Grateful for Reconnections with Old Friends

Image by Coneee via FlickrI know I am not the first one to say this, but Facebook rocks. I have reconnected with so many people from so many different chapters of my life that it feels nothing less than miraculous. It is such a simple format (which I am sure is a big part of its charm for many, many people all over the world.) It really makes me happy and feels like such a huge gift.

I have only just started using it and can see that I have barely tapped in to its full potential, and I can't wait to keep exploring more, to keep reconnecting, and just to keep enjoying it to the fullest!

Grateful for Yesterday!

Image by bitchcakesny via FlickrYesterday was Christmas. It went very well. I feel grateful (yet again). My Dad commented that he felt great about the whole day/experience from the first moment he stepped into the house. It was a great day, with only a few mishaps along the way. This is to be expected with young kids, of course.

I cooked, and though I'm not a great cook by any stretch of the imagination, everyone licked their platters clean and said they enjoyed the meal. It's always fun/funny to see how kids react to their gifts. They really loved them... some more than others of course. Every day is a gift. I'm grateful for my health and for the health of everyone I love.

I wish everyone a great holiday season!

Tell The People You Love How Much You Love Them On a Regular Basis

Image by drp via FlickrDon't hold back. Don't keep your feelings of love and gratitude to yourself. We need to celebrate the people we love every single day. We need to say the words "I love you" and "I am so happy that you are in my life."

People need to feel cared for and appreciated, especially the people we love the most in this world, our friends and family members. Life is short. I started a gratitude blog because I think gratitude begets more gratitude, and the expression of gratitude begets...you guessed it...the expression of even more gratitude (always a good thing).

Don't save up your expressions of appreciation for a "rainy day." Don't be "stingy" with your love. Shout it from the rooftops! There is an abundant, never-ending supply of love, so there is no need to hold back.

Gratitude for My Parents

Right now my parents are staying with us for a few days. They are the sweetest people in the world and I feel very lucky to have them. Extremely lucky. Luckier than I could ever possibly describe in words, actually.

I mean I might be the luckiest person in the world when it comes to parents. I kind of won the parent lottery. Other people are always telling me how lucky I am to have the parents I have.

And I agree, wholeheartedly.

Christmas Tree

Image via WikipediaThis is kind of silly. I'm a grown up, after all. But I am so grateful for our Christmas tree. It just makes me happy. Seriously. If I want to relax, all I need to do is sit in the living room near the tree, and I'm in seventh heaven.

There's something about all those blinking lights, and all those decorations that we have accumulated over the years. All the family history symbolized by those ornaments. Maybe because the country is going through such a tough time, I feel an extra need to de-stress. I think we all do.

Try just "hanging out" near your tree for a little while today. You might be surprised by just how comforting and therapeutic this simple act can be.