2016 Goal-Plan

I have to be in a certain mood to really write, and though I want to be–today I’m just not.  Tuesday is my most tired day of the week, so maybe that had everything to do with it.  I’ll try though, because I do see the new year as a perfect time for new beginnings, and per the usual I want to grow as a person and be better.  I’ve catagorized my goals and plan to MAKE plans of actions to attack them.

BODY

things I’m already doing, or kind of doing

-running.  I’ve certainly been running and it’s a good stabilizing force, and probably the most healthful thing I do.  Though I’m not going to lie–nearly every single day (and this is day 733 in a row) I want to lazy out.  At this point it would take a LOT to make me break the chain, because that many days in a row is spectacular, but it’s pretty hard to get the motivation to put on that sports bra.  I’ll continue on, for who knows how long.  [time-line:  daily]

-water.  I’ve been drinking it daily like I never used to.  I’m trying to get all 12 cups per day (to account for sweating in heat/working out/eating salt/drinking caffeine) and it’s hard.  They key is drinking as much as I can early in the day.   [time-line:  daily, and early in the day]

-flossing.  It seems a constant battle.  Obviously, I want to do it, but it’s just a matter of DOING it, which is often easier said then done.  I think I’ve been pretty successful at doing it before I brush my teeth for work.  In the afternoon, before I’m really tired.   [time-line:  daily, and before I brush my teeth for work]

-Appearance is just one of those things that isn’t SUPER important to me.  I’m a very low-maintenance gal when it comes to grooming and beauty.  But, in the interest of just feeling more motivated for work and looking mature and everything, I’d like to continue wearing makeup on work days (except Sunday, when nobody really sees me and I’m there for 10+ hours).   [time-line:  daily, before work]

things to start

-Going to the dentist!  And this is for sure happening this year.  I’ll get insurance through my work, so just as soon as it kicks in, I’m making the call.  I’ve already research dentists here, and plan on getting the full cleaning, and all x-rays, then setting up a regular 6 month schedule.  What a relief!   [time-line:  call Tuesday, the 12th of January]

-I need to pain my nails more.  It’s an easy thing to do and I have a lot of pretty colors.   [time-line:  Fridays, during the day]

-And I should wear my beautiful jewelry more.  Those are really easy things that add an extra touch of niceness.   [time-line:  Monday, Wednesday, +/- Thursday]

-I’d also like to take more care fixing my hair.  Instead of a pony-tail, maybe a braid or rows, or a nice barrette.  And, as a more expensive, and long-term thing, this year I’d like to start permanently dying my hair.  To cover all those grays cropping up.  I need to schedule a consult to see what the EASIEST color would be so I can just go as far apart as possible and get my roots touched-up after the initial appointment.  Which won’t necessarily be a color I like, but it will get the job done and be cheaper and lower maintenance.   [time-line:  Monday, Thursday to start]

MIND

things I’m already doing, or kind of doing

-I am such a different person than I used to be.  I have learned not to make work my life.  I’m not centering everything around it, or letting myself get stressed out over it.  I don’t even check what color tasks I will be responsible for the next week when I’m there on Sundays.   [time-line:  daily]

things to start

-reading more for pleasure.  I want to do the book challenge that specifies different types of books.  The trouble will be finding the time in the week to just sit and read.  I think on a daily basis, between work, tiredness, it’s difficult just to get my run in.  But on my days off and especially on Sundays I think I can make time.  And three days a week of reading is still more then I’m doing now.   [time-line:  Friday, Saturday, Sunday]

-read/outline my undergrad textbooks and notebooks.  This will serve 2 purposes:  1)  it will utilize some of that money I’m paying in school-loans and not make my degree seem quite so pointless.  I feel like I’m paying all this money back, yet I never USED my education for anything.  2)  I might learn the material better without the pressure of multiple classes, regurgitating info for tests, and papers and projects.  I can learn the stuff at my pace and the stuff I find interesting/important.  And a surprise 3rd advantage–I might be able to clean some of it out and get rid of it once I’ve looked at it.   [time-line:  Thursdays during the day?  Try it and see if this day works, then reevaluate]

SPIRIT

things I’m already doing, or kind of doing

-be more consistent about adding a weekly item to my positivity jar.  I do it, but not that frequency.   [time-line:  Sunday night]

things to start

-I newed to re-start thinking of all the things I’m thankful for daily.  I really liked it, and it was an easy thing to do, which also had the benefit of re-focusing my attention from worrk to gratitude.  I just sort of fell out of the habit the less stressed and the happier I got.   [time-line:  daily, before sleeping]

-painting for enjoyment.  It’s a nice hobby that Cool and I can do together.  I want to paint light switch covers and finish my totem painting series.   [time-line:  Friday or Saturday, twice a month]

