happened to have in her truck.

I have talked about the rural, country setting I live in, so you no doubt can see where this is leading. Since we're outside of city limits, there is no ordinance restricting us from pulling the trigger and pointing at the likes of tin cans nailed to a board, or avocados in the case of my husband. Cyndee runs off to the back of her truck to show Dewey her new toy and before I can bring the dogs in to hide under the bed, there's loud reverberations amplifying throughout the valley.

Which leads me to what I'm grateful for today:

I am grateful that even though I'm not crazy about things that go boom, they put a huge smile on Dewey's face and that really does lift the corners of my chops.

I am grateful that my little sister and my husband share a friendship and spirited adventures.

I am grateful that the whole neighborhood didn't knock on my door complaining, just one loud shout from someone down below yelling wicked curse words about one's lower orifice...

I am grateful that I am starting to appreciate the sunshine even when it appears dark and cloudy. I know eventually the brightness will be blinding and my tri-focals have a built in shading device.

I am grateful for living in the shadows of Camp Pendleton and being rocked to sleep with louder detonation than a 12 gauge can muster. It means they can get some practice in before heading across the sea to the land of caves.

I am grateful for animals that love me and know that I will protect them. During a bathroom break while the snipers were target practicing yesterday I had the pleasure of being visited by three dogs who needed my reassurance and became glued to my feet. Only the cat seemed unaware and unconcerned.

I am grateful to stars like Charlie Sheen and Brittany Murphy. In might be in poor taste to mention it, but my life is fine in comparison. I'm not married to a rich, pompous, abusive, over-indulged, sex-crazed actor and I'm breathing and vertical. Sometimes it just takes a gander in the latest tabloid to see how blessed we are in our little mundane world of real life.

I am grateful for all the reasons I have to grin, laugh and joke. Even the morbid and oppressed can become hysterically funny when viewed in positive light.

I am grateful to hear on the news that Thursday and Friday will give us temperatures in the high 70's. For those of you looking out at dark skies and blackened snow banks remember this is my gratitude list, you gotta create your own!

I am grateful that for 2010 losing weight isn't going to by on my New Year's Resolution List. However, eating with intention and creating movement every day will be.

A friend of mine sent me the following article yesterday and I thought I would share it with you as another affirmation of how recording what you're grateful for can enhance and ultimately change your perspective.

Give Thanks, by Jill Duman in an article from Wellness magazine:

Cultivating gratitude can boost well-being and may help you sleep better. Gratitude is a fundamental component of most spiritual paths and a growing body of research suggests that it has important health implications, too, including better sleep, fewer physical ailments and a greater ability to cope with stressful situations.

"Gratitude elevates, it energizes, it inspires, it transforms" says Robert Emmons, a University of California, Davis, psychology professor who has helped champion the study of gratitude as a factor in mental and physical health.

A series of studies he conducted in 2003 found that people who kept weekly written records of gratitude slept longer, exercised more frequently, had fewer health complaints and generally felt better about their lives when compared with those who didn't.

Practicing conscious gratitude has also been linked with positive mental health. Todd Kashdan, associate professor of psychology at Virginia's George Mason University found that when veterans with postraumatic stress disorder kept gratitude journals, they experienced a greater sense of overall well-being in their lives. "There are two parts of being grateful," Kashdan says. "One is recognizing that someone benefited in some way, then mindfully seeing the connection to yourself. You have to be really in the present to see what's happening in your life, what's causing things to happen, and how you fit this into things bigger than yourself."

A gratitude practice is a a natural companion to yoga, which "offers numerous opportunities to reflect on all there is in one's life to be grateful for," says Emmons. To begin consciously cultivating gratitude, try considering what life would be like without a pleasure you now enjoy, or think about who you are grateful for. A daily gratitude journal can help you be more mindful of these things in your life. But your gratitude practice doesn't have to be scripted. Simply taking time on a regular basis to mentally note your blessings is a step in the right direction.

Find the silver lining

How long will the good tidings last? Christmas is over, presents have been exchanged, leftovers cram the refrigerator and thank you cards wait to be written. Most people will be going back to work today. There will be a lot of water cooler talk about presents they received and funny antidotes about holiday gatherings. What story will you share? Is it positive or negative?

Please take a moment to discover the best part of sharing the celebration with people in your life that you love and care about. We can all get a little cranky when family comes to visit, food has to be prepared and children seem to be out of control. Yet, there is still the joy of camaraderie and fellowship and I hope with all my heart that you have fond memories to reflect on.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful that I was part of a three day family feast. This started on Christmas Eve with my husbands parents arriving and my step-son Yuki gracing us with his presence.

I am grateful for the fun and laughter we shared when competing in our traditional gingerbread house competition.

I am grateful that even though the washing machine hose sprang a leak and flooded the laundry room and bathroom we had lots of towels near by to soak up the water. It also gave me the opportunity to clean out all those dust bunnies that hibernate under the washer and dryer.

I am grateful that I was able to take my three bags of soaking wet towels to my sister-in-laws and do laundry while we enjoyed our Christmas meal together. Thank you Colleen for making us such a scrumptious meal of turkey, ham and all the fix'ins!

I am grateful to my husband who not only replaced the hose for the washing machine, but also discovered the water heater had issues when he took a cold shower. I'm grateful that it was him and not me...

I am grateful to Dewey's parents who prepared Japanese food all day Saturday and invited us to indulge, devour and gorge.

I am grateful for the gifts I received, even though I wasn't able to offer any in return. A beautiful hand carved jewelry stand from my dad, a lovely gold bracelet from my mom, fragrant bath products from my daughter Laura, Christmas ornaments from Dewey's family. I was overwhelmed with appreciation for the thoughtfulness.

I am grateful to spend time with children and be part of their excitement and happiness. I am also grateful that they let me play with their toys.

I am grateful that yesterday the house was quiet and I read all day.

I am grateful for the loan leads that are in my in-box and the help I can offer them.

Hold on to that Christmas spirit and share your joyous moments with others. Remember to write to a soldier and thank them for their service so you could be alive and well.

Merry Post Christmas, everyone!

Merry Christmas, Mom

Merry Christmas! Since today is a celebration of birth, I thought it only fitting to dedicate the gratitude blog to my own mother. Without her I wouldn't BE... Whether your own mom is living or passed we all have women in our lives that have stepped into that role and given us life.

Some have delightful memories and I hope you are one. Others may not and I want to share with you that every mother has reached down to her belly and felt the first flutter of life. Even if she couldn't give you the love and learning you deserved, she imagined that she would be able to. All mothers have held their babies close and breathed in their essence, if only in their mind.

I think all of us, not only as a mother, but a father too, start out with good intention. So, on this day of Christ's birth, let us also remember our own and stop and give gratitude to the mom that gave you life.

I am grateful for my mom:

I am grateful for my mom, who taught me how to be unafraid. She held my hand after a nightmare and whispered how to walk into my own scary dream and let them know I was in control.

I am grateful for a mom who encouraged me to do it anyway. She was always reminding me that the time I took to worry and fret was more agonizing than just diving in and getting it over with.

I am grateful to my mom who taught me to laugh at myself. This taught me how to deflect hostility and turn it into laughter.

I am grateful for a mom who took me camping without a man. I can build a fire, set up a tent and appreciate the great outdoors. I enjoyed many camping trips with the girl scout troop I lead, and hopefully passed that baton to them as well.

I am grateful for a mom who could fix her own car, repair a plumbing leak, put up drywall, and knew her way around the tool shed. She is an inspiration to be independent and strong and ask for instruction.

I am grateful for a mom who taught me to be my own artist. Creativity is a gift and comes in many forms. I watched her as an actress in community theater. I followed her paintbrush strokes bringing life to still objects. I listened to her stories made up on the spot just for my entertainment.

I am grateful for a mom who was her own voice She was a skilled protester and stood up to big oil and organized many rallies in our state capital.

I am grateful that my mom showed me the importance of looking people in the eye, standing up straight and offering a firm handshake.

I am grateful to a mom who was never afraid to dance. This was especially embarrassing during my teenage years when it could be down the aisle at Lucky's, our neighborhood grocery store. It wasn't until later when I relished doing the same to my own two daughters that I appreciated the spontaneity of living large.

I am grateful for a mom who sang out loud. Even with a voice that didn't carry a tune. Even when she didn't know the words and would make up her own. I'm remembering the song by Eric Clapton with the lyrics, "I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy". My mom got the biggest kick out of singing that around her conservative friends...

