Gratitude

Why I am grateful for my new job:

an excuse to kick my daily fast food breakfast habit
oatmeal at work
getting home in less than 10 minutes most days
peers
mentors
a sensitive, intelligent, experienced manager
feeling capable to handle the challenges I'm encountering
exciting work
chances to see Nicci (yeah - this Friday!!!)
being part of a team again
feeling like I can grow
people believing in me and wanting me to grow
new friendships
developing trust
an expense account with which to take out former colleagues
people who are looking out for me
employees who are thoughtful and professional
challenge, even if it is sometimes hard
no more candy dish in my office - no need, candy/soda/oatmeal is provided by the company in the breakroom
my new latte habit and my increased calcium intake - the office has one of these
finding joy in my work and relationships as much as possible
my new mentor/dog walking buddy

Gratitude

Lately I have been laughing and smiling a heck of a lot more and there is so much I am grateful for:

being there for my divorced friend on Valentine's Day
seeing "he's not that into you"
morning walks with my dogs and how much better my lab mix is getting off leash
getting perfume and wearing it again after 10 years without
the beautiful orchid an employee gave me
getting a raise for an employee who will be taking on some of my responsibilities when I leave
being able to afford flowers for my admin support person
our new home loan that will free up some disposable income
my new job
my new boss
my new coworkers
the professionalism my old boss is exhibiting in my leaving
knowing that this is temporary and that he's still an ass, so I have NO regrets
lunch dates every day for 2 weeks
my donut date with my husband this morning
making my son's lunch this morning with his help
running into friends at the donut shop and during the walk
being recognized by the bank teller as the mom of the kids' with the savings accounts
having polite children
scheduling our family portraits for March with our wedding photographer
finding a pair of jeans that fit - the first pair I tried!
not feeling like I need a 2+ glasses of wine after work each night
only working 3 day weeks for 3 weeks instead of the typical 2 weeks notice
my friend's educational program really taking off and taking shape
her ability to recognize the role and importance of marketing and defending the cost
future trips to the bay area!!!
my upcoming vacation to Mexico with the family before starting my new job
shopping for a blackberry for my new job
being able to donate blood and the car washes I get in return
the sincere gratitude that many of my employees have expressed for what I've done for them these past 3 years
feeling absolutely certain that this job change is right for me and having my eyes wide open about what it will entail
my husband's willingness to work with me through all sorts of drama
my husband's willingness to run the home while I take this new job
having so much to share in my gratitude post
feeling like I could go on for 100 more lines
date night tomorrow night

Gratitude

I am grateful for:

- beautiful warm days and living in a vacation destination
- the amazing moon last night and this morning
- my morning walk with the dogs at the bay and the nice people and dogs we encountered
- a lazy day of lunch and shopping with my daughter
- my upcoming interview on Thursday - YEAH!!! PARTY WOO!!!! OH RIGHT!!!!!
- finding two suits that would work for the interview
- the local tailor and her willingness to work in my timeframe
- pizza/movie night
- my girlfriend who helped me shop for suits and gave me her honest opinion when I needed it
- hearing my children playing outside while I write this
- frozen pesto from this summer that I get to have on my salmon tonight
- fresh blueberries
- clean cars and a garage to put them into

Happy New Year and Gratitude

This year I have started an old fashioned journal to celebrate my successes in personal growth. It's the old school kind with lined paper and a pretty embroidered cover.

I feel this odd divide among my two journals now, the one that lives on paper and the one that lives in cyberspace.

I feel like I should organize them somehow and declare that the paper is for ____ and the cyber is for ______, but I don't want to. Don't feel the need to be boxed in and attempting to organize every corner of my life.

So, I will live in free form for a while and see what is and that is what shall be.

About New Years Resolutions . . . not sure if I really have any other than to release resentment and celebrate successes more. Pretty vague, but I'm growing tired of specifics when it comes to defining my goals. I want to be lofty, airy and free flowing.

Gratitude. I am grateful for:

- allowing myself to finally buy new bras in the right size
- allowing myself to buy a new purse, one from a company that gurantees and refurbishes them
- allowing myself to not feel obligated to go to playgroup this morning
- my phone interview tomorrow
- asthma medication for my daughter
- big, fat Sunday papers

Gratitude 11

Today I am grateful for:

- my husband being able to be home with the kids while they are off for 2 weeks
- maintaining boundaries around Christmas and keeping it to the four of us
- light commuter traffic during this holiday period
- generally light workload during this holiday period
- Santa
- my husband's Xmas presents arriving in time
- my daughter's increasing computer/software skills
- lunch yesterday with a friend
- the rain, which will be great for my garden
- my children's willingness to write thank you notes and knowing how valuable this will be for them in the long run

Gratitude

I am grateful for:

- Passing my SDA exam and adding another certification to my resume
- Having the guts to ask for a raise
- Dinner with a friend on Saturday night
- My husband watching all 4 kids for us
- My new friend I see on my walks and how our dogs play together
- Getting this Friday off
- Being able to identify and describe my feelings, even when they are negative
- Having the courage to speak my mind at last week's board meeting
- Friends who pass on job postings to me
- Amazon.com

Being Hostess

We just sent off our last guests from the Thanksgiving holiday and I must admit that I am ready to stop being a hostess. We were blessed with two sets of grandparents and 3 aunts/uncles to share our day and we made a wonderful Thanksgiving paper chain with gratitudes from all written upon it. But as wonderful as family is, it can be tiring to be around others so much.

