Chapter 31 - Gratitude

I have been reading "The Secret" and one of the many good messages that I have taken from it, is that we need to make a list of the things for which we are grateful. In times when one is feeling low, this is always a good exercise, so here is my list.

Things I am grateful for:
1. I am a woman
2. I am healthier than I have ever been in my life
3. I have amazing friends
4. I have my family
5. I have a house
6. I have a great job
7. I have music in my life
8. I am thankful for my husband (soon to be ex-husband)
9. Being Canadian
10. Spring
11. My sense of humour
12. Laughter, god the laughter
13. My creativity
14. My intelligence
15. My little cousin
16. My capacity to forgive
17. and yes, believe it or not...Rett
18. and that I did not go to Las Vegas to meet him

These are all things that in one way or another have made me who I am. I am grateful for who I am and what I have in my life. This list will grow and expand, but it will never lessen. As the days go on I will add things as they come into my life. My life is blessed, because of or despite of what I have been through. I would not be the person that I am without all of these factors and how can I not be thankful for that?

Life is a journey and we can not see the destination, so we have to grasp each day with both hands and say thank you for the chance to live in it, revel in it and play in it. I don't want another day to go by, and just watch it from the sidelines, I want to be a participant. It is a gift to be alive and we should not take it for granted. I have been watching it for way too long, and starting today I am going to be in it...100%!

I will find the happy in each day, and I will bring happy to each day, one way or another. Hopefully I can make someone smile or make someone else's hurt not sting so much. That is all we can hope for in life.

Stop feeling sorry for yourselves, whining about your life. There are millions of people who would trade their lives for yours, no matter how bad you think you have it...there is always someone worse off than you. Live people, and love, deeply and totally.

If I can pick up the pieces after what I have been through and see that there is still good in each day, and each person...so can you.

And forgive, for there is nothing more liberating than forgiveness, trust me...I know.