Crafty Dayeseye

Eleven Reasons I Am Thankful for 2011(in 3 parts) | part 3

Sorry, tomorrow (yesterday) became TODAY!

 

--EIGHT--

I am thankful for failing.

2011 was a tumultuous year.  I started volunteering at the local Rape Crisis center, I transferred to a four year university, I have given myself different responsibilities, I have made decisions that were hard, I have stood behind bad decisions I made, I fought physically and emotionally to be healthy and whole. 

I have failed.

But I have not given up. 

I have continued to take risks when I am unsure of a solution.  I have apologized for wrongs I inflicted.  I have begun to forgive myself for things I have done. 

Failing has shown me that there is so much more out there to look forward to; so much more to explore, learn, and dive into.  Failing has taught me to continue to listen to myself, believe in my instincts, trust my voice and speak OUT LOUD.  Failing has taught me to walk away when something doesn’t truly make me happy or isn’t satisfying, why waste the time? Failing has helped me see what matters the most and shown me my opportunities for growth. 

 

--NINE--

I am thankful for rest.

I’m talking about true and good sleep, restfulness, and comfort.  For years I struggled with waking nights, the inability to relax and fall asleep completely.  Waking every 35 minutes was a reality I trudged through on a daily basis.

Now I am able to embrace my old lady nightly routine, and actually sleep at night.  I am finally listening to my internal clock, the circadian cycle of my life.  I look forward to my crisp pillowcase each night excited about re-charging my batteries during the night hours.  I wake up able to momentarily meditate on the day, take a deep breath and begin the day (most of the time on the right side of the bed).

 

--TEN--

I am thankful for the opportunities I have.

This year doors seem to be opening for me.  I have been really lucky to be able to work toward my dreams, go to school, and have a nice job.  I have been given the gift of opportunity. 

The feeling of pride I have felt this year from setting goals, working toward them, and then seeing them come to fruition is amazingly rewarding.  I know that there are people all over the place that are struggling just to survive, and I get to pursue anything I can imagine.    

I am thankful for the freedom I have to be ME.

(weird angle, and skirt action, I look like a little person here!)

 

--ELEVEN--      

I am thankful for the believers, the stranger that smiles, the quiet angels around me, the listeners, peacemakers, and boat-rockers.  I am thankful for the people that bring simple joy to my life, a kind stranger, and those people that see the good in me even at my most flawed.  I am thankful for the people with broad minds that change things and stand up for others.

________________________________________________________________________

Okay, as you can see from number 11, there are a hundred million things I am thankful for, I tried to cheat and put a bunch in one....I slipped a few others in earlier too, but I'm sure you don't mind, right?

you can find the other 7 reasons:

Part 1

Part 2

_______________________________________________________________

I'm really looking forward to a great year this year,

I hope you are too!   

Good Luck, Love, and Fortune to you this year!

Eleven Reasons I Am Thankful for 2011(in 3 parts) | part 2

--THREE--

I am thankful for my family.

I am thankful to have two wonderful parents that provided me with a wonderful home growing up, and one I can still go to as an adult.  The guidance they gave me, and continue to give, has helped me become the strong, independent woman I am today.  They have taught me to love, live, and be the best me possible.

I am thankful for my in-laws.  M-‘s family couldn’t be a better gang to marry into!  Funny, sincere, loving and supportive, they have helped me more than they will ever know, and I am happy to call them family.

I am thankful for my sisters, the super-mom, the “Keep Calm and Carry On”, and the Wolf-Bronte-kahlo-still-figuring it out.  They all drive me crazy and help keep me sane at the same time.  Each day they amuse, astonish, annoy, and I admire each of them.

I am thankful for my nieces, nephew, and a tiny one on the way.  The lessons they teach me abound.  When I am with them I am free, funny, silly, creative in ways I never knew existed, and able to see the forest for the trees.

I am thankful for my extended family.  A grandmother that loves and gives of herself so freely to me, encourages, spoils and cheers me on.  Great-Aunts, aunts, uncles, and cousins that share the love only a family like ours can share.  No matter how many months/years go by between visits, I’m still surrounded by love whenever they are around.

I am thankful for those people who aren’t family by blood, but by choice, by the love we share, the experiences that bring us together, and keep us a unit, no matter what.