What I loved about the visits:

- watching the kids interact with their relatives
- watching the grandparents interact with eachother and the playful kidding between my dad and my mother-in-law
- finding ways to make the grandmothers feel involved and part of the process, even if it meant having to compromise
- making things ahead so I could relax a little during the day
- my dad helping with the dogs who desperately needed some outdoor time, but I couldn't give it to them as I was trapped in the kitchen
- my kids dressing up
- Uncle Dave and his dry sense of humor and strong connection with my daughter
- getting to know my "new" borther-in-law even better
- compliments on the meal
- feeling like a team with my mother-in-law and having my step-mom join in at the end
- not doing dishes, hardly ever, as I prepared all the meals

Gratitude 10

- Being healthy after battling the stomach flu
- Seeing a beautiful sky full of stars while walking the dogs
- Running into a scared (it was dark) neighbor walking and having her take one of my dogs to help her feel safe
- Being able to send one of my books to a man diagnosed with cancer so he could show his children what he did for work and his impact on the profession
- Meeting with a prospective candidate and really liking him
- Having 2 dates planned with my husband this weekend
- Being able to volunteer once in a while at my kids' school, including tomorrow's Halloween party
- Jogging with my dog this morning and his improved behavior on lease
- Learning that he's even better when he's on the "casual walk" command

Gratitude 9

I am grateful for:

- toilet paper - my yoga teacher reminded me to be thankful for the everyday things, like toilet paper
- an upcoming camp weekend with moms and kids
- a weekend affair with Double Stuff Oreos
- being in nature
- my dogs both doing great sit-stays when I have to clean up their poop
- daily morning walks with dogs
- getting back into my running routine after taking some time off for dog training and a cold/flu
- learning to set better boundaries in my relationship with my mom
- my brother's upcoming visit
- the flowers an employee gave me for bosses day
- getting to go out to lunch tomorrow with another employee as a bosses day treat
- being able to share the pesto I made with basil from my garden
- using my first bin of worm compost
- how relaxing it actually was to sort through the compost and remove the remaining worms
- fish tacos

Flight - Man vs. Nature

This weekend I had the joy of watching the Blue Angels, and I marveled at their grace and aeronautics.

That was until two hummingbirds buzzed by me. One was chasing the other out of my yard, which is ripe with tubular flowers, and the first was dodging the other to the right, left, up and down. They stole the show from the wonderful Blue Angels, mostly for their natural beauty, skill, and speed. As much as I marvel at projects which take a lot of time, money and skill, I truly admire what is around us and appreciate the opportunity to be reminded of it by two little hummingbirds whizzing by.

Gratitude 8

I am grateful for:

- Seeing old college friends and their children, so precious.
- Sharing old photos with my kids as they prepare reports on their family.
- Our excited, enthusiastic, and optomistic new hire.
- The fact that one of my employees sang "Happy Birthday" to another at 6:30 this morning as they started their day.
- Comraderie among our staff.
- My boss being away on a 3 week vacation.
- My son liking 1st grade and being excited to go to school.
- My children saving their allowance for items and counting out change to buy their coveted item.
- Long walks with the dogs.
- My empoloyee's professionalism as she tries to prepare the agency for her eventual retirement.
- My dog trainer's wisdom, understanding and compassion, for me and our new dog.

Myriad of Emotions

I feel a little overwhelmed lately and just on the verge of out of control. At first I got angry at myself for this, thinking I wasn't breathing deeply or taking care of my stress. But now, I'm being more forgiving. As I made this list in my mind, I understood the why and forgave my inability to erase the stress and other emotions:

- One of our employees was killed on Saturday. He was on vacation on a motorcycle trip - he had an accident and was killed instantly. He worked for us for 16 years and one of our senior employees in rank.

- My single dad brother just lost his job and wants us to drop everything and travel to Seattle with him since now his schedule is free. Family visits seem to revolve around his schedule, which makes me resentful. Then I feel guilty for not having more compassion for his situation.

- I'm pretty sure my new dog has dog agression. He's getting better on the leash, but still loses it when we pass other dogs, especially little dogs. He's 60 pounds of muscle - I can hold him back, but it takes a lot. The owners walk nervously and quickly away from me out of fear, and I'm left trying to control Ollie and getting angry, embarrassed and frustrated. Not sure how this one is going to get solved.

- The kids went back to school. Halfway to school, they told my husband (I was at work, feeling guilty for not being there, but knowing I couldn't show up too late the day after an employee died - I was needed at work - I stayed home long enough to help get the kids ready, pack their lunches and get photos) to go home and they walked to school by themselves. They're in 1st and 3rd grade and growing up way too fast!