CLEAN/ORGANIZE

things I’m already doing, or kind of doing

-keep up on apartment cleaning schedule.  This should be OK and easy, because I can’t live with the mess.  Also, I have calender reminders set up in a routine I like.  This will be helpful to keep on everything around home so there need not be any huge cleaning days and at move out we hopefully will not have a Riverton Terrace clean-up/fine situation.   [time-line:  follow calender]

-make a shopping list.  I always do this, but lately it’s been more of a long-term list then is really helpful.  I need to buy the items at least twice a month and start a new list.   [time-line:  as needed]

 

things to start

-scan all my photos and back them up on my external hard-drive to cut down on albums.   [time-line:  tomorrow–get it done ASAP]

-Also consolidate my scrapbooks, and make power-points or DVDs of some of the materials to save space (and future moving hassle).   [time-line:  next Wednesday, January 13th]

-set a consistent grocery shopping day!  Problem is I hate it.  But in order to cook, I need ingredients on hand, so this has to happen.  I think every other Sunday after work will be a less-busy convenient day (relatively) to go.   [time-line:  every other Sunday, starting January 17th]

SOCIAL

things I’m already doing, or kind of doing

-I have also learned not to place the expectations I have for myself on people at work.  Through experience, I realized that only creates social problems and makes me stressed and resentful.  People aren’t going to have my drive or dedication, and it’s not my problem.  So a huge goal is to keep that up, because I really am bunches happier for it.   [time-line:  continuous]

-make a firm cooking date with Cool.  We love to cook together and it makes the following week a lot smoother.  Friday or Saturday depending on what else is going on will work well.   [time-line:  Saturday, January 9th]

 

things to start

-2015 was AWFUL for blogging!  I didn’t do it, when I did it felt like an obligation, and it wasn’t too technically great of writing either–much like that last sentence.  Partially, it was because 2015 was such a transitional year.  Partially, I was too tired and adjusting to a new work schedule.  And it didn’t happen a lot, because I was happy hanging out with Cool, and didn’t want to “step away” to write by myself.  This year, I aim to be better than that, though I don’t know if I will go so far as to impose deadlines or post-numbers on myself.  After all, it supposed to be fun.   [time-line:  write again Thursday or Friday this week]

A Horrible Feeling: WANT

My mentality has come a long way in two years.  I wrote this in September 2012, and it really did feel terrible to want material items so much.  It’s the kind of thing you know is a bad character trait, it’s not a helpful feeling, you can be better then that.  But at the same time it’s persistent.  I partially blame our culture.  As a capitalistic country, you cannot get away from advertising–and that does have an effect.  Even if you don’t want it to, it gets in your head and may influence thoughts and behavior.  That’s what advertisements are paid the big buck to do.  And as I look back, it was also because of the ethos at my work.  I worked with women who were focused on the newest Apple product, name brand purses, and the cutest seasonal clothes.  It made me feel compelled–to be the same.

I’m happy to say I’m away from their influence, and even before I was I decided that’s not the person I want to be.  I don’t give an eff about brand names, and have no need to buy the latest fad item because it’s the cool status symbol to have.  That’s not to say I don’t want to buy things and that I’m totally reformed.  I still want boots, and more capris, and to be able to afford to move.  I still covet things.  But I’ve improved from this post.

And I’m happy to say I’m being mindful about focusing on free things like gratitude, nature, and love.  Corny but true.  And it’s making me a better person.  I can go most days, in fact, without spending any money in my checking account.  I was going to say without spending ANY money, but you’d be hard-pressed to do that–I use utilities, eat, drive many days, use stuff.  But I’m not really buying much.  Which is good since I’m still unemployed and needing to conserve funds to move for school in a year.  But this draft was in my blog, so here is that old post, which I am a little ashamed about now:

To WANT.

I don’t want to come across like a spoiled, entitled bitch in the post–though I’m certain that’s what will be conveyed. . .

It all started in the summer.  It was my birthday at the beginning of July.  I had 2 gifts to open the day of–they went together and one bag and a card to open a week later.  And I received nothing on my Amazon wish list.  Not that I don’t appreciate what I did get.  It’s just that—–I want the stuff on my Amazon wish list.

It continued at the beginning of school.  With all the cheap house stuff meant for dorms and school supplies available in stores.  I HAD to buy some things for class, and it made me WANT more.  And I want. . .  Stuff.

But in the summer I knew it was impractical to spend any extra money.  Expecially since my hours will be cut back for school.  And especially when I have bills and necessities to consider.  And now–it’s quite impossible, as I had to pull out an emergency loan for school.  Because my hours at work went part time prior to me having to pay my school deposit/books/school supplies.  And the school dragged its feet so all my loans did not go on forbearance in time to beat this billing cycle.  So I had to pay my biggest undergrad loan.  Anyway, what little money that is in my account is not mine.  So I thought maybe writing down the things I want would relieve some of the agony?  I’m not certain what else to do about this terrible feeling of. . .  Well, greed, I guess.