 

--FOUR--

I am thankful for my friends.

Both old and new, without these people in my life… well my life would be boring, that’s for sure.  I am thankful for the listening, sharing, venting, space, and laughs.  I am thankful to have such a wonderful FAMILY of friends.

I have realized everyone I meet isn’t looking for the same kind of friendship I am.  I’m learning to accept that, be thankful for the time spent and the kind of friendships we do have.  Good friends are very hard to come by and I’ve learned that this is OK.

 

--FIVE--

I am thankful for my hands.

I am thankful my hands are skilled.  I work tirelessly at taking advantage of what I have.  They may not be the prettiest, MOST skilled, or perfect in any way shape or form, but they are mine.  With my hands I can do anything, paint, climb, lift, draw, hug, caress, pull, push, reach high, make, create, and even destroy.  I am thankful for these hands and the doors they will open in my future.

 

--SIX--

I am thankful for each new day.

Not too long ago a new day was a daunting task that I would have to overcome, or so I thought.  Yes, the sun shone, birds sang, and grass grew, but all I saw was grey.  I am thankful for a team of more than competent doctors, the magic of medicine and the belief that things can get better. 

I am thankful I am no longer ashamed of who I am, of what I have become, of who I am striving to be…ME.  I am thankful every morning I wake up. 

 

--SEVEN--

I am thankful to have plenty.

I am lucky to have plenty to eat, plenty to keep warm, and plenty to share.  Every time I am able to give something to someone else I am thankful I could. 

I am lucky to have a home with a roof and no leaks, heat that keeps me warm, electricity, hot water, and a well taken care of car. 

Sometimes I am so wrapped up in my easy life that I forget these aren’t things everyone has.  Not everyone goes to bed satiated.  Not everyone can afford that gallon of gas, gallon of milk or the heating fuel bill.

I am thankful that I have finally come to realize what is really important in my life, and am able to give so much more freely because of it. 

________________________________________________________________________

--EIGHT-- thru --ELEVEN-- coming tomorrow

________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE

Read part 1

Read part 3

Eleven Reasons I Am Thankful for 2011(in 3 parts) | part 1

--ONE--

I don’t think I’ve ever been more thankful for my husband than I have been this year.  We celebrated 4 years of marriage this past September.  I am so thankful not just because he is the most loving, supportive, generous, kind, and thoughtful man, not just because he’s a complete genius, and turns out to be kind of a handy-man type (not to mention a sexy beast), but because of the way he loves and accepts me.

Bossy me, weeping me, laughing me, inappropriate me, DUH! me, silly me, and all the other facets of ME!

The more time we spend together the more attached I get to him, which isn’t to say he’s perfect, obviously, he’s still human.  He still does, says, and thinks things that make me want to kick him in that sexy beast.  No vices, no bad habits; just a deep love for spicy food and a real audiophile. He always stays calm and collected and believes that shouting or blaming will never solve problems. 

So, I’m thankful that I have THIS partner in THIS LIFE. 

--TWO--

I am so thankful for my two pups. 

Xav, and the calm he brings to every day, so stoic, a protector, sometimes the clown, always zen puppy.  I love the scent from the top of his head, can’t capture the scent in words, it’s just…clean and refreshing and I soak it up every night before I drift off to sleep.

Mocha, the spastic, unruly, jumping, barking, limbs all flying akimbo at any moment, little brown dog.  She is a pain, a handful and simply a JOY.  Everything is exciting, new, and interesting.  Sometimes I wish I had a cornflake for a brain, just to have the enthusiasm about things she does.

So thankful for my dogs; these two fierce protectors, these doorbell barkers, trash truck warn-ers, UPS driver chasing, making grown men squeal like toddlers at first sight, bed warming, fur shedding, sirens in the night furbabies.

If not for these pups I would never sleep when M- is out of town, never get out of bed on days off, and never know the joy of going outside at 2:45am in freezing weather just to sniff around.

Xav and Mocha have become quite the team since losing Harper, a team I never knew could get along, snuggle, play, and romp together as beautifully as they now do.

I am thankful for the unconditional love we share, what I give to them is nothing compared to what I receive from these two.

___________________________________________________________________

--THREE-- thru --SEVEN-- coming tomorrow

____________________________________________________________________

UPDATE

Part 2

Part 3