I have so many things to be grateful for and I'm terrible at expressing it. Some random things I'm thankful for are:
1. My fabulous bed! I believe it is a little too comfortable, as I never get out of it on time.
2. School. It is difficult to be grateful for the classes, teachers, deadlines, tests, and every other obligation we've spend most of our lives trying to get out of... until you don't have it anymore. Going back to school has been such a great blessing for me. I'm a much happier person when I'm constantly learning.
3. Vegetables. Yes, I said vegetables. If you've spent any amount of time around me, you know that most of my meals are meatless. Don't get me wrong, I do love a good filet mignon every once in a while, I just don't have to have it every day. I just love my peas, corn-on-the-cob, broccoli, green beans, carrots, peas, squash, zucchini, peas...
4. My job. While I do not work at my dream job with my dream salary, the people I work with couldn't be any better. I'm very grateful for the examples and support they are to me.
5. Music. I don't immerse myself in music often enough, but I did this weekend and it is amazing how much cleaning you can do while singing your lungs out to some Kanye, Alison Krauss, Norah, whatever...
6. Cooking. I love to be in the kitchen for hours on end, without a deadline. Chopping, stirring, tasting. It is also therapeutic for me. And what greater reward for a hobby than fabulous food at the end?
7. Sewing. Let me preface my comments by saying I'm not the best at this. My sisters-in-law got into sewing after I did, but they have passed me up in recent years with their quilts, baby clothing, make-up bags, and purses. My list isn't as expansive, but I do have fabulous ideas. This weekend I finally made throw pillows for my bed, pictures to come, and a receiving blanket for my 1-week-old nephew that I get to meet in 2 short days. The best part is that they don't even look too handmade.
8. Shopping. I especially love places like Hobby Lobby where you can wonder for hours to gather ideas. This is one of the few places that you can also fill your cart as you go because the prices are decent. I love clothes shopping, too. When I let myself make the drive to the Park City outlets I usually set up camp in the Banana Republic.
9. Exercising. I am grateful that I have a gym membership now. They have fun classes, like Zumba, where you don't even realize that you're working out. I also like the hard core treadmill and lifting weights approach. It is usually an awful inner battle to get me there, but I love that clean feeling you have inside after a workout.
10. My little body. How can I talk about exercising and not express my gratitude for my body? First of all, I am grateful for how it is responding to the aforementioned exercising. Slowly, but surely. I am also grateful for how it takes care of me, even when I don't take care of it. And how it really steps up its game when I eat less chocolate (gasp!), take supplements, eat fruits and vegetables, and drink more water. It has been so good to me. In fact, most people don't think I look anywhere near my age of 29. Now that is a body to be grateful for.
