Day 29 and 30: I am thankful for what is and for what isn't.

I know I missed a day. We got home late last night and I didn't have the physical or emotional energy to write anything. But instead, I will write a double dose of thanks.

29: I am thankful for what is.

There is so much that we as humans can't control.  We can only control our words, actions and reactions. And even that is a struggle.  We can't control the weather, we can't control if our favorite baseball team wins or loses, we can't control what happens in the world around us. But we can control how we react to the world around us. We can control how we treat people. We can control how we speak to one another. It's hard to do these things, but we can do it. We choose to be nice to the people we interact with. We choose to tell someone we care about them. We have the ability to choose to see the positive rather than the negative. It's up to us, to make these choices.

30. I am thankful for what isn't.  

Because we can't control so much, it's not fair to ourselves to be upset for what we don't have or what we didn't do.  Life isn't about what we could have done. It's about what we've actually done.  There are choices I have made that, looking back, weren't the best decisions for myself or those around me. But I can't go back and change them. I can just move forward and learn from those mistakes.  I am thankful for those less-than-stellar choices because they brought me here, to where I am right now. No, things aren't perfect,...but my adventure continues.  Without the hurdles I've had to deal with, I might not be able to sit back and just accept things as they are.

Day 28: I am thankful for being a tourist in my own city..

Getting to do "touristy" things is fun. Getting to do them with good friends, is even better.

Chicago is gorgeous, but sometimes it's hard to appreciate it's beauty when you're going to and from work in the brutal summer heat or the frigid cold in the winter. But being able to do fun, touristy things, is a great way to appreciate the beauty that is all around us.

Going to the museum campus, exploring the Adler planetarium, seeing the beautiful view from the very end of the campus,...it is all breathtakingly beautiful.

Spending time with good friends, doing fun touristy things,....these are things I am thankful for today :)

Day 27: I am thankful for dreams.

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.  ~Oscar Wilde

All human beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all mankind together. ~Jack Kerouac

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. ~Edgar Allan Poe

Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men. 

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Dreams are necessary to life. ~Anais Nin

Dreams are the touchstones of our character. ~Henry David Thoreau

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. ~Harriet Tubman

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Day 26: I am thankful for the Olympics Opening Ceremonies.

After watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics, I can't help but be full of emotion.  People from so many different countries and cultures, coming together peacefully. It's truly inspiring to see people from war-torn countries come together to compete in an event. 

There's a sense of hope in the air, not necessarily about winning, but about peace.  If people from all over the world can come together (yes, that song is stuck in my head) to participate in a sporting event, maybe we can find a common ground and finally agree to be peaceful.

I have to admit, I wasn't all that excited about this Olympic games, but after watching the second half of the opening ceremony, I couldn't help but be moved to tears.  Watching the copper petals rise up and come together, directly symbolizes the coming together of nations. I LOVE the fact that there is a petal for each nation participating in the games.  Every single athlete, sponsor, coach, volunteer, they are all a part of an entire world of people coming together to be at peace. 

I am hopeful for our future, as a planet, as a global community as a single human race.

Thank you Opening Ceremonies.

Day 25: I am thankful for acceptance.

Being accepted for who you are, faults and all, is what I'm thankful for today.

Feeling accepted validates our very existence.  Being accepted despite our imperfections, knowing that someone loves and cares for us at our best and our worst, is soul-soothing.

Even though it's tough, I will strive to accept people for who they are, not who I want them to be.  Our own expectations can hinder truly accepting people for who they truly are.  It's difficult not to impose our own beliefs onto others, but we don't all have the same thought process and understanding of the world.  Acceptance and tolerance while different, go hand in hand.  

I think that tolerance and acceptance can lead to understanding and peace. 

Tolerance, peace, understanding,....Love. 

I am thankful for acceptance.

Day 24: I am thankful for doctors with good bedside manner.

I LOVE my doctor. I really do.

She not only remembers my name and my medical history without that much help from the file, but she actually cares about how I'm doing.