I am grateful to a mom who wasn't afraid to kiss in public. Not kissing me, I'm not even much of a hugger, thank you very much, so my mom kissing on me, well, would just be gross. However, having a nice long kiss with someone you love and feeling like you're the only two people in the world no matter who is nearby, now that's hot. Thanks mom, for giving me the green light on PDA.

I am grateful for a mom that was educated enough to be a free thinker. She went through her own journey to enlightenment and held my hand along the way. I was in group therapy with adults at the age of 11 with none other than the writers and creators of transactional analysis. Remember the book that swept the country in the 70's, "I'm ok, You're ok"? No wonder I thought kids my own age were so immature.

I am grateful to my mom who was my first sales mentor. She succeeded as a Tupperware dealer who soon became a manager with her free, plastic delivering station wagon. She rang many a doorbell announcing, "Avon calling". She was a dynamo in multi level marketing with Shaklee, Amway, Entourage, Nikken and others.

Remember that today there are soldiers who are missing their mothers. There are mothers overseas who are missing their children. Please write to one today and let them know why you are grateful. An anonymous soldier can be found at www.anysoldier.com

Merry Christmas to all~

Coach Be

It's Christmas Eve and as I begin my day I wonder about all the soldiers far from home and the memories they are clinging to. Can they imagine the smell of a pine tree commingled with cinnamon and hot chocolate? Do they hear the voices of carolers and hum along trying to remember all the words? Perhaps they look back at their own childhood and recreate the images of joy that their own children will experience without them.

The magic of Christmas isn't about how much money we spend on each other or how many presents are under the tree. I have publicly proclaimed an act of non-participation this year, yet am still filled with joy as I sit here and ponder where that comes from. I guess the answer is different for all of us which leads me to today's list of gratitude.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful to wake up with a feeling of anticipation for what the day will bring. There are last minute preparations as my in-laws arrive today.

I am grateful for a clean house and thankful to Sarra for her hard work.

I am grateful to share in the competition of gingerbread house building with graham crackers, white frosting and assorted candies.

I am grateful for the quiet that morning brings with time for reflection.

I am grateful to have hope, which turns into enthusiasm and eventually a plan.

I am grateful for the deposit I made yesterday and welcome more checks arriving soon.

I am grateful for the kiss of my husband as he makes his way out the door.

I am grateful for shopping mall Santa's who invoke good behavior to squirming children who sit on their lap.

I am grateful to Corporal Stephen Arxer, a Marine from New Jersey who is in Afghanistan celebrating his first Christmas away from home.

I am grateful to be an American and believe that anything is possible.

I thought it would be fitting to add this forward here. Please take a moment and share your thoughts with a soldier who is missing their family and making sure we have a safe Christmas instead. Go to www.anysoldier.com to sign up and share your gratitude with an anonymous soldier.


TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS-


TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'

This poem was written by a Marine
who thinks Keith Olbermann is a idiot and can prove it (all you have to do is watch him)!!
The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending
this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming
soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men,
women, and Canadian Forces for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we
owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and
dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your
small part to plant this small seed

Be Grateful as if it is NOW!

With Christmas just days away the anticipation and build up is hardly containable. At least for some and especially for children. Can you remember how you felt as a child waiting for the day to arrive when you could finally open your presents? That is how the energy of gratitude works. As we start to appreciate all that we have, we become conscious of all that is possible. Being grateful for the presents under the tree and anticipating the day we can open them.

Live your life today as if it is filled with abundance, because it is. That might not mean that your bank account has grown overnight or the employer of your dreams has just left you a voicemail. Because you're not ready. Oh, I can hear you muttering that you think you are, but apparently there are a few more lessons to learn before Christmas arrives. So live in anticipation of the day when you can open all your presents. Prepare yourself now for being grateful and noticing just how much you really do have.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for the laughter of children. Whether it's playing peek-a-boo with a baby while waiting in line to check out, or hearing their glee and giggles without being included, that joyous melody is a gift.

I am grateful for the excitement that I feel from others. I love to hear about the gits they've purchased, the dinners they'll be creating and the trees they've decorated. Thank you for sharing.

I am grateful to hear Christmas carols as I shop. I can hardly contain myself from singing along out loud. The best is coming across a good whistler who can carry the notes down the aisles.

I am grateful for this time of year as people in general just seem kinder and more accepting. A big thank you to all the strangers who have smiled at me and made me feel loved in that moment. Think of how you might impact someone doing the same...

I am grateful for the internet guy who came out to install the satellite yesterday. Even though it took almost 5 hours, he kept at it until he was successful.

I am grateful for the gingerbread house competition that we traditionally engage in on Christmas Eve. Even though I always come in last, it is a spirited event and incredibly fun!

I am grateful to my sister Cyndee who has traveled to Sacramento to sit with our mom as she has cataract surgery today. I know my mom is blessed to have her family around her as she starts to see life more clearly.

I am grateful for the clients I am accumulating and the help I can offer them. Their results will prompt the delivery of dollars into my mailbox.

I am grateful to my daughter Sarra who will clean the house today in preparation for family visits. I really enjoy the tidiness that her efforts provide.

I am grateful to hear the rotors of a helicopter overhead. This means activity at Camp Pendleton and reminds me of the sacrifice these soldiers make everyday.

Look around and take note of what you are grateful for today. Share it in the comment section below. Find a soldier at www.anysoldier.com and thank them for their contribution.

Coach Be

Complaining or Appreciating???

Sometimes we just wanna bitch about it, don't we? I know I certainly do. All the issues that are stopping us, limiting us, preventing us from accomplishing our objectives. Like my financial reasons and maybe your relationship issues. Or both... The point is, we get so focused on the negative brick wall of despair that we just continue to pummel ourselves against it.

Yesterday you might have noticed that I didn't send out a gratitude list. That doesn't mean that I didn't have moments of appreciation throughout my day. But, that's not what I was concentrating on. I was in a dark place called despair. This snowballed to another spot I hang out in called pain. I traveled between those two spots all day.

Today is a new day. I can decide what emotions I want to concentrate on and how I will conduct my day. Most of you probably think I'm always this up, happy, do it anyway, type of courageous person. I am when I step into that role. I fake it, until I become it. That's why keeping up the gratitude list is so important. I encourage you to do the same.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for the rain. The symphony this creates outside my window is like a lullaby. Percussion, strings, even the solo of the flute is captured by my wind chimes.

I am grateful for a husband who sees my tears and knows to hold me tight. He also knows that rolled tacos from Poncho's helps...

I am grateful for the family who didn't listen to me when I said, "No presents this year, we can't reciprocate". I opened two boxes of wrapped gifts yesterday and felt so loved.

I am grateful for appliances that I have always taken for granted. I've got the dishwasher running, the washing machine cleaning and the clothes dryer spinning. What would my hands look like without these modern day conveniences? What about the time I save because of them? Do you remember days of clothes lines and dishwater hands? I do.

I am grateful that my headache is going away. I just noticed it. Amazing how much lighter I feel without that vice gripping my scalp.

I am grateful for dogs that bark. Not always, of course, like when I'm concentrating on something else and their clamor makes me jump and my heart race. They are watchful and protective. This is their turf and all that they see. Their racket is my built in security.

I am grateful to be so self-aware. I know enough to have the power to change my thoughts and take action, even when I don't want to.

I am grateful for you. I have made a commitment which helps me shift my thinking and gives me the ability to encourage others.

I am grateful for every U.S. soldier that has sworn under oath to protect me. Who would I be without their loyalty and bravery? What would my world be like? I don't have to know that answer. I am fortunate to an American!

I am grateful to those of you that are writing to our military and letting them know how appreciative you are. We may be worried about paying the rent or mortgage, overdue credit card bills or how we're going to celebrate Christmas, but our anxiety doesn't mirror trying to stay alive in a hostile environment.

Please write to a soldier and express your gratitude for your safety and the peace of our country. You can find a soldier at www.anysoldier.com and start sharing your thoughts today!

This was sent to me this morning and I thought it was perfect to include.

THE MUSIC STOPPED

For those who are unaware: At all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played before the movie begins.

This was written by a Chaplain in Iraq:

I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda (LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad). We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom at all military bases, we stood to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going well until three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here in Iraq, 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again and the Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. But again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1,000 Soldiers standing at attention to do?? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.

