88, 89...

88! Valentine's Day! Today I'm thankful for the employees at Sephora, who not only helped me pick out a bangin', red lipstick but offered to do my makeup for me for the evening....fo' free!!


89! FRIDAY! I'm thankful for my speediness in the morning and the abliity to be super efficient with shower/clothing/etc pre-work so I can sleep a little extra longer, but still get to work at 7:29am on.the.dot.

87

Seriously thankful for my friends. All of them. Everywhere. love love love. love love love. la la la!

I know I've been thankful for specific ones at specific times, but in general, I'm so grateful to have such a bad ass support system.

86

"All these years I’ve been searching for an impossible love," said French writer Marguerite Duras late in her life. The novels and films she created reflect that feeling. Her fictional characters are often engaged in obsessive quests for an ideal romance that would allow them to express their passion perfectly and fulfill their longing completely. In the meantime, their actual relationships in the real world suffer, even as their starry-eyed aspirations remain forever frustrated. I invite you, Aquarius, to celebrate this Valentine season by taking a vow of renunciation. Summon the courage to forswear Duras's doomed approach to love."

Today I'm thankful for my spot-fucking-on horoscope, by FreeWill Astrology.


LISTENING.

82, 83, 84, 85...

Feb 8th,Today I'm thankful for having enough time accrued to take a half day from work to get home before the roads imploded with impending winter storm traffic. Turns out Upstate NY didn't get hit too hard until later in the evening, but I was thankful to be home, on my couch, as the snowflakes started to fall.  Day 82.

February 9th, I'm thankful for weekends when my roommate goes away and I have the apartment all to myself. Day 83.

February 10th: Outdoor hot tubs in the winter. YUP, Day 84.

Feb 11th: Today I'm thankful for finding out that a third band was added to the line-up of the concert I'm attending tonight! Passion Pit, Matt and Kim and NOW, also, Icona Pop! "I LOVE IT!" Day 85!!

81.

Today I'm thankful for being able to keep my mind focused on the bigger picture. While this is a hard task to practice, it allows me to realize that even when things happen in my life that aren't ideal, it's for a reason. The ability to stay positive even if things appear to be going against me is something I have to practice minute by minute, hour by hour. I continue to counteract every negative thought with a positive one, because I know of the tail-spin-down affect it could have on me. Keeping my eyes on the prize, although the prize changes daily, gives me hope and a light hearted feeling that makes me feel good.

79, 80...

79. February 5th. Today I'm thankful for bowling! A cheap way to have a fun time!


80. Today, February 6th, I'm thankful for being able to have lunch with my parents, both of them. <3

76, 77, 78...

76: On day 76 I day tripped it to Burlington VT. I had the day to myself and decided I wanted to visit a city I've never been before. All my friends are always mentioning how they love it there and now I know why. Today I'm thankful for my independence and freedom to do as I please. I went on a solo adventure and I had a great time, enjoying my company. I took a yoga class, shopped a bit and had a nice lunch then I hit the road back to Saratoga, NY. I'm thankful for having the confidence to go alone, because sometimes friends just aren't able to have the spontaneity when my schedule allows.

77: I AM THANKFUL FOR BEYONCE. that is all.

Today, Monday, Day 78 I'm thankful for macaroni and cheeeeese from DRUTHERS and good company. I've been craving cheesy goodness for the past week so tonight I'm going to enjoy a nice dinner with my friend Becky. I am a firm believer that macaroni and cheese, or anything with cheese for that matter, can cure all problems.

75.

I thought on this day, the 75th day, a little over 1/5th of the way completed with my year of expressing gratitude, I'd share this quote. 

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." - William Arthur Ward.


I made it big and I underlined it, because it's true...and when things are true that's what you do!

74

Being Alone and being THANKFUL for it.