I've seen a small handful of doctors in my lifetime and she is by far the best. She makes me feel comfortable. She listens and trusts that I know my body more than anyone else.  She trusts me to make the right decisions for myself and doesn't talk down to me.  She makes me feel so comfortable, it's truly amazing.

Good bedside manner truly matters. To make a person feel comfortable and confident about their wellness is incredibly important.  Ignoring a person's concerns or feelings is just inconsiderate. 

I am so very thankful for my doctor and her AMAZING bedside manner.

Day 23: I am thankful for laughter.

Laughter. Giggles. Chuckles.

I am thankful for all of them. 

Being able to laugh, being able to be joyful, being able to find humor, these are all things I am thankful for. 

Day 22: I am thankful for Sally Ride.

Thank you, Sally Ride, for encouraging young girls to be interested in science 

and exploring the universe.

Thank you, Sally Ride, for being a pioneer and role model for women everywhere. 

Thank you, Sally Ride, for encouraging all of us to explore the world around us.

Today, I am thankful for Sally Ride and her amazing accomplishments.

Day 21: I am thankful for brunch.

My favorite meal is officially brunch. When you get to sleep in and don't get moving until the early afternoon but you are still in the mood for breakfast,...voila, BRUNCH.

Any day where brunch is possible is exponentially better. Not only does brunch provide yummy food, but brunch also provides time to sit and relax and catch up after a long week.

I am thankful for beignets, mimosas, fresh fruit topped waffles, wonderful conversation and brunch.

Day 20: I am thankful for the funny things kids say.

Out of the mouths of babes.  Kids say the darndest things.


Kids don't even realize how funny they really are.  They say what they feel and mean what they say.  Sometimes the literal way of understanding that children possess creates the funniest little comments.


Kids believe everything that adults say, well at least up until a certain age.  You can tell a child that you are 117 years old, and they will believe you.  You can tell them that a tiny fairy comes into their room and takes their baby teeth and trades them for quarters, and they will believe you.


I love the innocence that children possess.  They don't have the same concerns that adults do. They don't have the kinds of stress that adults do.  They are just wide-eyed and have their whole future ahead of them.


I love the funny things that kids say.  They don't even know how funny they are. You can call a child a silly muffin and they will tell you that they are not a muffin at all but a little girl or boy. You can tell a child that they are "pulling your leg" and they will tell you that they didn't touch your leg at all! Children don't have the same sense of self-consciousness that adults might have.  Children don't judge you for being a goofball.


I am thankful for these moments spent with children and listening to their stories and seeing the world through their eyes. Innocent, happy, simple.

Day 19: I am thankful for distractions.

Sometimes there are horrible things that happen in the world and you almost need to get lost in something else for you not to dwell on it. 

Work was a distraction from the tragedy in Colorado. Watching a movie was a distraction from media coverage of said tragedy.  Reading a book, petting some cats, doing a crossword, all things that were distracting me from focusing on what has happened.

I don't need to watch news story after news story about what happened.

I know it happened and it's very upsetting but I am very thankful for the distractions I had today as to not break down in tears and focus on the pain and sadness in the world.

Thank you distractions, thank you.

Day 18: I am thankful for purring cats.

There's something about a purring cat that is so peaceful and heartwarming.  Having a sweet soft creature so happy to be with you that it is purrs is a glorious feeling.  Soft ears that want to be scratched, a chin that wants to be stroked, a belly that wants a rub.  All soothing things.

Cats don't worry about bills, the economy, health issues. They just want to be loved. And to be fed. 

I am thankful for purring cats!

Day 17: I am thankful for rain.

Rain is rejuvenating.

Rain is refreshing.

Rain is renewing.

Rain is exhilarating.

Rain soothes the soul and feeds the earth. 

Rain can wash away your worries and sorrows that have muddied your thoughts.

I am so very thankful for the rain.

Day 16: I am thankful for Joss Whedon.

Buffy

Firefly

Serenity

Angel

Astonishing XMen

and many other things

I'm tired, but yes, I am thankful for Joss Whedon, his imagination, his ability and of course his STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS!  Thanks for "not [having] much with the damseling."

