Being Grateful Anyway...

I've been waking up with these monster headaches. Combined with the sleeplessness I've been experiencing after around 3:00 a.m. sometimes it does feel a little overwhelming. We can all compare battle wounds and decide who has the worst. The reason I share this is not for sympathy but to encourage you that EVEN WHEN life interrupts our pattern with a health issue, a lagging bank balance or a pink slip, we must decide who we want to be and how we are going to get there.

I am honest with you and bare my soul so that we can travel this road together. I know we all have moments in which we want to just give up. The problems we face seem so daunting that it feels impossible to create a solution. Start small. What can I do today? What can I be grateful about? I am breathing...

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful to live in a rural setting and hear the melodious howls of coyotes. I know for some of you that has no appeal, but I enjoy listening to their chorus of resounding barks that is answered by another pack across the valley.

I am grateful that my own dogs have a keen sense of watchfulness and guard us protectively.

I am grateful for the added companionship of a new puppy in my daughter Laura's household. Her husband Kevin works nights and she is happy to have an 8 week old Husky to nurture.

I am grateful that my week has started well and that I am staying on task with all the duties I am performing in the numerous roles that I am becoming.

I am grateful to a friend who treated me to a movie last night. I haven't been to the movies in ages. It was so great crunching on popcorn and laughing along with the rest of the audience. Thank you, Sherry!

I am really, really grateful that the shingle blister I have on my lip has been kept at bay with Melaleuca oil and topical gel. At this point I'm usually unable to go out in public.

I am grateful for vanilla chai tea! I gave up coffee and caffeine in August with the help of my mentor Jeff. I have been trying different varieties of tea ever since. It's really been an enjoyable part of my morning to sip my tea and write my list of gratitude.

I am grateful to the coaching mastermind group I belong to. I had the privilege of giving a presentation on blogging and it went really well. I haven't had that opportunity for over 2 years and I realized how much I miss it.

I am grateful for the kindness I see in others every day. If you look for the love in human nature you will certainly feel it. Thank you to those that checked in on me yesterday because I wasn't able to send out my blog. Computer issues in the morning prevented me from doing so and then I had to move on to my work schedule.

I am grateful to have awareness of self. Not to say that I don't bury my head in the sand upon occasion. But even when I do, it gives me time to reflect and self-analyze and decide what action steps I want to take to move forward.