TGIF

Today I'm thankful for Fridays.
Bing-bang-boom.


Happy Friday!

oops!

I forgot to post yesterday! Already slipping and it's only the 2nd week. In my defense, I was busy cooking and getting my apartment ready for Friendsgiving! A group of friends I hold near and dear to my heart were over last night celebrating the holiday season. I feel OK not posting because right before we ate dinner, we all held hands and went around the table sharing one thing we are thankful for. So technically, I did share. I shared being thankful for a roof over my head, food on my plate and friends to share it with.  It was a lovely evening and I was pleased with my domesticity skillzzz. haha ;)

So that was yesterday, today I am thankful for being able to work in the field one day per week. The county I assist for work is Greene County and parts of Columbia County. Since most of my clients can't easily get to Albany, where my office is, I travel to them. I enjoy being able to get out of the office each week. It breaks the week up and makes it move a little faster. It's nice to have the autonomy to leave as well. I don't have supervisors breathing down my back, and I'm free to counsel and assist my clients as needed.

All caught up...have a happy Thursday!

Real Food

Today I'm thankful for real food, and by that I mean it has less than three ingredients, generally. Fruits and vegetables and actual grains. Foods that I can get at my local health food store or farmers market. Food that typically doesn't have an ad linked to it.

I'm especially loving these foods following the most recent holiday, Thanksgiving. I have been allowing myself to detox and cleanse for the past 2 days and will continue through the week. I am treating my body the way it deserves and while I'm feeling the effects of detox (headache, tired, etc) I know the side effects are short lived and I will feel better than ever in no time.

I love fueling my body with clean eating and foods that I can pronounce. In return my body thanks me with energy, strength and health.

So thanks apple, that I just ate, for reminding me how delicious simple foods are.

One Week Down

It's been a week of cultivating gratefulness and I don't feel much different, haha! It's OK though, I didn't expect to feel a change over night.

Some conclusions I've drawn, thus far, seem to all relate to the 'hedonic treadmill.' I was able to put a name to this idea after watching the documentary, "Happy." The Hedonic Treadmill or adaptation, according to Wikipedia,  is the supposed tendency of humans too quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes. According to this theory, as a person makes more money, expectations and desires rise in tandem, which results in no permanent gain in happiness.

In real life, or to apply it to mine, I was always falling captive to this idea without even knowing it. I'd buy a sweater, and before I knew it I needed the boots and earrings to match. I'd go get a manicure and I'd leave with pedicure, manicure and a wax! I'd go out for a drink and I'd end up getting appetizers or dinner! It was a vicious cycle that I didn't realize I was participating in. I would 'buy buy buy' and for what? I didn't even feel any better, if anything I felt worse, because I felt guilty for spending.

I think after my trip to Belize and seeing how they were so happy and survived on just the basic necessities, PLUS realizing how much I already have, I am slowly starting to release myself from that negative cycle.

So, what am I thankful for on Day 8? I'm thankful for commitment. My ability to stick with something I start has helped me throughout life. I started a project, I finish. I joined a team, I played. I agree to make plans with a friend, I keep them. I stand by my word. I decided to embark on 365 days of gratitude, and I'm doing it. By committing myself to something bigger than me, I hope to continue to find patterns, whether good or bad, that I can embrace or break, respectively.  By committing myself to this blog I hope to find a greater understanding of what it means to be happy, and to see that the people who are happy don't HAVE the best of everything, they MAKE the best of everything they already HAVE.

boom.

Zen Ken

If ya'll don't know Zen Ken, get to know him. On day 7, I'm thankful for my good friend, Bobby Los. I met him almost 2 and a half years ago and he's brought positivity and hope to my life. He's a true warrior of love, always guiding our circle of friends in the best direction and looking out for us. Bobby baby would give his left foot for any one of us and it shows.

He just went in the studio to put his mat down, while I quickly upload a blog post before I have to lead Silent Bikram. I met him at Hot Yoga Saratoga and it's true what they say, friends with common interests will be friends forever. Although we may have opposite schedules and the time we get to hang out is far and few between, lately, he is the type of friend that we can pick up right where we left off. His insight, although far out at times (in a good way ;)), keeps me on my toes and challenges my ways of thinking. He is always indirectly pushing me to be kinder and making sure I find the best in people.

His love for people, animals and mother nature make him shine even brighter. He is pure love and it shows. Thanks for the Kombucha tonight.

Love ya Bobby!

xo

Day 6

Today I'm feeling a bit blue. I'm finding it hard to smile because I know the weekend is coming to an end and I'm going to have to head back upstate and leave the comfort of my family.

Today I'm thankful for means of transportation. Whether it be my car, a train, plane etc. I am grateful I have ability to be with the people I love no matter how far. I was able to hang out with my best friends of all time last night and I'm lucky it was just a short car trip away. I am lucky that I can come home for thanksgiving, also.

So here's to my little VW Bug for helping me get from place to place.

Bikram yoga

Today I am thankful for Bikram yoga. I'm traveling and accessing my blog from my phone so I won't write much but this series consisting of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises is the beeeeeekneees.

