gratitude journal

my mom told me today that paul in the Bible said something to the tune of ~ "be content in the state of life you are in."  i'm sure that's not word-for-word, but wasn't he in prison for quite some time?  that's saying a lot, coming from anyone from the middle east, really.

before i even read that, i'd been in the grocery store, spending a ton and knowing i had to then go home and schlepp it up stairs to my apartment, then prepare all that food!  oh my gosh!  i was a zombie already at the grocery store.  

but when i walked into my lovely, cool apartment, arms full of produce, i actually teared up.  so exhausted from the week and the back-breaking workout i had with my trainer this morning, maybe i was delusional.  but i felt this sense of total contentment and bliss.  i've always been a grateful person, to a certain extent, but i don't think i've ever been so happy with my everyday life as i am now.  

so, and i think you can see where this is going, i thought i'd write about some things that make me squeal with joy and sigh with contentment!

Here goes:

1.  i am so blessed to have this fabulous apartment, complete with maintenance man, exterior painters (one was just on a ladder, painting the trim on my window and i came out of the bathroom with my jeans around my ankles.  oh well.  he can put that vision on HIS gratitude list!), quiet neighbors, washer and dryer of my very own, and adorable porch (with new chinese lanterns and basil plant!)

whew...that was a big one.  the list continues...

2.  my piano.  my chops are getting better just because i have it.

3.  my trainer, who killed me today.  every muscle is shaking.  yesss!

4.  so thankful for the groceries i think i can afford to have purchased (hee hee), that are still sitting in the bags on my floor.  (i'm waiting for my imaginary maid to come put them up for me)

5.  i'm SO thankful for my amazing friends and family.  wow.  i am surrounded by greatness.  i've really been feeling on and fully myself lately, and the most generous thing they do is let me go there!  even when i'm obnoxious or probably way too much.  doesn't seem to matter.  they love me anyway.  

6.  thankful for the peace and quiet in my life.  due to balance, i think.  i have down time, i have fun time, i have lots of ambitious work, i have a flourishing creative life.  i also have worked very hard, and will always be working, to find that peace and balance.  

7.  i'm thankful for "everybody loves raymond".  ha ha!  i watch it at some point every day and it makes me laugh and cry sometimes even.  watching it right now!  definitely thankful that i don't have to deal with a doofus husband like that.

the list could go on and on.  i love the change of seasons and being an american, i love the way beautiful colors make me feel and i love how a great song on the radio can make me dance in my seat while i'm driving!  

all of us have so much to be thankful for ~ it would be such a shame to miss out on all those great things because we're focusing on the crappy things (and we all have crappy things).  plus, a few clouds in the sky make the sun and the blue stand out so much more, right?

i've waxed poetic enough for one day!!!!!