But no. You could have heard a pin drop while every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly, there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers finishing where the recording left off: "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave."

It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq and I want you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you. Remember them as they fight for us!

Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. Many have already paid the ultimate price.

How Getting Caught Trespassing Can Turn Into Gratitude:

I got caught trespassing last week. One of those awkward moments when one wishes the earth would swallow them up. My two dogs and I were out walking after it had rained. They were ahead of me and Gracie, the smaller, younger and apparently more ferocious, started barking at Mark. He wanted to know who we were as he informed me that he was in fact the landowner. Meanwhile both dogs were growling and barking at him.

One could see why he might get a little grouchy. I was trying everything to gain rapport with my ever so slick deflection skills. Apparently he didn't remember meeting me or the invitation to walk in his avocado grove years ago. He let me know that the entrance would soon be blocked and the likes of me would not be admitted. True to his word, during yesterday's walk the metal fence posts were already cemented in the ground.

This gratitude list is dedicated to this piece of property and the memories I've had walking in the orchard:

I am grateful for discovering a breach in the fence that allowed me to enjoy the many footpaths and trees. It's a magical place with soft colors that light up the hills like a ripe cantaloupe.

I am grateful for the steep incline that leads to the stream. I take the opportunity to stretch my calves and work my abdomen muscles. This has been paved with cement in the last few years making it quite convenient to exercise.

I am grateful for the footbridge that takes me over the stream. I have had many a Huckleberry Finn moment dangling my legs over the side, lost in thought.

I am grateful for the gush and gurgle of the water as it bounces over rocks and falls to the South. My dogs enjoy a respite from the heat of a walk and drink in loud laps and gulps.

I am grateful for the Pepper tree that provides shade and a place of rest.

I am grateful for the plaque nearby that commemorates Mark's mother. I cried in this same place when I lost my foster mother in August of this year. It seemed a perfect place to let her go.

I am grateful for the hillsides that in Spring are filled with pink flowering bushes. I have used them to make flower arrangements as they're a great filler and last forever. He told me what they were once when I mistook them for Heather.

I am grateful to the bees that accompany me when I walk among them. Their droning hum reminds me of staying on task, no matter what. Sometimes I grew frightened when there were so many, but I've never been stung. I'm Queen Be and rule a fantasy empire while walking through my daydreams.

I am grateful for this huge boulder that's nestled on a hill. It has a perfect flat surface that looks like a broken heart. I've stood at the edge with arms reaching out and felt the wind in my face as I soared like the red tail hawks that are all around me. I've laid flat and felt the warmth like a reptilian creature. I've listened to the advice of others as it replays in my head. I will miss that rock. I've had a lot of discoveries there.

I am grateful for the copse of green that produces the fruit of guacamole. I've never picked any from low hanging branches. The woods have been home to many as represented by the caws of crows, the eerie cacophony of bats and the howls of coyotes.

Thank you Mark for giving me this piece of paradise to enjoy for the last 9 years.

Coach Be

What I'm Grateful for Today:

How do we stop the monkey chatter in our brain that creates guilt and stress? It almost feels like automatic pilot with negative thoughts and images. I think it's even more prevelant during the holidays with the added financial burden of buying gifts, sending out cards, and trying to create a joyous holiday environment. How can we possibly be so frazzled over the outcome of such good intention?

The first step is obvious and that is the reason the gratitude list was created. To focus our awareness on the positive and what we have. I really want to encourage you to do this every day. It is the first step in altering your consciousness. Unless of course, you want to go around like a Grinch and grumble bah humbug and attract the same negative energy that you are expressing.

The next step is to change your physiology. Start with breathing. Full, lung filling deep inhales, hold for a long count of 3 and release slowly. Do this at least three times. A great way to stop the muttering in your head about a spouse or your kids and for sure the guy that just cut you off.

Finally ask yourself why you are responding in this manner. What is it really? You might be surprised that you have more choice than you originally thought. I know for me, the guilt comes from not being able to contribute and seeing my husband work himself to the bone. Yet realistically, I've done a lot over the years and the scales are currently just tipped in his direction. If I look at this in a broader picture I see that we equally play a part, his is just more physical.

Use this knowledge to propel you toward an outcome. Is this something I have control over? Am I willing to make changes? How? Be honest. Sometimes we don't want to modify our behavior because of the effort involved. Like dieting and exercising. We're all looking for the magic pill, right?

This is what I am grateful for today:

I am grateful to Z, one of my coaching associates who turned me on to a new product line that has "green" household products that are less expensive, natural health and beauty products, supplements for wellness and diet and will improve my financial situation. No, it's not Amway or Arbonne or any other MLM...

I am grateful to the entities that are employing my husband. He has work and more is coming. I am grateful that he has the machinery and equipment to complete these jobs.

I am grateful for all the opportunities that come my way. I know this is a repeat, but it is amazing that they are coming my way with more frequency.

I am grateful for awareness.

I am grateful in advance for the walk I know I will take today. This is my bliss. Fresh air, my dog Klaus at my side (or more likely, sniffing gopher holes and digging to capture one) and feeling nature embrace me.

I am grateful that even though I woke up three times during the night and had to let Gracie, our 9 mo. puppy outside, I easily fell back to sleep. Could this be a result of the supplements I just started taking?

I am grateful for the chance to help people. Whatever this encompasses. A needed hug, words of reassurance, coaching others, keeping people accountable it's all my way of reaching out. Thank you for letting me.

I am grateful to be living on American soil. I have no fear of flying shrapnel or having to dodge terrorist bullets. There are those who have volunteered to do this for me.

I am grateful for a free Saturday with no obligations. I can do laundry, clean the house or read in bed all day.

I am grateful for my health. I haven't had a sniffle or a cough and knock on wood,
I won't!

Please add your comments below and write out why you are grateful. Find a soldier today at www.anysoldier.com and tell them why you appreciate their bravery, courage and sacrifice.

Coach Be

What I am Grateful for Today

Are there coincidences, or does life appear to happen exactly as it should? Has your life been comprised of random events occurring over and over again? Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? Even tragedy, death, sickness and loss? What about the stories in your scrapbook of memories of great joy, elation, being in the right place at the right time? It certainly creates debate among us and causes us to scratch our head and ponder the bigger picture of what is meant to be.

I consider myself to be a very fortunate and lucky person, therefore I generally am. Even during these last two years of unemployment and a dwindling bank account I have had unlimited blessings. What if it was all meant to be? For all of us... Many of you are in the same boat as I am and holding on by your fingernails. We've collectively lost our homes, cars, gone bankrupt, suffered through unemployment, became sick from worry and fear and are struggling to just get by.

Yet, through all that, don't we seem more appreciative? Take less for granted. Redefined our values. I remember when I couldn't afford to pay for someone to clean my house any more and had to face the task myself. I was complaining about the chore to a friend of mine who suggested that only I could clean it to match my own standards. Revel in the accomplishment instead of being stuck on the errand.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for the abilities I have. I can walk, talk, breathe, laugh, cry, read, write and all without real effort. I am so accomplished that I can work in auto-pilot while doing other things.

I am grateful for the memories I have. Yes, even the sad ones. It's my choice to spend time there. One of the best advantages of age is that we can look back on our life and see the mistakes we made and how we would do it differently now. The trick is to not dwell in the land of shoulda, woulda, coulda's; cause you didn't. Take what happened and learn the lesson. It's important to go back and take ownership and apologize. It's really never too late. Even if someone has passed on, the letter that you write or the words that you speak will heal your own heart and those around you.

I am grateful for all the parenting I have had. My mother is evolved and enlightened and has taught me to be independent and giving. My foster parents taught me about the bonds of marriage and forgiveness, no matter what. My step-dad created a world of writing and a thirst for knowledge. My dad has encouraged me to reach for my goals through discipline and persistence.

I am grateful for where I live. It is paradise. Often I think that God gave me this gift to fill me up so that I could go out and do the same for others. Am I succeeding? Could I do more? Always...

I am grateful for all the encouragement I receive from so many of you. I am lifted beyond measure when you write back and share your thoughts. Thank you for being part of my life.

I am grateful to all the property owners who have been so tolerant of my intrusion. Living in the country affords me the ability to climb through barbed wire, ignore no trespassing signs and pass through closed gates. I often think I know their land better than they do. I have discovered hidden tree houses, an abandoned swimming pool in the middle of nowhere, little waterfalls and streams, and a surplus of beauty and delight.

