today

I am grateful to be a person with integrity.

I am grateful to be so strong.

I am grateful to know that I can weather the storm.

I am grateful to know that my circumstances do not define me.

I am grateful for my beautiful daughter.

I am grateful to be alive.

Day 14

Have I really completed 14 days of this madness? WOW!

Breakfast: green tea and banana

Snack: none

Lunch: hummus and carrots, apple

Snack: tomato bruschetta topping with rice crackers, nuts, apricots and raisins mix

I'm down a bit on the scale this morning, bringing me down about 4.5 pounds. Finally!

June 26, 2010

I am grateful to be alive.

Today was nearly perfect, and I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for Mt. Rainier, the bluest skies EVER, and hiking.

I'm grateful to be strong enough to hike.

I'm grateful that my cold was low-grade enough to enjoy the hike.

I'm grateful for giggling with Tessa during a snowball fight.

I'm grateful for my silly dog who wants to lie at my feet whereever I am.

I'm grateful that I stayed on plan for 13 days so far, even if I'm not losing much weight.

I'm grateful that I packed the right stuff, and had everyone dressed in the right layers, for our day of hiking.

I'm grateful for singing along with music in the car.

I'm grateful for mint tea at the end of a long day.

I'm grateful that Ryan and Tessa WANT to hike with me.

I'm grateful for avalanche lilies and wildflowers of every variety. Especially lupine and foxglove.

I'm grateful that our Subie is such a reliable car.

I'm grateful that it's the beginning of summer and lots of hiking lies in front of me.


I am grateful for my friends and family.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

I'm grateful to be alive.

I'm grateful that it's just a cold.

I'm grateful that I've maintained the food plan for six days.

I'm grateful for good food.

I'm grateful for a comfy couch and bad TV and a box of tissues and a glass of water and a cozy blanket to keep me company when I don't feel well.

I'm grateful for how silly Tessa is.

I'm grateful for Ryan's good mood.

I'm grateful for my friends and family.

Friday, July 18, 2010

I am grateful to be alive.

I am grateful that my chores are done today - laundry, bathroom, vacuum, dishes, brush dog, remake guest room, prep dinner, scrub garbage cans, take out trash...blech, but it's done!

I am grateful to live in a house big enough to have so many chores....and conveniences.

I am grateful that I found the willpower to stay on my food detox today.

I am grateful that Tessa lets me comfort her when she's sad.

I am grateful for sunshine.

I'm grateful that it's the weekend, so that even though I don't feel well, Ryan can help if I need to vege.

I'm grateful that even though it's not my finest day, I know that future days look bright - soon!

I'm grateful that I just have a cold, nothing more, nothing serious.

I am grateful for my friends and family.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

I'm grateful to be alive.

Today I took Shep for a walk along Alki after dropping off Tessa and our carpool friends, and chanced to see a bald eagle, swooping and squaking as it chased a fish over the waves. I stood at the edge of the path to admire it, and to laugh at its non-majestic cry, and two other passers-by stopped to join me. "We've seen this before," they said. "Me too," I said. "And it never stops being a thrill." The man softened a bit, and added, "No, it's always special."

I'm grateful to live by the sea. I'm grateful to be able to connect with nature, even in a busy day.

Today is day four of my food detox - no sugar, caffeine, alcohol, gluten, dairy, or processed foods. It has been difficult to give up baked goods, in particular, and I really miss scones. I am grateful, however, that Ryan suggested this plan, and that he is taking care of his health with this plan. I'm grateful that I decided to join him in it, because it's "forcing" me to eat much healthier food - I think I was filling up on scones, not apples, and now I'm doing the reverse. Maybe when this is done I'll do better with the moderation thing, but right now I'm just very grateful that I've been able to be on track for four days, that I've dropped a couple of pounds, and that I know I'm feeding my body healthy food.

I'm grateful that I'm a good cook. I can make just about anything from scratch, and I do. I'm proud of that. Today I'm having home made hummus, and it tastes better knowing that it doesn't have any preservatives, and little to no waste. I just soaked beans, and blended them with fresh squeezed lemons, tahini, olive oil, cumin, and garlic. Yum. Chop up some carrot sticks, and I'm calling this lunch!

I'm grateful that my dear friend just invited me to her 40th birthday celebration.

I'm grateful for my family and friends.

Amen.

Online Gratitude

I'm grateful to be alive.

Welcome to my gratitude journal - a place where I can reflect on the wonders of my life, and take time out of chaos to reflect on what is beautiful, lovely, amazing, humorous, and joyful in my life.

I will start every post with the words, "I'm grateful to be alive," because really, that's what it comes down to.

I'm not advertising this blog to friends, family, or anyone else - it is written for my eyes alone, but if you choose to join me, then welcome.