Gratefulness Challenge

There are a few things that consistently bring out my inner child in record speed, both good and bad.  Here are a few sure fire ways to see my totally carefree happy inner child:

• Feed me raw chocolate chip cookie dough
• Play with my hair, do circle circle dot on my back, light as a feather/stiff as a board, pretty much anything you would have done at a sleep over with your girlfriends
• Hand clapping songs/greetings - like Down Down Baby, Down by the roller coaster...

The great thing about these is that with my daughters getting older I'm having more and more opportunities to let my inner child come out to play.  I love it when they are shocked to find out that I already know the song/clapping sequence.

Now for a few things that bring out my disgruntled inner child.  If I allowed her full reign there would be a full on, foot stomping, whining, temper tantrum any time one of these things happened:

• Pat my head - I realize I'm only 4'11", but I'm not a dog.  And yes this still occasionally happens to me.  
• Cut in line - There is rarely something that riles my sense of fairness more than someone who is so inconsiderate as to cut you in line.  Even more so if you are an adult, there is simply no excuse.  I realize there are far greater injustices in this world, but this has to do with my inner child and thankfully my inner child did not have to worry about much more unjust than this.
• Chain letters - nothing brings out the "YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!" and "YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!" faster than something that looks and feels like a chain letter, I don't care how uplifting or positive it is. I realize this is childish and silly, but there it is, I'll own it.  

Recently I was challenged on Facebook by two people I love dearly to list out 3 things I'm thankful for each day for 1 week.  Then the kicker, I was supposed to nominate two people every day to do the same, cue stomping and whining NOW!  Hence, I refused to do it, I can be stubborn and a spoil sport I know.  I'm also a  complete hypocrite b/c there are times I break my own rules (like the recent ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - but I maintain I was coerced by my children who desperately wanted me to nominate them so they could dump ice water on their own heads, not to mention it was a good cause...)...  

Anyway, being nominated did get me thinking about all the things I'm grateful for so here they are, all 21, minus the nominations, in no particular order: 


1) Happiness found by a dear deserving friend. 

2) Laughter, always laughter. Great big belly laughs with snorts and all.

3) My three imps. They may not be perfect but I consider that a plus. How disappointed perfect children would be to have me as their mother.

4) A never ending surplus of hope. I'd rather be naively hopeful than unhappily resigned.

5) Family. Crazy, caring, loud, in your face, funny (see laughter above), flawed family.

6) Love. Love is Love. Love is all you need. Love conquers hate. Love.

7) Freedom, the freedom I enjoy thanks to those that serve to protect our freedoms. The ability to believe in what I choose and support what and whom I choose, without fear.

8) Courage. I wish I had more but I'm grateful for the courage I have and even more so for the tremendous courage of others who stand up for what they believe in, for who they are, and for others, even at their own detriment.

9) Ally. I'm grateful and proud to be an "A" in LGBTA.

10) Health. I'm grateful my family is healthy. I'm ever hopeful we will remain that way and also hopeful if one of us were to get sick we will have access to amazing doctors who can cure us. See 4 above.

11) My Love, my husband. He is an amazing father and husband.  He's not perfect but I consider that a plus. How disappointed a perfect husband would be to have me as their wife.

12) Exercise. I only wish I did more of it. But I've learned to love running. It's when I write most of these blogs (in my head at least). It gives me peace.  It helps me reflect and vent and hopefully ultimately grow.  It's surprisingly creative time for me.

13) A small amount of fearfulness. Not enough to have me afraid to leave the house. Just enough to keep me cautious and protective and grateful for all I have.

14) Fond memories. I have so many fond memories. Seconds of bliss and wonder. Images of pure joy or mischief. Innocence and love. They float just in front of my eyes in wonderful replay when I need them most. I fear the day I begin to lose those memories. See 13 above. I hope I'm doing enough to help our kids build fond memories to rely on when they need them throughout their lives. See 4 above.

15) Being part of something bigger than myself. It's happened so many times in my life and they are some of the happiest and most meaningful experiences to date.

16) Friends. Real true, love you for who you are no matter how far apart you are, forever friends.

17) Opportunities. Opportunities to become the person I hope to be. The person my children will look up to with awe and wonder even when they are grown. Opportunities to help others through charity work and otherwise. Opportunities to instill that desire in my children.

18) Confidence. The kind of confidence that comes with age. An understanding and accepting of myself and what's important. That perfection is not achievable and that there is true beauty in truth and realness. Setting the drama aside because I don't need it anymore and realizing I never did.

19) Work. Yes, I really enjoy my work. I believe it makes me a better person. A better mom and wife because I have goals and achievements outside of my family's goals and achievements. It also helps our family afford those things which are necessary to live, but also those important vacations and holidays. I strive to make holidays as magical as my mom did and our family vacations as memorable for our kids as mine were for me. See 14 above.

20) Books. Books are my savior. I can honestly say I read at least 340 days a year. There isn't a better feeling for me than to finish a great book and then the knowledge that I get to pick my next read. I didn't really get into reading until I was 16 and even then I had so little opportunity to read for pleasure. I couldn't enjoy required reading because of the stress surrounding it. When I was out of college I started reading in earnest and in my mid 20s I decided to force myself to read the classics I didn't in school. Best decision ever. Caroline already shares my love for reading. I hope Loretta and Sam can find the same joy and solace in books as I do.

21) Patience.  I don't have nearly enough of it, but I'm grateful for what patience I do have.  Patience and the faith that life will happen without my nudging it along and that it's alright to occasionally sit back and enjoy the ride.


What are you thankful for?