I am grateful for fireplaces. Is there anything better than staring into flames and getting lost in your own thoughts? The coziness of a warm hearth and the crackle of logs is reassuring and comforting, not to mention warm and energy efficient.

I am grateful for water. I drink a lot of it. A great way to stay healthy as it flushes out our system and keeps us hydrated. I bathe in it, swim in it, listen to it gurgle and crash. One of the world's best treasures!

I am grateful for a loving and powerful God. The creator of all who doesn't leave life to circumstance but offers us destiny. It is always our decision to decide which road we travel and what our journey will teach us.

I am grateful to be part of the universe. A body formed from matter and energy and created for some higher purpose. I hope that I can make a difference.

Please share your comments and what you're grateful about. I want to change the world by offering gratitude and love instead of hostility and blame. Share this message with people you care about and let them know you are grateful for them!

Coach Be

Grateful for Who I can BE

I suppose I should be grateful to begin my day so early. I was awake a little after 1:00 and read for a few hours. While I did finish my book, I never fell back asleep. My brain is humming with all that causes anxiety and stress. I know that if this is what I concentrate on that it will keep appearing. That is how this whole gratitude list manifested, if I could just alter my conscious to focus on the positive, the fear would dissipate.

Let me explain how this works. It's not as if a magic curtain shields my thoughts from forming negative feelings because I can think of ten reasons to be appreciative. Instead, the energy that is created by allowing myself these visions of awareness allows me to manifest the enthusiasm to create a different outcome. I'm writing this to you because I need to hear it as well.

I have the power, the wisdom, and the ability to alter my circumstances. I know that if I concentrate on all that I can achieve, I will take the steps in producing success. What we all need to review within ourselves is what we are doing that gets in our way. Is it procrastination, disorganization, missed action steps, a plan, support from others, or just the feeling of being so overwhelmed we can't take the first step and then another?

With that in mind, this is what I am grateful for today:

I am grateful that I know how to manage my time. Of course, knowing and doing aren't necessarily the same thing. It takes discipline and practice, doesn't it? Sometimes we have to say no when something more exciting comes along. I will focus on this more and create a schedule that I can work within.

I am grateful to be creative. This means I can come up with numerous solutions and brainstorm ideas into plan a, b, and c. I will stay conscious so that even obscure thoughts might lead to eventual opportunity.

I am grateful for the gift of gab. This allows me to speak randomly to strangers and create thought provoking conversations. I can usually turn even the most dour of grimaces into a grin. I will focus on that gift as I once again became more active in the sales ritual.

I am grateful for the knowledge that I have. I have spent my working years in finance and even though my own picture appears a bit dim, I know what my options are. I have a plan and will carry it out.

I am grateful for the feedback and wisdom of others. I'm at an age that allows more listening without having to interrupt with "Yes, buts and I don't knows". I will seek the advice of those who have weathered a similar storm.

I am grateful to be held accountable. I take my commitments seriously which propels me into action. I will shout from the rooftop all that I want to achieve so that I can be reminded with the resounding echo.

I am grateful for taking leadership roles. I have a deeper understanding when placing myself at the front of the class with chalk in hand. I become my example. I will step up and into my words.

I am grateful for being determined. Even though I might want to ignore what is painful and bury my head under the covers, I know what steps need to be taken. I will remind myself that I like to walk toward my goals.

I am grateful to have the ability to share my journey with others. Maybe I can inspire you to remember what you are grateful for. I will encourage you every day.

Please share your comments. Being grateful doesn't have to include the number of adjectives that I use or even the same format. Remember, it can start with breathing. Without oxygen, we're dead, there's no other alternative...

Who I am grateful for BEING

Today promises to be a perfect Southern California day. Clear blue skies with temps in the 70's. Typical shorts and flip flop weather. I know those of you that are looking at gray skies, snow and sleet are wishing you could have a piece of that perfection. Isn't it always what we don't have that makes us reach for what we desire? What is it in your life that you are reaching for? What small piece of perfection can you be happy with just as it is?

I got a bit of coaching myself yesterday suggesting that I also look at gratitude from a place of who I am. Eiji wrote, "You may want to be grateful for things you do and who you are instead of what you have. BE-DO-HAVE Have is just a byproduct of what we do, and what we do is a byproduct of who we are. The haves are the fruits and the be is the roots. Being grateful for the roots will produce great fruit. I am grateful for you being courageous and transparent on your current journey".

Here is who I am Grateful for Being today:

I am grateful for the lessons of my childhood that allow me to reach out to others. I try and give the homeless cash when I can. Sometimes it has only been the coins I keep in my ashtray, but they are grateful none the less.

I am grateful for being sensitive as it breeds kindness and understanding. I have experienced a lot of lessons that have given me great joy and crushing heartache. This allows me to empathize with others in an honest and compassionate way.

I am grateful for the sarcastic wit that I possess and can laugh in the absurdity of rule bound reason. Like the late charge on a credit card that was to be reversed and wasn't. If I hadn't caught this today they would have reported a 30 day late. One has to see the humor in that and realize it's not the fault of the poor soul who got my call. It's the system.

I am grateful to be able to stand before a large audience and speak to them on any number of topics. I have always been known as the "Presentation Queen" and enjoy the camaraderie of a group environment. Motivating while teaching is my passion.

I am grateful to be strong and independent. I have also grown wise enough to know that I don't have to get the last word in or take credit for something I've orchestrated.

I am grateful to be part of your day. The responses I receive encourage me and keep my eyes open for all that fulfills me.

I am grateful to be 50. Seriously, I am. It's a great age. I am listened to and considered wise. I still have a youthful appearance and physique. I am healthier than ever. I have come into my own as the saying goes.

I am grateful for the willpower that I know I possess. That doesn't mean that I didn't eat so many chocolate chip cookies (thank you, Sarra) that I got a headache and a sugar buzz. I have the power to create intention. I know what is passing through my lips and what will be required to offset the calories. It's all about conscious choice.

I am grateful for being loved and supported. This has been more apparent during the last two years as my friends and family have circled around to offer me hope and generosity.

I am grateful for having the ability to write in a manner that engages others and offers a little humor as well as inspiration. May your day be blessed as you move through it.

Please share what you are grateful for and who you are grateful for being! Thank you Eiji for your feedback!

Remember that our soldiers need to know that we're grateful for their presence. Please write to one today. An anonymous soldier can be found at www.anysoldier.com

Coach Be

Gratitude on Tuesday

I'm staring at the computer in a stupor with what feels like ineptitude to discover today's reasons for gratitude. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful. It's just that sometimes the positive images aren't conveyed as quickly as I'd like. I wonder if you feel the same way; immobilized by all the items on a to-do list, finances, the holidays, working, cooking, cleaning, caring, in other words, LIFE...

Yet, even amidst the chaos, there is a glittering of imagery that makes me smile. The landscape, a smiling baby, shoppers talking excitedly about their purchases, how the heat feels on my cold feet. Sometimes the glimmer is so small that it is discounted, not recognized, thrown away and forgotten. Then we have room to concentrate on the more important things like how am I going to pay for all of this, my head hurts, and we start our slide down the road of discontent.

Would you agree? Are you willing to make changes to that pattern? I know I am and I have just as much to be pissy about as the next person. So, with that in mind, I encourage you to read along and start recording your own thoughts on gratitude.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for hot water. Yesterday we had a leak that couldn't be fixed until this morning. We had to shut off the hot water heater and deal with cold water only. I boiled water in the tea kettle to wash my face last night. Very campy! Glad I had a bed and a house to sleep in rather than a sleeping bag on the ground in a cold tent. Thank you Dewey, for waking at 5:00 to fix this for us.

I am grateful to have work that comes with responsibilities and possibilities. It's exciting to start getting organized and discover a system for success.

I am grateful for the installer that arrives this morning at 10. That means I can say adieu to AOL and work in cyberspace with speed.

I am grateful that I can look out my french doors and follow horseback riders as they make their way gracefully through the valley down below.

I am grateful to hear the Christmas carols that bring back such fond memories. I can almost smell hot chocolate and pine trees when listening to "Rudolph" and "Silent Night".