But I'm alive and employed, married with healthy kids, so I am grateful for that.

Gratitude 7

I am grateful for:

- my husband
- Oreo cookies
- smart employees
- job applicants
- my yoga class last night
- morning walks
- my husband continuing the kids' swim lessons
- long weekends
- neighborhood parties
- kisses from my son last night as we said goodnight
- that our new dog acknowledges me more and more each day
- our new dog making it through the night in our bedroom without licking incessantly
- elastic waistbands (see Oreo cookies)
- being able to tell my husband that I was hurt and not forcing him to withdraw

Mid Week Motivator

Lessons from The Tao Te Ching or Daodejing
(Number 3 is my favorite)


1) Live with Commitment. Even after all this time, the Sun never says to the Earth “You Owe Me”. Just look what happens with a love like that....It lights up the whole sky.

2) There is no way to Happiness...Happiness is the way. Bring Happiness to all you do.

3) You accomplish much by trying less.

4) See yourself in everyone you encounter. They want peace, not always struggling, not being sick. They want love.

5) Trust in other’s to know what’s best for them.

6) Live without attachments and be generous with what you have.

7) Be strong by bending.

8) When you have a choice to be “Right” or to be “Kind” – Always pick to be “Kind”.

9) Practice radical humility. Live low like the ocean for all the streams will come to it.

10) Rather than looking for Miracles, see everything as Miraculous.....

11) Practice death while you are alive. Live as though heaven is on earth. Release yourself from your burdens, regrets, guilt, and anger that cages you. Instead live in peace, tranquility, forgiveness and harmony.

Gratitude 6

I am grateful for:

- the tooth fairy
- how adorable my daughter looks with her two front teeth gone
- short business trips to pretty areas - Monterey here I come!
- my new dog behaving better each day
- my husband accepting the new dog a little bit more each day
- my two dogs not killing eachother - fighting, yes, but no blood
- green hair and memories of summers at the pool
- supportive staff who take care of things when I go away
- my husband
- my dad's being cancer free even after an xray scare
- being able to donate blood

Gratitude 4

I am grateful for:

- Being able to talk to my husband about anything.
- Neighbors who invite my children over for play dates.
- The big fat Sunday paper and a pot of coffee.
- My playgroup of almost 8 years and the families who participate.
- My babysitter, who is coming Friday and willing to watch 4 kids total.
- Early morning runs.
- My new dog getting better and better on the leash and off.
- The finances for my volunteer organization balancing for June and July.
- 180 calorie Kashi Roll bars, which have 12 g protein and 6 g fiber, and to Yertle for reminding me to eat more frequently.

Gratitude 3

I am grateful for:

- Kisses from my daughter
- A job that allows my husband to stay home
- My primary care physician, who is good enough that my husband doesn't mind his annual physicals, even when they involve unpleasant procedures
- Sharing my daughter's albumn with her and seeing her read and look at things she did just years ago, but didn't remember or recognize
- My dad's bows and arrows that he lovingly made for the kids and their friends
- My dad's wife for joining our family

Meet Ollie

So we turned our lives upside down this weekend and adopted a gorgeous, and strong, Labrador/Brittany Spaniel mix from Labrador Rescue. His name is Ollie. Ollie is between 2 and 4 years old and weighs about 60 pounds. He was rescued the day he was to be euthanized and after spending one month is the shelter. From the shelter, he spent one month in boarding and then one month with a foster family. So his last three months have been pretty unsteady.

We adopted him to be a running partner for me as our current dog is getting older and having joint issues. She will still come on the walks, but can't run anymore without injury.

Since adopting Ollie Saturday morning, we have had a lot of excitement. He has:

- Escaped the house twice, running up and in and out of the street for about 1/4 mile each time.
- Eaten 1/4 of a birthday cake, off the kitchen counter, damn those long legs!
- Discovered how to get into the automatic close garbage can in the kitchen.
- Destroyed one toy which our current dog never even damaged.
- Tore up the carpet tack strip in our bedroom entry way.
- Run 20 miles and still has energy to spare. (The husband has also taken him running - I couldn't dream of going that far in three days!)
- Eaten the nose off of one of my son's stuffed animals.
- Found the opossums living in the neighbors bushes.
- Pulled me in directions I didn't know I could go.
- Captured my heart.

Now I just need him to capture my husband's heart!

Wish us luck!

Gratitude 2

I am grateful for:

my basil crop
my dog
running into a friend during my morning walk
girls night this Saturday
my husband's willingness to get a second dog
my health
my old coworker who I met for lunch yesterday

Gratitude 1

Plagarism is the finest form of flattery, so I'm taking this idea from Yertle's blog.

I am grateful for:

Beautiful sunrises during my morning walks
Fellow dog owners whose dogs play with mine
Neighbors who put my paper on the porch as they walk by
My children's friends who come to their parties
My husband who calls me and tells me he loves me
My paycheck that allows him to spend time with the kids
My dad still being alive
The young teenager who is walking my dog during the day while I work late
Our nanny of almost 8 years