–Dental appointment/cleaning

–Dave Matthews shirt

–a new backpack

–cute running sneakers

–match-E-match sweats (I found cute maroon ones at the Roxy website)

–a tote for swimming stuff/day trips/car camping/running clothes–I could use it ALL the time

–toothbrush holder b/c we currently use a mug

–sounds weird, but I want to stock up on needfuls so I never have to rush to the busy grocery store when I’m short on cash and have an imprending exam.

–ink!  For the computer because school necessitates a lot of printing.

–shampoo

–highlights to blend the gray–ugh. . .

I guess rather than pining over things I don’t have, and shouldn’t buy all at once, I should look around and be thankful for what I DO have.  I ought to use/wear things I haven’t in awhile.  I also should appreciate PEOPLE and feelings and thing money can’t buy.

Related articles

• The Seven Deadly Sins, as Illustrated by Shutterstock
• The Maltese Falcon: Greed as Pathology
• Advocating Capitalism
• The smell of greed…
• Challengers of Financial Freedom: Greed
• How Greed Became Good
• Millennials, Fashion and Brand Loyalty: What Does It All Mean?
• What is Brand Personality and Why It Matters
• DON’T call me Princess

My Heart Grew So Full

BUT before we get to that something that needs to be said:  Shades of Myspace.  Ok, that made me TOTALLY belligerent and ruins the tone of the post.  I just wrote a full-length post, and when I pressed “publish” it glitched out and disappeared never to be retrieved.  No auto-save, no draft, no nothing.  That makes me want to scream!  What is going on with WordPress lately?  First burying drafts on the date they were first opened, now erasing posts?  What.  The.  Fuck?!!!  So I don’t know how to recreate a 6 paragraph post, and now my mood is more agitated then moved, as it was 10 minutes ago.  Here’s my attempt:

I am back from a hiatus from writing–doing anything beyond the bare minimum, really.  I have been studying most of the time in an effort not to repeat my exam 3 mishap.  You remember the one?  The one that I missed more then double the points I had missed cumulatively all semester.  The one where I let my test anxiety to take hold.  That one test that threw my confidence and made me feel intimidated.

After I got that back, I had to re-group.  Not only will I NOT allow my A+ to disappear, I will not allow my 4.0 GPA to be ruined by less that a 95% in a course.  But it was more then that–I took exam 3 personally.  My teacher prides herself on her “tricky” exam-writing skills–ie mind-fucking us, and grading it subjectively.  For example having some questions ask for the best answer, some asking to pick 2 answers, and some picking all correct answers, but getting one point taken off as penalty for each wrong guess.  Worse, is when I KNOW something–saw it in the test or multiple sources, but she has a different answer in her head so I’m forced to pick between the answer I know for a fact is correct and the one she probably means. . .  It just ramps up my test anxiety.

Anyway, I take credit for exam 3’s extraordinary difficulty-level.  I had only missed 3 points on exam 1 and 2 points on exam 2 and I’m suspicious this affected the teacher’s ego.  So I am paranoid she made the test a LOT harder to get me.  Exam 3 was different from the other 2 exams in the class, and different from the 4 exams we had with her first semester–I think she didn’t like me doing so well.

Needless to say, I wasn’t going to let her win.  I started studying for the final early, and daily.  And I did it wholeheartedly.  Except, I started to get a little bored with my same ol tactics after a while, so I typed my important points onto online flashcards–so I could study MY material while playing a game.  And since I took the time, I decided to post a link to my flashcards for my classmates on Facebook.  And I didn’t know if they would look at them, or be annoyed that I overpost about Audiometry, but I shared, because I had already made the effort.

And I never expected to receive this note after the final:   Just wanted to let you know that the generosity, thoughtfulness, and effort you put into creating and sharing these was incredibly helpful and greatly appreciated!!!  (I honestly wouldn’t have been able to make it through this final without you!)

The sentiment made my heart explode with joy a depth of feeling.  I had made a difference in at least one person’s life and it felt awesome–and didn’t cost ME anything.  The only lame thing was my response:  “Awesome  I hope the class average is sky-high!”  Which does not convey how much I appreciated her statement at all, but I hope she knows how much it meant.

And after calculating what I could have missed based on checkmarks next to questions I wasn’t 100% certain of I think I got as low as a 92%.  Subtract 3 more points for unfair subjective grading practices–and I still am well within the window to keep my A+ and 4.0 GPA.  So tonight, I’m just going to enjoy the moment and I’ll start thinking about my summer financial situation tomorrow.