I am grateful to be upright. I know that sounds like I'm reaching, but think of all the people that are home in bed sick with the flu. There are those that don't have the ability to stand, or are confined in some way. Think more globally of people that have had limbs blown off or suffered far worse fates. Yes, I am happy that I can create a vertical position without aid or effort.

I am grateful for the lottery. No, I haven't won except for the random dollar or two. But think about the excitement this creates, the hope, the visions of what if. Think of the lives that are changed with a winning ticket. Can't win unless you play is the typical phrase for naysayers who doubt the one in a million chance. What if it was your turn today?

I am grateful for all the catalogs I receive in the mail at this time of year. While not participating in the exchange of gifts it is still fun to look at all that is available. It's like window shopping without getting dressed.

I am grateful to have the ability to read and write. It's knowledge that we take for granted in this country. I wonder how many people have to fake their way through such an awkward existence? Did you read the book or see the movie, "The Reader" with Kate Winslett? I rest my case.

I am grateful for the silence. Just a week ago Camp Pendleton pummeled the earth in anticipation of sending over 800 troops to Afghanistan. The heavy artillery practice appears to be over. Does this mean our men and women have been deployed? I pray for their safe return.

Please share your comments and what you are grateful for today!

What I am Grateful for Today

I have been waking up between 3 and 4 a.m. lately and wonder if this is to become a new routine. I usually try and go back to sleep after making a visit to the restroom and find that it is impossible. Yet, I still try. Most often I finally turn on the light and start reading waiting for my lids to get heavy enough to fall back asleep again. I think of all the things I could be doing instead. Like getting an early start on my list of gratitude.

Why do we procrastinate and then feel like we're rushed when we've postponed the inevitable? What is it within ourselves that allows a bit of laziness to win over duty? The task will ultimately reward us, yet we seem to choose the one that gives us instant gratification. Like in my case, warm blankets and a novel that takes place in Venice in the early 1600's.

Let's work on this together shall we? It feels like you're part of my team with daily updates and signs of progression. I start "working" today and am filled with anticipation of all that I can accomplish. So if I've developed a new habit of waking early, I shall try and ease myself up and out of the covers and begin my day with gratitude.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for the blue skies that I see out my window and know that I will be able to take a walk down in the valley today.

I am grateful to have the technology to talk to potential clients and offer them support in any way that I can.

I am grateful because I have experienced so much and can use the lessons I have learned to help others.

I am grateful when my husband brings me socks and puts them on my feet because he knows I'm cold.

I am grateful for all the mini bottles of lotions, shampoos, conditioners and great smelling soaps that I have saved from different hotel stays. It has been so fun to discover these treasures and remember the time away.

I am grateful that I can fit into a size 8. I still have a few more pounds to go, but I'm happy with the progression. It's all about intentional choices. The food I reach for, the movement I create. I take pride in this achievement without the aid of diet concoctions.

I am grateful for family. I found my birth father in 2005 and have created relationships with cousins, aunts, uncles, and siblings. From that very first phone call that had the potential to be a negative reminder, my dad and I have created a new beginning with lots of honest discussions. It is amazing to see similar gestures, likes and dislikes in a person I didn't know.

I am grateful to have independent thought. I can weigh and ponder and ultimately decide in what direction I want to go. I am not forced into anything. Ever. Think of what it would be like if the opposite were true...

I am grateful to be in the perfect place at the perfect time. How did I get to be so lucky to be born in 1959 and not 1608? What prayer was answered that allowed me to be raised in the United States and not a country with a dictator? I feel that I take my rights for granted and don't even consider what others have to suffer.

I am grateful for the strong military presence that our nation has built. Sons and daughters that are in far away places without their family for Christmas. Mothers and fathers who miss the laughter and joy of their children opening presents in their absence.

It seems when I complain about all that I don't have, I can look at so many reminders that point to what I do have. I have blessings, and love and safety.

Take a moment now and write down 5 reasons why you are grateful today. Do it!

What I am Grateful for Today!

Getting a late start this morning as I didn't have internet access until just a little bit ago. I'm in a rural setting, so we don't have the luxury of cable and dsl. I have had to rely on dial up and AOL. Didn't even have a dial tone this morning, so maybe there was water in the line from all the rain we've had. Who knows? It works now.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful because I have a dial tone in my office which means I can share this message with others. We have really come to rely on all this modern technology haven't we?

I am grateful that I will be setting up a skype account with a camera later today. I guess that means I have to get dressed. Well, at least from the waist up... Thank you Kevin!

I am grateful that I was invited over to decorate a friend's Christmas tree. What a fun tradition! Even more so when unwrapping someone else's ornaments and discovering the story behind them. Thank you Nancy and Lance!

I am grateful that my sister Cyndee and her boyfriend Walt, were able to control their truck when it started sliding on a bridge last night as they traveled in a storm. Thank you God, for protecting them and keeping them safe!

I am grateful for the changes I see in others as they start listing their own reasons to be thankful. What we project we reflect!

I am grateful for all the stories I hear on the news about toy drives, blankets for the homeless, coats for kids, and all the ways our hearts reach out to those in need. I passed a guy in the rain holding a sign yesterday and shrugged helplessly as I had no cash. He lifted me up by telling me it was okay and to have a good day.

I am grateful because I know so many of you have a loved one in the military and we are fortunate to have them serving our country. I bow my head and ask for their protection and safe return if they're in a hostile environment.

I am grateful for the prayers of many as we are starting to see financial opportunities transpire. Thank you for giving me courage and kindness.

I am grateful that the ground is wet and nourished. The sky is full of clouds with bits of blue fighting for dominance. What an artistic representation of dark omnipotence and light skies moving across the landscape.

I am grateful to be sitting here, warm, dry, safe, loved and protected. Thank you again Corporal Arxer; for sleeping in a fox hole, eating from an MRE and keeping terrorists from slinking across our borders.

Share this list with people you care about and write to a soldier today to let them know you are grateful for their support and commitment. You can find a soldier at www.anysoldier.com

Coach Be

What I am Grateful for Today

It's funny now, but 45 minutes ago, when laying in bed and snuggled up, I was considering not writing this list since it was Saturday and most of you probably won't read the content until Monday. But then I thought, what if I was meant to inspire one person and make a difference in their day? What about my own mindset? So, here I am, in front of the computer and wanting to share with you what I'm grateful for and to feel that energy encompass my day.

I think I'm going to start limiting the content to just the blog. I want to create a format where we can share what inspires us and comment on the gratitude we communicate with each other. I hope you will continue to be involved. I hate to think that I am writing in vain and that my words no longer make a difference in your day.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for abundance. There are so many places in my life where my cup truly runneth over. The caring and compassion I feel from my friends and family. The excess I have created in my wardrobe from days when a public image was keen and paychecks held a few more zeroes. A plethora of material objects for sure, but also and more importantly the numerous contacts I have that are responding to what I write. Your sentiments are what lift me up even further and remind me how full my treasure chest really is.

I am grateful for the abilities I have. With a background in sales and operations I can bridge the gap that this often creates and speak to each position with knowledge and understanding. I do not have to be part of the division, and can create trust and follow through by working both sides. This is a dynamic trait that must propel me as I begin a journey back into the world of lending and real estate.

I am grateful to be recognized for having leadership qualities. This establishes me as a well versed coach who can show clients the pain of staying the same and continuing down a path without growth. I also illuminate the pleasure of possibilities when transforming old limiting beliefs. You are your word, just as I am mine. The past does not equal today. The lesson was there to show us a different prospective. It's up to us to take action.

I am grateful to have vision. Not just physical sight, which truly is a blessing, but to be able to visualize and understand the choices I have and my unlimited potential. I truly enjoy a good day dream when I walk on stage to be introduced to an applauding crowd for altering behaviors and negative patterns. Why can't I write a book, create a video, attract the masses? What is stopping me?

I am grateful for the weather in Southern California. It is another day of rain, yet it is mystical and magical with the cloud coverage as it settles on the hills around me. The soft patter of rain as the tempo increases when it downpours and then changes the rhythm again with resounding drips and drops. Is there a better symphony to accompany me?

I am grateful because I am starting a new position and will sit with a mentor today and learn from the expert. I will review credit reports and back end ratios and I can only imagine the familiarity as the old habits come bouncing back to the front of my cerebral cortex. What a joy to help others and share the same concerns they have with integrity.

I am grateful that I have a man at my side who loves me. His shoulders are strong and his arms fit around me in the most perfect circle. His belief in me has never faltered, even when I have doubted myself and buried my head under the covers in fear. I find such reassurance in his smile and am blessed with all the gifts he brings.