Day 15: I am thankful for fiction.

I am so thankful to be able to get lost in a fictional world, whether in books, tv, movies,....in anything.

I love being able to immerse myself in this other world, even if it's a little bit scary, and just lose myself for a little bit.  These escapes from everyday life are refreshing.  I don't want to live in a world where imagination and make-believe doesn't exist.

Being able to escape into a world of wizards, fairies, vampire-slayers, super heroes, gives me the energy to be able to deal with a world where there is so much pain, sorrow and war.

Getting lost in book or movie or a play is as close to magic as I'll ever really get. And that's ok.

Maybe if Buffy, Harry and Katniss can defeat their demons, maybe I can defeat mine too.  

Day 14: I am thankful for Brian.

Today is Brian's birthday.

And I am incredibly thankful for his presence on this planet :)

<3 <3 <3

Day 13: I am thankful for sleeping in.

Extra sleep, even just a an hour or 2 is so good for the body, mind and soul.

It gives us time to refuel after a long week of being drained of our energy sources.

Being able to regain our emotional strength is important so that we are able to function as emotional beings.

And that's exactly what I got this morning.

Day 12: I am thankful for postcards.

Wish you were here!  Greetings from_____!

I am thankful for postcards. And not just because I received 2 of them today (Thanks Narielle and Mom!)

I love receiving postcards from all over the world! There's a whole world around us! People are in amazing places! And they took the time to write to me! WHAT?! Thank you! That's so thoughtful!

The world is an amazing place and if I can't go exploring, I'd love to see what my friends and family are up to in a few sentences and a pretty picture!

So start sending me postcards from your magical trips!!

Day 11: I am thankful for honesty.

Even when it hurts, I am thankful for honesty.

Being honest with ourselves and others is tough. But sometimes it's the easiest way to relieve anxiety. Be honest. Tell the truth. Let people know how you feel.  It's hard to have to hold in feelings and not be honest with how you feel. If you're angry, say it. If you're hurt, say it. If you're happy, say it. If you love someone, say it.

Not everyone can handle truth and honesty. But I think it's healthy. It helps us take responsibility for our actions and words.  Being honest about our feelings is not easy.  But I think it is so worth it.

Be honest. Be true. Be genuine. That is was I strive to be.

Day 10: I am thankful for chocolate chip cookies.

I am thankful for many kinds of sweet snacks, but right this very moment I am thankful for chocolate chip cookies.

Sometimes you might not be in the mood for a particular snack and someone just hands you something and it just hits the spot.

Chocolate chip cookies are delicious plain or with a glass of milk. They are delicious on a hot day and on a cold day.  They are delicious in all seasons.

Yum yum yum.

As Cookie Monster would say, "COOKIE! COOKIE! COOKIE!"

Day 9: I am thankful for you.

Today I am thankful for you.

You are a good person. You have a good heart. There is no one else like you. You are unique and special.

Thank you for being you.

Day 8: I am thankful for a place to rest my head.

After several exciting adventures in the past few days, I am exhausted.

I am thankful for my bed, my pillows, my comfy blankets, cats to cuddle and of course a partner in crime to dream with.

I am thankful that I have a place to rest my head after several fun but tiring days.

Day 7: I am thankful for fireflies.

I remember when seeing a yard full of fireflies seemed like magic.  A small backyard full of twinkling magical bugs.  It was amazing to run through the yard and catch them and watch as they crawled through your fingers, tickling my skin, slowly blinking. Fireflies meant a summer evening. Freedom. Adventure. Curiousity.

When walking down the street and I see a firefly now, it brings me back to a time where life was simpler.  Even just for a moment, just as long as the light of the firefly lasts, I can't help but feel carefree. 

Thank you fireflies.

Day 6: I am thankful for breath.

Today I am thankful for breath.

The simple act of inhaling and exhaling is what I am thankful for today.  Perhaps it is my love for yoga, but focusing on my breath can be incredibly calming.  When I'm stressed or anxious about something, if given the moment, sitting calmly, with my eyes closed, focused on the simple inhalation and exhalation of my breath can center me and sooth me.

