This week has been a struggle emotionally, mentally, and physically. Honestly, I am most grateful that today is Friday and I have the weekend with my family. I’m glad that I’m fortunate enough to work a job in which I have two days off together and they are the weekend. Many people do not have weekends off or both weekend days off. I acknowledge the struggle with that. Not having two days off together sucks, and I feel for those that do work weekends, when they’d rather not. Since my husband is a student and stay-at-home-dad, weekends are not critical for us to have off together, but I enjoy having the same days off as most of my friends and family. We can all spend time together, which we often do. I’m grateful for this time we share on the weekends. Being able to stay up a little later and thinking about sleeping in a little (which basically doesn’t happen for parents of small children) are also good parts to weekends that I’m thankful for. I’m glad that I get a break from my daily work routine and I’m so fortunate to spend the weekends with my baby and husband. Today I’m thankful it’s Friday and the weekend is about to begin.
Day 14- Gratitude Project
Today I’m grateful for a simple thing. Sometimes it’s the only thing that can keep us from completely falling to pieces. That glue today is music. I’m so beyond grateful for the art of music, and my ability to listen to it whenever I want to. We have virtually unlimited access to unlimited music from across the world. I’m grateful that not only do I have the ability to hear it and that it’s available to me, but I’m also extremely thankful for the musicians, producers, and technicians that make modern music readily available to us. I’m fairly certain that without music that spoke to me in all of my trials, tribulations, joys and sorrows, I would not be here today. Music provides an outlet for singing, dancing, and many feelings that I would otherwise not be in tune with. Music speaks to me on every level, and I am just so damn thankful that it exists and I can listen to it. I have laughed, cried, danced, sang, spaced out, and more to music. My goal is to continue listening to music until my ears no longer work or I leave this plane of existence. I hope that there’s music in the afterlife, whatever that may be. Music has made my day better today and helped keep me focused on the tasks at hand, including this blog. I’m thankful that I carry music with me on my phone, in my head, and in my heart. I’m also grateful that my husband and daughter love music as well. Our tastes may be significantly different, we still appreciate it equally. For this too, I am thankful.
Day 13- Gratitude Project
Today I am grateful for the people I work with. My bosses are both stellar humans, treat me and my coworkers with respect, and are understanding when I have concerns. They value the work that I do for them, and are stand-up fellas. We can have conversations like friends, but also get down to business like a true team. Other people I work with are equally awesome and I couldn’t do my job effectively without them. The leads help me find answers to tough questions and allow me to understand their roles. They are so willing to lend a hand, and I am extremely thankful for their presence. The people that sit around me are hardworking and focused, but allow themselves a chat when things are slow. I enjoy the people I sit near because they are charismatic, cheery, and often hilarious. We all come from different backgrounds and have different stories to tell, but we all find the common ground so that we can work well and are personable with one another. Finding a better group of people would be hard to come by and I’m very grateful that I get to work in such a great office, with such amazing individuals, and for a company that cares.
Day 7- Gratitude Project
Today I am thankful for so many things. I’m thankful that my baby has never been sick a day in her life. She had some issues with her blood when she was first born, but she’s never been sick. I’m so grateful for the fact that we have made it to my goal of 1 year breastfeeding. I’m thankful for my ability to provide nutrition to my child in a way that makes sense to her and me both. I’m thankful for the relationship I have with her, my husband, my friends, and family. They have provided an amazing support system and I wouldn’t be able to make it without them. I’m grateful for this platform in which to share my gratitude with the world and others who might be reading it. Even if nobody is reading it, I’m thankful for the outlet to put my thoughts and feelings into the universe. I’m grateful for expert veterinary care for our companion animals, since we’ve had to use their services many times with all of our brood. Raising a number of rescued animals comes with inherent challenges, many of them health related. I’m glad we have a vet we trust and that is on the same page as we are about the health and welfare of our four-legged family. I’m grateful that our neighbor next door doesn’t mind that one of our cats has made his backyard his hang out place. Some people could be complete assholes and shoo him, or worse. But he’s fine with him being there. I’m very thankful for that. My heart is full of many emotions today, since it’s an important day in my family. My memories from this time last year were bitter, but in the end, my daughter was there to make it all worth it. I’m so grateful for her presence in my life. My life is better with her in it.
Day 4- Gratitude Project
I am writing this post a day later than I planned because my husband decided that we were going to have a full day without screens. No phones, no internet, no TV, no computers… nothing at all. The reason behind this “day without screens” stemmed from a card game we’ve been playing called “Sneaky Cards”, and there are action cards, interaction cards, and all sorts of other things. But the premise is that it gets you out of your comfort zone, interacting with other people…
So yesterday, I was grateful for the time that my family had together without the distraction of screens. We are so dependent on the computer and phone and tablet and ipod and whatever being attached to us at all times. It was liberating and at the same time a little uncomfortable to go to the store without my cell phone. I was mostly concerned that if I got into trouble, I would have no way of contacting help. I had my baby with me, so that was my main concern. However, we made it to the grocery store unscathed. I am grateful for that.
During the day without screens my husband dug a trench to fill with concrete and then he filled it with concrete after we went to the home improvement store. This is to prevent our Houdini dog from escaping the yard when we aren’t looking. She managed to escape twice in the last few days. I’m grateful she didn’t get far, didn’t get into anything serious, and was caught and quickly put back in the house. He also cleaned out the garage while I watched our little one and went to the grocery store. We had our meals together as a family at the table, instead of on the couch in front of the tv. We listened to music, read books, and just enjoyed our time together. I’m incredibly thankful for these moments.
After dinner, my husband called off the screen-free day. This was a little earlier than the card suggested, but I’m impressed at how long we went without really missing it. However, he was sore and tired, and just wanted to relax on the couch as a family. The baby crawled around the couch and floor while we talked and played with her. We watched an episode of a show we’re watching before we went out to water the garden. Soon after, I went to bed and they went to the park to meet up with some friends. I am grateful that we had such a fulfilling day, followed by me going to bed early. I had to work much earlier than normal today, so I am thankful for the little bit of baby-free rest. She wasn’t ready for bed when I was. I’m thankful that he took her to the park so that she was tired when they arrived home. I was able to nurse her to sleep right away and fall back to sleep myself. I’m grateful for the small things, and the big things.