I am grateful to those in my life that keep my head in practical alignment. I can be a dreamer with rose colored lenses so bright that I appear to forget to remove them. I do think that is a positive trait and am glad that I have attracted enough people to give me balance and advice.

I am grateful because every time I sign on to the internet I see the casualties of war and know that I'm in a safe place. I write from the comfort of my home. I slept in a bed piled high with covers. There are no shadows that I have to stand watch over. My country is protected and so am I.

I am grateful that I have choices. I can support Democrat, Republican, Liberal or Independent. I can watch music videos, talking heads on the news, television shows with canned laughter or a documentary on what life in an Afghanistan cave is like. No one will outcast me and throw stones because I don't cover my head.

I do live in abundance and I am grateful!

Please add your comments below.

What I am Grateful for Today

So much has happened in the week that I have started sharing what I am grateful for. I have heard from people I care about. I have been given leads for income opportunities. I have a few more coaching clients. I am starting to shift. I am still climbing uphill, yet I see the oasis before me. What's even better, is that I'm enjoying the journey. Stopping to smell the flowers if you will.

The gratitude list has been around for eons to those that are evolved and practice the laws of attraction. My mom tried to get me to do this when I was going through a divorce. Yeah, yeah, I'd say. I'd think about it occasionally, maybe even write down a few things here and there, but never made it a ritual that I was commited to. Then I got involved in coaching and started doing it more often. Still sporadic, but something was better than nothing, right?

When having trouble sleeping or waking up in that 3 - 4 a.m. time slot, I started to list what I was grateful for like the proverbial sheep that are suppose to lead me to slumber. Gratitude works much better, puts a smile on my face as I start to drift and sure changes the dream patterns.

Try it! Better yet, start writing down what you are grateful for. Even more better, share it. Tell your loved ones what you are grateful for. It could be them. Tell your employer and those you work with. Start recognizing the positive shift that occurs in your own life.

Please share your comments on my blog at http://CoachBeGratitude.blogspot.com

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful that my back feels almost normal again. I had muscle spasms a few days ago and now feel only a slight ickiness when I move a certain way. I am grateful for Aleve, ice packs and a jacuzzi. I am grateful to my friend who has this cool massage bed with rollers and infrared heat. Thank you, Claudia!

I am grateful to the wave of people that this is reaching. Your stories inspire me.

I am grateful to Kevin, a mortgage broker from my past who has reached out to me and offered me an income opportunity.

I am grateful to Kris, a successful sales coach who works in the mortgage and real estate arenas and is willing to partner up with me. I can't wait to help so many of my friends!

I am grateful for Citi and Chase who have worked out payment plans on my credit cards. The representatives at those two companies were so nice and kind it really brought tears to my eyes.

I am grateful because this morning I can have hot tea and a banana bread muffin (thank you Sarra, for making them) while sitting in warmth while it rains outside. I wonder what soldiers in Afghanistan are waking up to?

I am grateful for all the Christmas decorations I see displayed in shopping centers, in malls, on windows, in the front yards of residential neighborhoods and even the guy in front of Target that is ringing his bell asking for donations. It's a reminder that I don't have to buy into the commercialism of Christmas. I can revel in the goodwill toward men and the message of what the holiday is really about.

I am grateful for music. I can sing along from the safety of my car using gestures and shoulder rolls as I get carried away with the bee-bop and the chorus. I wonder if all the cars that surround me in traffic know they are my audience as I sing to them from my rolling stage...

I am grateful because I have choices. I can read whatever I want. I can write whatever I want. I have freedom of speech. I am a woman in a country that doesn't limit my liberty. I have friends and relatives of every ethnic variety and religious belief. There are no burning crosses on my yard, no swastika symbols painted on my fence and no group presence that beats me into submission for practicing something different. I feel honored that someone might share an unknown tradition with me.

I am grateful because it's never too late. Old dogs can learn new tricks. I am 50 years old and have never felt better. I am in optimum health, haven't had a cold or even a sniffle or sore throat. Sure I have aches and pains, but they are minor! I am learning how to be a better me every day!

Find a soldier at anysoldier.com and write to them today!

Gratitude List for Thursday 12/10/09

I had a great day yesterday. I didn't win the lottery or anything like that, but just felt right with the world. Took a long walk through the valley and enjoyed the freshness after it rains. Watched the exuberance that Gracie, our springy 9 month old mutt, displays when she leaps off the porch steps and runs in large circles around the yard. What wild abandon she demonstrates in her glee.

When taking my shower, I placed my right foot over my left knee to wash my toes and felt a sickening shift in my lower back. Had a muscle spasm and tried to stretch it out under the hot stream of a pulsating shower head. I have to share with you my thought process, because I didn't start freaking out, which would have been the normal reaction to such untimely pain. Instead, I kept taking deep breaths and sucking my belly in toward my back to support the area that felt like it had fallen.

I concentrated on the great walk I had just taken without pain. I looked forward to a visit with a friend and errands to run. In other words, my brain was taking over with what I was grateful for and not the pain and what limitations might bind me. So, I kept going. Now I have had my back go out like this before a few years ago. I think that time I did the athletic move of lifting my foot to the edge of the tub to shave. Oh yeah, I'm like an Olympic gold medalist in the shower apparently...

The point is, after starting to recognize what I am grateful for and by sharing it, my brain is starting to create a pattern. You are helping me keep my commitment. Thank you so much for all of your comments, the stories of who you are sharing these with and the letters of appreciation that you are sending to soldiers.

I have created a blog so that we can share our feedback. I hope that if you feel you can't forward your list of gratitude by e-mail, please at least create it in the comment section of the blog. By physically transferring what you are grateful for from your head to word format will allow this recognition to start replacing negative thought patterns. Yes, you will still get pissed that a driver cut you off, but maybe you can also be thankful that you were aware of it in time to avoid an accident! Because there's not one of us, who hasn't done the same thing to someone else.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for a healthy body. I am feeling better. I am reminded to walk straight and hold my stomach in. I am grateful for paying attention to my body and feeling my way around gentle stretches and avoiding the alarms when certain muscles contract.

I am grateful for friends who keep me accountable. There are several of you out there who inspire me, motivate me, encourage me and ask for nothing in return.

I am grateful for the income opportunities that are coming my way. Yesterday I heard about an underwriting position and the day before that working with a mortgage broker to further develop his business. I am also partnering up with other coaches to promote them and learn by stepping into their shoes.

I am grateful for the ability to pay my bills. I sat down this morning and paid everything but the mortgage. It feels so good to be responsible and putting a check mark in the box.

I am grateful to discover WinCo, a grocery store that is waaay cheaper than most. If you live in San Diego, they're in Temecula, so probably a bit of a drive. Don't know about the rest of the country, but if you can find one, try them. We're all looking for ways to save money and this employee owned, non-union company passes on their savings.

I am grateful for blue skies. I know this gets redundant and those of you that are waking up to snow blankets are probably frozen with green envy, but that just gives me more reason to be grateful. Living in Southern California has it's price, and I appreciate the trade off of only having to wear a sweatshirt because it's 54 degrees.

I am grateful for my husband's driving ability when his big old diesel Dodge blew a tire on the freeway yesterday with a heavy load. He had a spare and was able to limp home a little lopsided and take his pick of 3 tires he had behind his shop. He rushed down to the tire store to have the tire mounted to the wheel and was both incredulous and relieved that they performed this as a favor, for no fee. What a gift!

I am grateful for clean floors! Thank you, Sarra. What a nice reprieve to see white tile again after the muddy paw prints of dogs coming in from the rain.

I am grateful for Christmas cards. It is so nice to be remembered. I like the photos. I especially enjoy reading a letter that relives a whole year and gives me a peek into their lives.

I am grateful for memories. I have so many that I can recall that put a smile on my face. It's like opening a scrap book and reflecting back on all the times I have felt loved, appreciated, and important. There are times when I haven't lived up to the woman that I thought I should be. It's nice to look back with the wisdom of today and understand the lesson and what I could do differently now.

Thank you for reading these and sharing them if you are moved. Please share the reasons why you are grateful today!

Gratitude List for Wednesday 12/9/09

This is the 5th day that I have sent these out and I am starting to feel the changes in my own life as I focus on what I am grateful for rather than what I don't have enough of. People are starting to respond by sharing their own thoughts of what they're thankful for and forwarding to others in their circle of family and friends.