The simple intake of breathe through my nose, filling my lungs and body with oxygen and then the release of that same breath, emptying my lungs and coming back out of my nose,....that is pure peace.

I am thankful for the ability to breathe, the ability to focus on my breath rather than my stress, even for just a few moments, is what I am thankful for today.

Day 5: I am thankful for Chicago moments

I am thankful for perfect Chicago moments.

Say for example, watching a great Chicago movie while sitting in a Chicago landmark.

Let me be more specific:

Watching The Blues Brothers while sitting on the grass of the outfield of Wrigley Field.

I am thankful that I was able to walk barefoot on Wrigley Field, run my fingers through the ivy and watch The Blues Brothers with a wonderful companion in our amazing city.

I cherish that moment. I will remember how the grass felt under my feet and as I ran my fingers through it. I will remember the feeling of Chicago pride. I will remember the feeling of excitement shared between everyone there. I will remember how after sitting in the heat for what felt like forever, the slight breeze that blew right before the movie started and felt absolutely delightful. It was the perfect Chicago moment.

Thank you Chicago. Sweet Home Chicago.

Day 4: I am thankful for summer rainstorms.

Today I am thankful for summer rainstorms.  NOT the kind of storms that are destructive and cause power outages and trees to fall down. No, not those.

I am thankful for the kind of storm that gives you a break, even a brief one, from the crazy heat that we've been dealing with.  The kind that gives us hope that there are better days to come. The kind of storm that makes you want to run outside and get drenched in. The summer rain that helps everything grow. Grass, trees, flowers, vegetables, gardens and hope.

I am thankful for the summer storms that make us forget how miserably hot we are and give us hope.

Day 3: I am thankful for Lily.

Dear Lily,

Today marks our 9 year anniversary together! Happy Anniversary to a wonderful cat!

I am thankful for you and the love and companionship that you and I have shared.  You found me at just the perfect time and I could not be happier that you did. 

Your purrs and gentle cuddles and even your forceful snuggles are something I cherish every single day. 


I love you and thank you for finding me!


purrs and meows,


me

 

Day 2: I am thankful for this brutally hot day.

"Are you crazy?" you might ask.  Yes, the heat very well may have made me sweat out the last bit of sanity I had left.

Yes, I am thankful for this brutally hot day. As I sit here, disgustingly sweaty and imagining how amazing a freezing cold shower will feel, I am indeed thankful. Without days like today or the freezing, bitter cold days of winter, I may not be able to appreciate the absolutely glorious spring or fall days.  The kind of days when the weather is just warm enough that you don't have to wear a coat and just cold enough that you still might need a light sweater or hoodie.  Days where you can take a leisurely stroll and not have to duck into the closest air-conditioned place you can find for refuge from the heat. Days where you don't have to bundle up and hold yourself tightly so that you don't freeze.

This excruciatingly hot day makes me appreciate those gorgeous days even more. So I am thankful, thankful for this day.

(And ice, I'm also thankful for ice.)

Day 1: I am thankful for love.

Life is full of ups and downs. Life is full of joy and sadness. Sometimes it may seem difficult to appreciate the joy when there is so much sadness all around us. We live in a world full of hatred, war, death, disease, misunderstanding and anger. But we also live in a world full of love, laughter, beauty, kindness and joy.
 
Thornton Wilder once said, "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." I want to be conscious of these treasures. 

Today, I am thankful for love.

Not just the romantic kind of love which I am also grateful for, but for the kind of love I feel from friends and loved ones. Even people I don't see often I appreciate and am so very thankful for their love. 


Today is my birthday. I woke up slightly later than usual, thanks to a day off of work, and I woke up to 30 birthday messages on Facebook (and each moment more and more messages are popping up).  Yes, I know, Facebook isn't necessarily the most personal way to communicate with someone, but when you have friends and family all over the world, it is a great way to communicate with them.


I am thankful for the love I feel from people.  I am thankful for the love I have for others.

Today I challenge everyone to appreciate the love you feel from your family and friends. You are loved.