Gratitude Day 10 David

 Today is one month since I said goodbye to my dear friend, and I am so grateful for the friendship David freely gave. Goodbyes like this are beyond difficult.

I am so thankful for all the lessons I learned from David, and so blessed to have had him in my life. He taught me a great deal about love and life, even down to the day he died, as I stood there and held his hand, wondering why I deserved to be one of the people present with him.

 He was always willing to listen. He never appeared to be in a hurry, and truly was present in the moment. He loved people and he loved life.

 One really hard lesson that I have learned from this is to always take photos. I knew David for over a decade, and after going through all of my photos, I  discovered that I never took a photo with him. This is a regret I do not want to deal with again. Even if it may seem trivial to some, this really bothered me.  I realized how foolish it is not to take a picture just because you don't like pictures of yourself. Photos aren't just for you, they are also for the people you will one day leave behind. I really wish I had a photo of him and I know and I know I wouldn't care what I looked like.

I was lucky enough to be able to go through all of David's photos of his life as I scanned them into my computer to make a slideshow, and it was so comforting this past month.  Even more comforting, was watching the DVD he recorded of his experiences during WWII. It was an opportunity to spend one more time "talking" with David and I really needed that one late night this past month. David is who I am grateful for today. Thank you for being you, for serving our country, for loving unconditionally, for your smiles, your words,  a friendship I will never forget, and so much more!

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Gratitude Day 6 I Voted

Today I am grateful that I live in a time and place where I can vote and have a voice. Many people have fought and many have died for this freedom I sometimes take for granted. Thank you.

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Gratitude Day 5 Weightlifting

Today I am  grateful for weightlifting. I absolutely love that feeling of walking into the gym and letting go of everything else. I feel strong. I feel empowered. I love competing against myself and challenging myself a little more each workout. I am so grateful for my able body and the ability to workout.Pin It

Gratitude Day 4

Today I am grateful for my yoga practice. Being introduced to yoga at fifteen took me down a very different path in life. The friends I met at the yoga center, including David, have all influenced me to be a better person. Thanks to the giving heart of Bharata, I was able to take the yoga teacher's training at 17 for free. I had no idea at the time that this would provide me with a job during much of my college career.   My yoga practice has completely changed my outlook on life. At this point, it is so ingrained in my life that I am not even sure to what magnitude it has influenced it.  I know because of yoga, I rarely watch tv, I've never been drunk, smoked a cigarette or used any illicit drugs, my natural childbirths were much easier, I am more gentle with the world, I pay attention to my breathing, I walk lighter, I listen to more spiritual music, I breathe better, I have better control over my physical body, I feel more connected to the universe and all the amazing living beings on this planet. Yoga has gotten me through some of the most difficult times in my life and right now I am exceptionally grateful to have yoga to turn to.Pin It

Gratitude Day 3

Photo taken by my awesome Mother 

Today I am grateful for my faith. With it I am finding the strength to live in the uncertainty of the moment.


I am grateful for the time I had today to get the majority of my office organized.


I am extremely grateful for my Mother. She has tried many times to earn the title of World's Meanest Mom, but she is failing because of her awesomeness.  I am pretty sure her ears are quite tired after the month of October, but she keeps listening and for that I am thoroughly blessed.


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Gratitude Day 2

I am grateful for all the beautiful pregnant women who allow me to create art from their gorgeous pregnant bodies. 

 


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Who Doesn't Want a Nut Wreath?

Well it's November, and after my October,  I promised myself when November started I would go back to my daily gratitude journaling. I used to do this when I first started blogging.  Of course when you make a commitment to change, the struggle of growth comes with it, and today was no exception. I spent more time with tears today, than feeling joyful and full of gratitude. That probably explains why I have been procrastinating with posting. So here it goes. I  might be stretching today but I am doing it  willingly and that is what counts...

I am grateful for my boys, and all the light they shine into my life.

I am grateful for my close friends.

I am grateful for the ability to really feel and  experience life.

I am grateful for the beautiful weather we have been having.

I am grateful that my nut wreath has made it on my front door on November 1st.


The nut wreath I found on Martha Stewart's website (Martha Stewart Nut Wreath). I actually made it last year, as the grocery stores down here don't stock up on unshelled nuts until very close to thanksgiving. I love this wreath. The tutorial says to use hot glue, but the glue doesn't hold the nuts on very well,  so you might want to come up with another idea and please comment and share if you do. Not too sure how many tutorials on Martha Stewart's site, are "approved by Martha Stewart", but it is really easy and I just love talking about my wreath of nuts hanging on my front door.  Who doesn't  want a nut wreath?


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