Some of you on this list I haven't spoken to in over 2 years, when I was an Account Executive for a mortgage lender. It's so good to hear from you, to know that you are indeed breathing and to hear about all the ways you are helping others. Thank you so much for sharing this message and passing it on and adding your own thoughts and list of gratitude.

Today I am going to share a poem that was forwarded to me that demonstrates the beauty of the same message that I am trying to convey. I will place it below my list of gratitude and ask that if you haven't found a soldier to write to yet, perhaps you can share your gratitude with this soldier and mail him a letter.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful to be so encouraged by others. I know just as many people as you do who have lost their homes. What keeps them from sinking their head in the sand like an ostrich and not wanting to face the mountain of financial responsibility that is sliding toward them? Where does the strength come from to get up every morning and do it all again? To try something else... We have all faced this to some degree. Sometimes it only takes one hand up. A job, a referral, a different outlook. Thank you for encouraging me. It allows me to pay that forward.

I am grateful because this morning I liquidated the last of my retirement funds. This gives me another month to seek out opportunities and still be able to pay my bills. How many others never even had this luxury? I was fortunate to have saved for a rainy day. Even though the skies are bright blue today, I know the rain is coming tomorrow. I have shelter, a home, food to nourish me and a lot of work to do. I will do so with a smile on my face!

I am grateful for the laughter I hear. Whether it's coming from the television, radio or a group of teenagers hanging out at the mall, it's joyous and uplifting. That sound stays with me for moments afterwards and recharges me, forcing my mouth up into a grin of mirth. The peels and snorts create bubbles of giggles within me and charges my whole body.

I am grateful for movement. I wake up sore and achy just like everyone else over 40. A funny thing happens as I start to stretch and move, the pain dissipates. The muscles are woken up and ready to comply with my instruction. Think of what it would be like if the opposite were true.

I am grateful for hot water! I can take hot showers, soak in a hot bath, place my cold hands under the running tap and even take coaching calls from the jacuzzi.

I am grateful because I have been given life skills. I am in my prime, have experienced darkness and delight, understand the focus it takes to create what I want and the wisdom and depth to create it.

I am grateful to drive a really cool SUV. The bright copper color matches my toenail polish and allows me to stand out among many. The leather seats support my back and can warm it at the same time. I may have to give it up and drive Dewey's jeep, but that's okay, how cool will I look climbing out of a lifted, muddy, four wheel'n symbol of fun? At least I am not riding a bicycle like the immigrant who just came down the hill looking for work.

I am grateful to all the coaching clients I have. By discovering the pain of staying the same and transforming that habit into possibilities and beginnings you force me to say out loud just what I need to hear. As I coach you, I take the steps to discover my own rewards. We work on relationships, weight, time management and business goals. We travel the dark road and traverse the obstacles together.

I am grateful for all the ways I have of communicating. I have the internet, a cell phone, a land line, and a fax. There is e-mail, blogs, facebook, twitter and skype. I can talk to a stranger, write to a soldier and smile at a homeless person holding a sign.

I am grateful for the sounds of the Marines as they practice in what feels like my background. The repercussion of the strong artillery that blows up the earth and resonates down to my toes is reassuring. I know that I am safe. Protected.

A Different Christmas Poem:

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."


PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people
as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.
Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed
themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq .

Gratitude List for Tuesday 12/8/09

It is amazing that I have touched so many of you. Thank you for sharing, for carrying the torch and adding your own list of gratitude, for writing to a soldier and thanking them for their service and for sending this to others that would appreciate the message. I am also receiving messages back from people who are having a hard time looking for the positive elements in their lives. If this is you, start with being grateful for breathing.

So for Tuesday, December 9th, this is what I am Grateful for:

I am grateful for opportunities. I come across them every day and realize that sometimes I don't even recognize them. Whether it's opening the door for a mom with a stroller or showing an elderly person where the aluminum foil is at the grocery store, these are moments when I can display kindness. It might have been the only positive gesture they received that day.

I am grateful for the $20 I had in my wallet yesterday. It was raining and I was driving and while stopped there was the lone guy with a sign that said he would work for food. I reached for my wallet and didn't realize I was handing him my last $20 until it was already moving toward his cold and wet fingers. He thanked me with a surprised look but also asked me about a job. I told him I was searching too, and I wished him well as the light turned green. I hope he at least got a hot meal and would be able to spend an hour eating it somewhere safe and warm.

I am grateful for my mom who shared a funny story with me yesterday. It was in the 70's when my hip, cool, independent and newly divorced mom was going up to Campbell Hot Springs in Northern California and learning to let go. She was expanding her growth and enlightenment which became the springboard of the wise woman she is today. She has taught me to be equally independent and strong. The lessons that she learned then are what I'm finally understanding now.

I am grateful because I can enjoy other people's pleasure. I don't have to feel sorry for myself because I didn't receive the same gifts. The smile and happiness they radiate from such thoughtfulness effects me for days.

I am grateful for the gray hairs that I cover up with dye. It means I have wisdom from years on this planet and examples to teach others.

I am grateful for the 15 pounds I have lost. I forget to be grateful when I only have 1 pair of jeans that fit and can't afford another. Isn't that silly?

I am grateful that there's a break in the rain and the hills beckon me to walk. My dog Klauss beckons to me, too! I am so blessed to live in a country setting and have acres to access. There will be that fresh smell of woods, the streams will be a little fuller and the birds will be singing.

I am grateful for the fun and laughter I shared with my husband Dewey yesterday when we went mud wheel'n. Amidst puddles and fallen branches we jumped in his jeep and tore through paths he created, climbing hills and throwing mud from the back tires. It was such great fun and a much needed break from the worry of finances.

I am grateful that my daughter Laura and her husband Kevin, who are in Spokane, can experience record breaking temperatures of 3 degrees from a warm apartment and a car with a heater.

I am grateful that I'm starting to pay more attention to what I'm grateful for, than what I have to be worried about. Thank you for giving me the platform to see what is always right in front of me.

Gratitude List for Monday 12/7/09

This morning I woke up to the sound of rain, It was probably 4, 4:30. It is needed here in San Diego as it's so dry, this high desert beach town. I am pleased to share with you that just in the last few days as I start making my list of gratitude known, and you write back and tell me how it moves you and share what you are grateful for, that my darkness lightens. My heaviness feels lighter. As I encourage and inspire, my outlook changes.

Here is what I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for the rain. We experience it with such rare occurrences that it is like a gift from the heavens. A day to snuggle deeper under the covers and listen.

I am grateful for an education. Even without a degree from an accredited university I have knowledge that allows me to make decisions. I can read. I can write. I have a vast vocabulary and am not opposed to asking for a definition when a word is used without understanding the meaning. I have the freedom to seek information, to research and inquire. I have been schooled in the art of many vocations. I am grateful to be a woman who has the freedom to use my intelligence.

I am grateful for the resources I have. I have a computer and even though my internet connection is dial up and slow, it sends me to wherever I want to go. I am learning patience instead of drumming my fingers because the website I wanted isn't broadcast on my screen in nano seconds.

I am grateful for the ability to inhale aromas. Whether it is coffee that my husband brews every morning, the smell of fresh rain or even the offensive reek of an over used cat box, I can appreciate this sense that can instantly change my mood.

I am grateful for my pets. I have three. A big guy, Klauss; who's a rottweiler/German shepherd and is 9. A little mutt named Gracie who is 9 mo. and a hyper springboard. Then there is Cali, a fat cat who is feisty and will bite and scratch even when purring. They all cluster around me now, on this rainy morning in my office. They adore me and follow me around the house waiting for the next scratch and petting session.

I am grateful for being protected. Today is the 68th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. I was not there. I have always been safe. I am an American. I am a civilian. I haven't had to sacrifice anything for taking my liberty for granted. I am grateful to the anonymous soldier that I am now writing to, Corporal Stephen Arxer, a 19 year old young man who is in Afghanistan via New Jersey. Thank you Cpl Arxer, for protecting me, I am grateful!

I am grateful because I have been blessed with optimism. I do tend to see the world through tinted glasses and peer at cups that are more than half full. I smile quickly and forgive easily. I have been hurt and frustrated and scared and fearful, yet I know there is always something beyond those emotions.