"Because it’s often in moments of solitude where you realize just how not alone you are. In fact, when you take a moment to be intentionally alone, to absorb everything through the sole filter of your perception, you understand that life is filled with people and things who accompany you. There is a confidence that comes from being alone, a happiness in the more simple pleasures that often go unnoticed when we are distracted by the presence and opinions of others. The crusty bread crackles in your ear when you tear a piece off. The steam from the coffee hits the tip of your nose as you put it to your lips. The small conversations that happen with the man you buy your produce from, or the girl let ahead of you on the subway, all become a kind of warm blanket of confirmation and life. The chatter around you can fill you up with varying degrees of comprehension, tuning in and out when it suits you. You are miles away from alone.
And it is perhaps this that it is most beautiful, most necessary about aloneness. It is realizing that what you’ve always feared, what you’ve always heard such horror stories about, isn’t being alone. It’s not “dying alone,” as if that were even a concrete concept. It’s all of the things that can lead to aloneness, it is the heartbreak whose pain we want to pawn off on the moments we’re sitting by ourselves in front of our stereo listening to the same song over and over again. The pain in loneliness comes from all that surrounds it, not the act itself. And when you spend enough quality time alone, you realize that it is indeed nothing to fear. You realize that you, by yourself, are happy and are confirmed in life and worth by everything around you. And though it will not take the edge off of the painful few moments that lead to us being alone, it is worth reminding ourselves that just because we’re eating alone at a restaurant doesn’t mean we aren’t in wonderful company." - Thought Catalog.

73

Today I'm thankful for FIFTY degrees!! Which, somehow, feels like 80 degrees! The past week and a half upstate NY has had some frigid temperatures. Like below zero. And I know, it's winter, get a jacket...blah blah, but home-girl don't play those kind of temps. Today my car thermometer read 50 degrees and I almost contemplated wearing flip flops to work, just as a big "suck it, winter!" I didn't But...seriously, 50 degrees. I love you.

69, 70, 71, 72

Day 69: I'm thankful for knowing the definition of insanity.

Day 70: I'm thankful for realizing the definition of insanity is rearing it's ugly head in my life.

Day 71: I'm thankful for taking action and stomping out the insanity in my life.

Day 72: Today. I'm thankful for small victories! Today is day 3 of my journey forward of ridding the insanity from my life.

I've been slacking on the weekend because I've been jam packing them with things that make me smile. This weekend was my birthday and I was surrounded by love, despite some minor (insane) blips. However, rather then taking a "woe is me," attitude, I'm choosing to see it as a defining moment of CLARITY.

68!

Tonight I'm starting my birthday weekend with some great friends at my favorite bar/restaurant.

I haven't yet expressed my gratitude for Max London's but it should be noted. This restaurant has quite possibly the best menu and food in Saratoga. Paired with a great bar scene and great music, always, Max's is the beesknees.

Can't wait to get there tonight and be together with some of the coolest people I know. :)

67

Positive quotes and articles that contribute to all things silver linings.

Today I'm cultivating all things that make me happy and included in that are reading lots of quotes, inspiration, yet not cheesy, affirmations, that put my shit in perspective!

"Ride the wave..."

:)

Get Your Kicks...

66.


Today I'm sharing a great article full of 36 things to be thankful for, but one great, overall picture. I'm thankful that I came across this list of "life lessons." I am living them and even though they are not from my mother, my mom definitely encouraged me to cultivate lots of these ideals.

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2013/01/life-lessons-for-my-daughters-dawn-meysel/


"Don't just exist."

<3

61-65.

Wow, I totally let the past couple of days escape me and I really hate the excuse, but I was traveling. I went to Maine to visit my great friends and my god-daughter.

I'm choosing not to look back on days 61-65 and reflect on each one, but instead, be grateful for one all consuming thing...easy friendships.

Easy friendships are those that you can pick up at any given time or place. Not to be confused with taking them for granted, but the parties involved know you, deep down, and love you forever. You can be your 100% self with them. Easy friendships have an effortless bond that can stand time and distance.

