Gratitude: Day 11

I heard a story today that just broke my heart. It was told to me by a person whose life is also pretty heartbreaking.

Today, I guess I am just grateful to have had a certain level of luck and the ability to try to make the best out of a bad situation.

Really everything in life comes down to how we think about ourselves and what happens to us. Because everything we do, or don't do, stems from that.

Gratitude: Day 10

The Internet. I (vaguely) remember a time when I couldn't have (even incredibly obscure) questions answered just by typing a few words into a search bar. Not sure what I would do without Google now.

Gratitude: Day 9

Having a regular schedule. I remember in the past, working odd schedules like Wednesday through Sunday and odd times like noon to 9 pm. I remember a time when I worked three jobs: 8-12 at the first one, 1-4 at the second, and then 5-9 at the third. And I needed all the time in between to drive to the next location and eat in my car. It's a luxury to have one weekday job. OK, it's not quite one, but it's close enough to call.

Gratitude: Day 8

Wishlists. Especially Amazon. It's not just for buying things, it helps me organize books I plan to check out at the library as well.

Gratitude: Day 7

Fireplaces. This is the first place I've lived where the fireplace actually still worked. There is something about a fireplace that's unlike other experiences in the home.

We are generally so removed from what anyone would deem "natural." The fire and the wood and smoke and the flickering light in the dark is a novelty to us. But it somehow makes me feel connected to a past I never experienced.

Gratitude: Day 6

Clarity. Even when something is hard to hear, it's better to know than not know. It's hard to come up with solutions to problems when you don't know what question to ask.

Gratitude: Day 5

The combination of:

Pesto sauce. Because it's just so yummy.

Funny videos with cats jumping into boxes. And out of boxes.

Decent, but inexpensive red wine.