I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to change my destiny at the height of my career. Three years ago I was making a 6 figure income. Two years ago today the mortgage company that was my family for 5 years, SBMC Mortgage, closed their doors. I have survived. I have learned valuable lessons. I have been fortunate. I have been creative.

I am grateful that my words make you smile. I am grateful that even if you don't type out what you are grateful for, maybe you start thinking about it and will do it tomorrow.

I am grateful that I am loved. I feel it. I know it. I want you to know it, too!

Please forward this to your contact list and include the 10 reasons that you are grateful today. Take a moment to find a soldier and write to them. Express to them why you are thankful. Even if you're sitting in a virtual parking lot on your way to work and cursing the rain, the bills, the need to shop for Christmas presents and everything else that is on your to-do list. There are reasons to be grateful. You are breathing!

Please visit anysoldier.com and share your thoughts with someone who needs to be reminded why they are there and we are here...

Gratitude List, Sun. 12/6/09

If you read my blog from yesterday, the idea is to be inspired enough to share the top 10 reasons why you are grateful with your contact list and an anonymous soldier. You can find a soldier at anysoldier.com, remember without their efforts, we wouldn't have so much to be grateful for!

Top 10 Reasons I'm Grateful today:

I am grateful because even though it's cold and winter is here, for us in San Diego that means it's 54 degrees. While it did get down into the 40's overnight and the clouds are forming to bring us rain, it is still mild compared to what most of our country experiences.

I am grateful for my husband who works EVERY single day to provide for us. He works through the pain in his knees, a stiff shoulder, swollen knuckles from the cold, and a sore back from standing on concrete.

I am grateful for the opportunities I have to reach out and inspire others. Even if you don't create your own gratitude list, you might at least read mine and feel better about your own circumstances today.

I am grateful that I have enough money in my account to go grocery shopping.

I am grateful that my daughter Sarra, who lives with us, has taken over the household chores and cooking in lieu of room and board. This allows me more time to network, and create coaching clients.

I am grateful that I didn't get one e-mail back telling me NOT to send them my gratitude list. I am grateful for everyone who shared with me how it effected them and that they are willing to be Ambassadors and champion the cause.

I am grateful that I can put a sweatshirt on and go walking down in the valley below. I am grateful that I live in a country setting and have woods, streams, ponds, horse trails and nature's beauty to greet me every day.

I am grateful that it is the holiday season and I can participate in a variety of ways without spending a dime. There are decorations and lights and programs and activities all around San Diego.

I am grateful that even though I'm in financial crisis I have learned valuable lessons. I know who my friends are and that they love me and support me. I have learned what matters most in life and believe me, I didn't buy it at Nordstrom's.

I am grateful to all the coaching clients I have. They have taught me that when I'm encouraging them, I am also speaking out loud to hear my own voice and take action.

Please pass this on and add your own reasons for being grateful!

What if... Gratitude List

I know this may sound crazy, and in all actuality it probably is. But, what if we could change the world in one e-mail? I'm starting a campaign. I am sending a soldier a Gratitude List of 10 reasons why I am grateful. I am sending this because I am in a funk, and depressed, and it's Christmas time. I have $60,000 in credit card debt, a mortgage that is late and upside down, no corporate paycheck for 2 years and every reason to feel that the bullets I'm dodging are real.

They just don't explode and aren't flying over my head. The air I breathe is without sandstorm dust clogging up my nostrils. I listen to the quiet surrender of a peaceful night as I am lulled to sleep full of worry and fear. I have a bed, fluffy pillows, a warm comforter, soft pajama's and my dog laying nearby.

I have a lot to be grateful for. I have a soldier to thank. It is Christmas. I have family, and love, and health, I am breathing, I can talk, I can walk. It is all so simple, but when those are taken away, the heart stopping fear of what really could be the truth of my every day existence could be so much worse.

I could be homeless. I might not have the luxury of going to the bathroom at 4 a.m. in a toilet with running water. I have a roof. I have a kitchen. There are no bombs flying in my neighborhood. War has been a newsreel. Always. The visions are all in digitized form... I am grateful and before I tell you why I want to ask you to be part of this campaign. Because it's so simple, really. If we all sent our list of gratitude to every person in our contact list every single day and included one anonymous soldier.

AND

Those people in our contact list sent 10 reasons why they are grateful to their contact list and included one anonymous soldier.

AND

Those people turned around and sent their 10 reasons why they are grateful to everyone in their contact list and an anonymous soldier.

WE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD!

We all beat ourselves up, right? You're probably doing it right now for something you should be doing that is A LOT MORE IMPORTANT than reading this stupid e-mail. Paying bills, finding a job, typing your goals, finishing the budget for 2010, fixing dinner, getting ready for work, helping your kids with their homework. Whatever it is that you're not doing at this exact moment.

So what if you wrote, right now, this minute, 10 reasons why you are grateful? It can be as simple as because you are breathing, because you can walk, because you can see, because you have a dog, everyone has reasons to be grateful, sometimes we just have to remind ourselves.

I have included my letter to a soldier and I have forwarded that letter to you, my contact list. I am telling you the 10 reasons why I am grateful today. AND, I'm going to do it tomorrow. I am going to do it everyday. Positive energy creates positive healing and if we all can remember to write down 10 reasons why we are grateful every single day and forward that to our contact list and send it to an anonymous soldier...

WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

Dear Soldier,

I picked your name at random from anysoldier.com and wanted to start out by telling you how grateful I am that you are performing your duties. You can't hide under the covers like I can when I'm scared and fearful. You must do your job regardless of how many hours of sleep you get or what's happening at home.

I see from the little bit you said about yourself that you are from New Jersey. I am from Southern California. You are 19, I am 50. You are someone's son, I am a mother.

I am writing you this letter to tell you how much I am grateful for your commitment to my protection.

I am grateful for the freedoms I have every day. I can watch over 100 channels on television, because there are satellites that you protect.

I am grateful for the family and friends that I have who love me and support me. I can call them at any time from my cell phone and talk for hours. I can do this and I know you can't and my heart aches for you. Yet you are making this sacrifice for me.

I am grateful because I don't live in a bombed out shelter and have to worry where my food will come from today. I have a plethora of grocery stores to chose from. I don't know what you will be eating today, but I know you miss meals from home. Thank you for standing up to those that would be happy if I were standing in a bread line.

I am grateful that I can write whatever I want to write. My voice can reflect feelings of anguish or joy and I can share that message with millions. Literally... Your efforts of relentless security offer me a country where freedom of speech is my right.

I am grateful that I can walk on country roads, listen to birds singing, enjoy the crashing of waves, hear the trickle of a small stream and feel the sun on my face all in one day. Because you are battling blisters, thirst, and dark shadows, I am able to survive in paradise.

I am grateful for the fireplace that keeps me warm. I stretch out my cold hands from typing and feel the tickle as the flames melt the chill. I wonder to what extremes you find your extremities in. Cold, hot? Both? Thank you for shivering and sweating so that I can turn a knob and be instantly gratified.

I am grateful for the pile of bills to the right of my computer. It means I have lived. I have all the perks of electricity, a car, even insurance if something goes sideways. I bend my head and shake it when I think of the people you might be surrounded by. What if our country was war torn and ravaged? You are standing tall to prevent eruptions on our soil.

I am grateful for your uniform. It might be dirty and probably stinky considering you're a guy. But what it stands for brings tears to my eye. It could be cami's, or a dress uniform or simple blues. You are a Marine, and in the eyes of Camp Pendleton soldiers, I see you everywhere and salute your bravery.

I am grateful when I see military planes, helicopters and the acrobatics of jets. I gaze up with appreciation when your peers fly over my house and offer me safety while walking to my mailbox. What if I had to run for cover instead? I hope they know that I bless them every time with appreciation.

I am grateful for you. A 19 year old guy who decided to join the Marines! What if you were the only one? Thank God you are not. I have a lot to be grateful for because with all my troubles and fears and worries that I carry I also know I have gifts of freedom and choice and opportunity and creativity. I can motivate and inspire. I can share and let others know how important it is to be grateful for what I have.

I hope you will in turn forward this letter and include the 10 reasons you are grateful and commit to doing this everyday. Please don't make it as long as mine, we'll never get the campaign off the ground... I can be verbose and since this is the first one, I wanted to be a little more precise of what I am grateful for.

To find an anonymous soldier visit anysoldier.com