My trip to Maine was an example of this. Three very busy, hard working adults, came together after months have passed with only Facebook status updates, and enjoyed themselves fully. Talking, laughing, eating, dancing...anything and everything unfolded naturally and in turn, made me very happy.

I needed this escape and I needed the comfort of my friends. I have several trips lined up that are for the purpose of comfort and I'm looking forward to them very much.

Sixty!

Day 60! Today, despite the anxiety they provoke, I'm thankful for first dates. A fresh new start to meet someone new. While they may be nerve racking, or awful for that matter, sometimes they are nice and they make you laugh. I had a first date last night and it left me smiling, and so for that, I'm grateful for that possibility of having a great first date....and thankful for the kiss at the end of the night as he walks you to your door. If you are so lucky. ;)


"One of the reasons some people still risk the possible horror of a first date is the possible magic of the first kiss at the front door. The world slows down just for a second as some people take that hopeful lean into a possible future together." - Sex and the City.

59.

Today I'm thankful for the west coast. California, to be exact. Although I've only been there once, it's a place I can seek refuge. My best friend from college, Erin, lives there. She moved there when she graduated and has been soaking up the sun ever since. We don't get to see each other often and our phone dates have dwindled because life is hectic but when we do connect it's perfect. It's the calm and comfort that I'm seeking and I can find it in Cali. So, I'm going. I booked a flight yesterday and today I've been day dreaming about the sun, waves, bike rides, and Fitzy!

Joni Mitchell's song, "California," is one of my favs, and even thought I can't call California, "home," I still consider it close to it because Fitzy lives there, and to me she is a small piece of home.

And On the 58th Day..

I'm thankful for CONCERTS!

YES. In the wake of all this sad news there was a light at the end of the tunnel when my TicketMaster account alerted me to the fact that Passion Pit and Matt & Kim are playing, together,  in my area, in less than a month!

Concerts and music and lyrics and melodies. They are my therapy. They make me feel good and tingly all over, and then spark emotions I've never felt and they are awesome. Concerts make me smile. So thank you TicketMaster and Passion Pit and Matt & Kim. I needed you today.

Purchased: 1 ticket for February 11th. 'Cited. Really 'cited!  :)




"....just one note can make me float, can make me float away" - RHCP.

57

January 14th!

57. Wow. 57 days already. Today I'm thankful for Monday's the fly. Today went by so quickly at work. I scooted out at 3:30 and spent time with 2 great friends today. Time flies when you're having fun? Hm...maybe work really is fun.


HA ...just kidding.

55, 56...

55 was Saturday. Still trying my hardest to cultivate gratitude. It's exhausting. I was hoping that the ease from the past 50 days would carry over to assist me in feeling thankful, when I'm feeling blue, but it hasn't. However today I'm reverting back to my original rules. listing something that brings a smile to my face or someone elses. Today was the grand opening for my second family's new yoga studio down in Latham. Hot Yoga Saratoga was BUMPING. There was an amazing turn out of new faces and returning students that came to support. The owner Cindy was so thankful how it all turned out. We celebrated big time and I hope this was a foreshadow of what her business will be like down the road!




56 Sunday: Comfort. I'm thankful for people who have been in my life for a long time. The people that you may have lost touch with but will be there for you in a heartbeat because deep down there is a level of care and respect you never lose for each other. I'm thankful for those people. Saturday I received more upsetting news and I felt a void in myself that could only be filled by familiarity. All I wanted with to snuggle up beside Meach, or Fitzy or any friend from my past that know me and that I know truly care for me. Since they are not living in Saratoga I went to another friend, that I may not be super close with anymore but knows me and I know him. And the unspoken level of respect and love for each other was all i needed to feel at ease, at 3am. A simple text exchange that left my heart feeling a bit better. Thank you to those friends who I grew up with and may not see anymore. I love you with everything I've got. I need you more than you know and because of this realization, I'm gonna do everything in my power to keep our bond alive.