Summary: Gratitude

When first given this assignment i thought it would be so very simple to accomplish. i was a bit wrong. It is not that being grateful for things is foreign to me. It is not that i don't appreciate the people and things (both large and small) in my life. It is a simple thing to be thankful but quite an undertaking to realize and analyze WHY we are thankful. And to understand that if our lives where different, though the vast amounts of other "stuff" we enjoy may vary, the core items we are truly grateful for is similar to everyone. We as people have the same basic needs. The same basic drives. And we crave the same warm, sometimes guiding, emotions.

i am grateful for this opportunity that was given to me.

thanks for listening -
jb

Day 30: Full Circle (10/16/08)

i am grateful for:

1. My amazing fiance who stands by me through thick and thin (& through wedding planning and school projects) and loves me just the way i am.
   
2. My brother & sister who are strong and gifted in their own unique ways.
3. My friends who support and love me and are unafraid to stand up for what/who they believe in.
4. My parents who i have learned along the years are growing and changing people - just like me.
5. My almost family-in-law who offer their assistance whenever they can and with no judgment in their hearts.

Day 29: "i am" statements.... (10/15/08)

1. i am smart, creative and capable.
   
2. i am independent, bold and giving.
3. i am compassionate, empathetic and amazing.
4. i am beautiful, balanced and unique,
5. i am my own.
   

Day 28: If i could do it all again ....(10/14/08)

...i would not change a thing.

1. Lessons of love - experienced and stored for future reference.
   
2. Lessons of grief and loss - learned and turned into sweet memories.
3. Lessons of anger and betrayal - forgiven but never forgotten
4. Lessons of sadness and the taste of tears - nourishment for wounded hopes.
   
5. Lessons of joy - pure and warm and good to coat my dreams in a glittery gold.
   

Day 27: Simple Pleasures (10/13/08)

Though these pleasures are simple to ME i am very aware that they are not so simple to many MANY people throughout the world.

• The roof over my head.
  
• The food on my table.
• The books on my shelves.
  
• The love in my heart.
• The feeling of safety.
  

Day 26: Words to the Wise 10/12/08

• You can never trully love someone - if you can not love yourself.
• Don't judge a book by its cover.
  
• Patience is a virtue i don't have time to wait for. (Sorry - its just funny!)
• The pen is mightier than the sword.
  
• Nothing lost is nothing gained.
  

Day 25: Places i'd like to go 10/11/08

i am a big fan of travel & i keep a TOP 5 list of places i would love to visit. i am grateful that these places exist in general and more specifically:

1. The UK - Is a link to my family's heritage. i am Scots-Irish and i long to see the green, green grass, the woolly sheep and cows and hear the lilting burr that accompanies the words of the people there.
   
2. Italy - Also a part of my heritage. i would like to visit the tiny town of Lauria and see all the other beautiful villages, meet the friendly people, and taste authentic Italian cuisine.
   
3. Boston - i have been to Boston several times and i love the energy of it. Its crowded but not overly so and full of history.
4. Seattle - i have never been to the "Left Coast" and i think i would enjoy the nature here better than the glitz and glamor normally associated with California. It just seems as though it is very earthy and rich.
5. Nova Scotia - Last summer i traveled with my fiances family to Nova Scotia and we stayed in a cottage by the shore. It was peaceful, quiet and beautiful. i felt oddly at home there and would dearly love to return. (Maybe even permanently.)