Bikram keeps me sane, provides an intense workout and the benefits I reap go way past physical.

Hope everyone had a merry thanksmas.

Thanksgiving 2012

How appropriate, within the first week of my gratitude blog, we're celebrating a holiday devoted to the essence of gratefulness.

This Thanksgiving may not be like years past but it's still filled with the same amount of love, if not more. This year, and today (day 4), I'm thankful for my family. My mom, my dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and pets. They are my rock. They are people I can call up in the middle of the night, they will forever be there. I can be my most honest self with them and know they will accept and love me no matter what. I am thankful for them because they also shaped me into who I am today. I carry and possess a little bit of everyone within me.

I thank them for their generosity, their positivity, their strength and their uniqueness. Their ability to make me laugh, correct me when I'm wrong, praise and support me all add to the list of why I love my family. Throughout the years I've garnered traits such as responsibility, commitment, caution, adventure and love from examples and patterns in their life. I try to see them at every chance I get and savor every second I spend with them.

Today I am lucky to spend this holiday with the people I love most, whether they are here at my aunt's house with me or not, they are in my heart forever.

102.7, WEQX

Day 3:

Today I would like to express my thanks for our local, independent radio station WEQX. While they are located in Manchester, Vermont, the broadcast reaches throughout most of the capital region. I have been a consistent listener for about 4 years now and they age like a fine wine. They play the most recent tunes in alternative rock and also classics from the past. Their DJs are hilarious and intelligent, providing the kind of radio chatter you want to hear....if any at all because their focus is music.

They have introduced me to new bands, they put on great shows and they allow the listeners to control the songs played with their advisory board. While music, in general, is also something I'm grateful for, this radio station localizes my love. I started my review blog based off all the shows I get to see that EQX puts on...read here!

The reason why I'm referencing EQX so early on in the year is due to Jeff, the morning DJ. His thoughtfulness and generosity offered yesterday is now allowing me to sit pretty and not worry about getting into an upcoming show! The Lumineers are playing in my area and it's a free show! Naturally, I was planning ahead to secure my day...half day from work, wait on-line at about 1pm, doors open at 7, I felt would definitely guarantee me a spot in the concert hall. I wanted to see what Jeff had anticipated for the turnout and to my surprise, when I messaged him, rather than give me feedback, he promised me a guaranteed IN +1 guest!

It felt like an early Christmas gift for sure! I'm super thankful these people and this independent radio station continue to chime on and provide those tasty, delicious, ear treats to me and other listeners each day!

<3

Natalie Iris.

"Natalie is 2 years & 7.5 months. She loves Taylor Swift and the Berenstain Bears books. She dances with every inch of her body and has an imaginary friend. She insists on painted toenails and carrying a purse, blanket, and doll everywhere she goes. Her hair is easily 100 different shades of brown and her legs are constantly covered in bruises and scrapes. She calls everything she loves "special" and flails her limbs constantly in her sleep. Her favorite color is pink and her favorite food is cheese. She insists on wearing boy underpants (the characters are so much cooler) and loves to snuggle at night by wrapping both arms tightly around my neck." 

 

 

 

 

The above quote is from Natalie's mother's blog. Hilary and I met in grad-school and the insta-connection has maintained even through her move, with her family, to Maine. Hilary and Mike are a fabulous duo that I am thankful for and their bundle of joy, Natalie Iris, who I can so lovingly call my god-daughter. She is bright, adventurous, curious and full of love. Their family is caring, health conscious, intelligent and every time I visit I can't remember not laughing until I cry. They are the types of people that when they ask how you are, they actually care about your response and fully intend to listen, true friends.

 

I am equally thankful that Hilary takes time out of her fun-filled life to update the interweb about Natalie, a virtual baby-book! Uploading recent pictures and stories make me feel present in this sweet girl's life despite the distance. I average about 2 visits a year and while I feel it's never enough, I am grateful for having the time to visit at all.

This gratitude post has layers. Bing, bang, boom!

 

 

 

Short and Sweet.

A recent trip to Belize has left me all kinds of thankful and grateful for my life, my health and my support systems. While journaling throughout my time there, I decided to bring awareness to the things/people/places I already have in my life that I'm most grateful for. With Thanksgiving a couple of days away, I figured there is no better time than now, to start.

My goal is to blog for 365 days. Each day I will highlight one thing I am grateful for. The post may include one sentence or 7 paragraphs...however, they will be honest and they will be posted every.single.day. No excuses.

The main criteria for this project is that the object of my gratitude has to somehow either make me smile, or make someone else’s day brighter. 

In addition,  I hope to cultivate feelings that I may have let slip away. To bring a new appreciation to past feelings and generate new feelings that I can put in my metaphorical 'tool box' that helps me live the sweetest life. 

So, for the inaugural post, my 'first day of gratitude.' if you will, I will start simple. Something I take for granted most days,

I am thankful for the technological resources I have at my disposal day to day.

This computer I am using to blog with, to email with, to complete the work I do day to day for my clients, I am grateful for.

While I may not realize its strength, each morning while I wait for it to boot up I will make sure to say a quick, "thanks." It's a small piece of machinery that packs a lot of uses.