Gratitude Time

I'm rather sad and mopey of late...trying pretty hard, I must say, not to feel sorry for myself. Trying really hard not to get bitter. Once, in law school, when I was feeling sad because I was not dating or meeting anyone, I tried to show gratitude, instead of feeling sorry for myself. Every night when I said my prayers I would try to think of one man in my life that I was grateful for and then express my feelings of thankfulness for that person's presence in my life. It helped a lot, and even thought I wasn't dating, I did make a friend. It was something I needed...desperately. Right now I'm just trying to keep my head above water because it feels like there are several areas of my life where I am in need.

Here is my list...of things I am thankful for:

1. I do have lots of friends. I've been very blessed to know many many very good people.
2. I get to teach Relief society, and I enjoy doing it.
3. I have seriously awesome hair. And I have a really nice friend who does it for less than what she should. I love her.
4. I have a friend who was willing, last minute, to write a letter of recommendation for me. It was really kind of her.
5. My mom makes dinner for me every night. Do you know how nice it is to have someone else cook for you? I really do not love to cook. Really really don't. So it's been nice to have someone do it for me. And that includes Leah. She did it all that time I lived in Texas.
6. Cleanliness. I like to clean, it's no secret. Adn I like clean environments. I'm glad to live in one.
7. Goals and keeping them. This week has been a little bit tough as I have not wanted to stick with it. But then I think of the clothes I have sitting upstairs in piles, and I do not want to give them away.
8. I had retirement savings. I wish I did not have to use it, but I'm grateful that I have it to use. Otherwise I would be in trouble.
9. My mom and dad took me to My Fair Lady. FUN! I love plays. And seriously the HCT is really nice, you can see the entire show from wherever you sit, and the production is very professional.
10. There is medication to help me feel better when my thyroid won't work properly.
11. I'm grateful that even though I've been struggling to lose weight that I haven't given up on exercise. In the past, I've wanted to quit and say "whatever." But I'm trying really hard not to think that way. I'm trying really hard not to think anything at all. I'm just trying to do it because it is good for me. Period.
12. I've been a writing machine. I've written thousands of words these past two weeks. And that all adds up to finishing this sooner rather than later. I am going to write a novel, regardless of what happens with it.

So that's about it. It's almost Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving. I can't wait to eat lots of turkey and cranberries and pie and potatoes. I can't wait to see my brother and his wife and kids. I can't wait to celebrate all the reasons we have to be grateful.