Today was a bit puzzling… In so far as we had to look to ourselves to find it. Gratitude for ourselves. What qualities of mine am I grateful for? How have I shown up for myself? My physical, emotional, mental self. moments I’ve been kind to myself. Acts of courage. Capacity to love. Ability to learn. Personal growth I’ve leaned into and applied. And again, why am I grateful for these things. The challenge was to have them all done by eight pm… Which I did – but I was at circle, so I couldn’t write about them. I had them in my notebook though, all ready to go!

1. Resiliency – I have been surprised at myself over this sometimes. I am like those toy blow up clowns kids had in the early 80s. You’d punch them and they’d bounce right back up! I feel no matter the beating, I just keep bouncing right back up. I joke, but really, I seem to be able to shoulder many things and just keep pushing forward.
2. My emotional capability- this is a hard one to explain. I am really emotional. I feel everything and internalize it. It actually drives me nuts, but I am told it is a positive quality. I am learning to embrace, cherish, and love it.
3. Openness – I am a very open person. I share freely of myself. My thoughts, my feelings, my hopes and dreams. I appreciate this because I think (I hope) it makes others feel comfortable and gives them the desire to share and feel open.
4. Strength – to keep going. I am strong. Even if I don’t always see it. I just keep going. Like the Energizer Bunny, but not fuzzy and pink. Nothing keeps me down for long.
5. Planning – I plan. A lot. Menus, holidays, events. I am organized in this way because it staves off the chaos. I am thankful for this because while I am not a planner in many other ways, in the ways that keeps things running, I am.
6. Intuition – when I need it, I have it, and it helps me read people and gives me the ability to help them when they need it. I am thankful for that because sometimes people have a hard time opening up.
7. Humour – I like to think I am funny. Humourous at least.
8. Kindness – I always try to be kind. I think a kind word; a soft gesture always helps.
9. Generous – of spirit, of mind, of time. Give when you can, and sometimes, even when you can’t. I always believe sharing is the best thing to do.
10. Overcome a bit of my shyness – believe it or not, I am a bit introverted and shy, and I am working to overcome this. Attending circles, going out and being present are all ways I am working to put my shy girl back in the closet. I am being brave.
11. Accepting my body as it is. Whether it is now of 5 pounds heavier (or even 10-though I don’t really want 10). It is a journey and a process.

I have my 88… It has been an interesting week! I noticed today, as I got cut off in traffic that having myself surrounded by gratitude caused a bit of a shift. While traditionally, getting cut off – as I did – would have really annoyed me, I just tooted my horn, so he knew I was there, and carried on my way. It literally just rolled off my shoulders. No ill effects. Initially, I attributed it to the dog he had riding shotgun, but as Trista spoke tonight, and spoke of how when we let gratitude in, it can sometimes alter how we perceive and receive things…

I then had an ‘a-ha’ moment.

What if the gratitude had shifted my thinking? What if the gratitude changed me? Even if just for a short time? All the abundance in my heart made me more accepting of being cut off because it didn’t matter? Maybe he was in a hurry? Maybe he had a long day and way tired? Maybe he didn’t see me? Maybe it just didn’t matter?

So, I let it go. I gave it no story, no merit and drove on. And it was a great feeling.

Thank you for reading along and sharing this with me. I hope you’ve had a great week and found the great things around you. ❤