Related articles

• How to teach coping with exam stress
• Call for independent exams watchdog
• Best way to approach this situation with my final grade: file a report or move on?
• Bring it on!

“If It’s Important You’ll Find a Reason…

If not, you’ll find an EXCUSE.”

What a day!  It was my big work evaluation and I was really stressed about it.  Mostly, because I’m never on the same page as my work, so these things never end well for me.  Despite, spending a lot of time (in my head, on here, and on my portion of the eval) thinking about my strengths and weaknesses–I was terrified to go over them with my boss.  I guess just because I didn’t want to be surprised, upset, or disappointed?  I’m not certain why, actually.  I was just. . .  Overwrought.  And it’s never awesome.  I told myself I would not be emotional.  I would remain neutral-faced and professional.  Well, automatically my care bubbles out in the form of teariness/crying grimace-face.  And I’m not the crying type.  Not at all, actually–which makes it all the worse.  The almost-crying stuff is just emotion/nervous energy–not cry baby or sadness.  But it couldn’t be stopped, despite trying to prep myself and visualize calmness beforehand.  And despite deep breathing before and during.  That stuff is not the image I want to convey–but knowing it will happen, and that it’s silly, doesn’t equate with stopping it.  So there I was.  Cool was very entertained by my recap of the event.

Anyway, it went better then I expected, they gave me much the same marks that I gave myself (after MUCH consideration) and the first marks I got when I began work in 2010.  And the (verbal) comments were–expected, more pleasant then I thought, and typical.  All three of those things.  And sometimes I’m cynical and think complements are more of a “softening the criticism” leadership strategy then completely truthful, but I’ll take what I can get I guess.  I put 3 such items into my positivity jar also, making a total of 5 great things that have happened in 2014.  [Sidenote–I feel severely underappreciated on  daily basis at work, but 4/5 items in my positivity jar are positive statements from my boss,hmm–perception is funny.]

I did NOT, however, look at the other doctor’s comments.  Not yet.  We have different philosophies, and I knew whatever she said would more then likely make me upset–and I know they are probably based in simmering resentment over my schedule change.  Maybe I’ll have Cool read them first, and if they’re better then I’m thinking, I’ll look.  And if they are much what I expect, I’ll just file them away–I don’t need a bunch of negativeity, and even MORE bad feelings between that doctor and myself.

And that was a long introduction to say that I’m always looking to improve myself, even if I only present that to myself, in private (and you of course).  Here is WHY my 2014 goals are important for me to accomplish to better my life, which will provide me with more motivation to follow through on the small daily steps in order to master them:

-add in exercise AND produce (subtract bad things)

This is important, because I want to FEEL better.  I want energy, less fatigue, and no health issues.  I love my emotional state when I’m running and abstaining from alcohol as well.  It takes some anxiety away and helps me have a more positive outlook.  Plus, being hot never hurt anyone’s self esteem and feeling strong is a good way to feel.

-have gratitude, say nice things

I under no circumstance want to be phony or an eternal optimist.  That isn’t me–I think it’s OK not to completely hide the darker sides.  It’s authentic–everyone has that part of themselves and the world isn’t all roses.  That said, there is nothing wrong with nothing small things.  I like that quote about it’s not the person who has least that is the poorest–it’s the person who wants MORE.  And as a go-getter, it’s easy to get bogged down by where I’m going, instead of loving simple pleasures.  This also takes time from worrying, and trains my brain to stop being greedy.
-straighten out my sleep

I hate being tired, feel guilty when I’m dragging and unproductive, and my temperament and emotions are more unruly when my sleep isn’t regulated.  Even though finishing everything by 7PM is a pain sometimes, the next da is ALWAYS better when I do.
-min. extraneous spending and save a small amt $ every paycheck for moving to CO

Because I want out of HERE.  It’s among my most important goals to make a difference in my work and improve my surroundings.
-volunteer

It’s something good people do.  I’m a big believer in giving if you have something to give.  And secondly, that’s where the scholarship money is–community service.  But that’s not the primary reason.
-Judge Cool less and show her more kindness and love

Our love is special.  She is one of the only people who truly understands me.  And she tolerates my “stuff” and I love that about her.  We are just meant to be.  It is important to me to convey to her how much I appreciate her and love us, because we get bogged down in reminders, details, and shennanigans.
-Take pride in my appearance: Wear contacts more, use makeup, wear jewelry

Not in a sorostitute, capitalistic way, just as a taking care of myself and caring about myself.  It also shows I care about where I’m going and gives a picture into my health and mental state.  Which is improving all the time.
-worry only 30 min/day (instead of all day & night) AND think positively for at least 10 min/d

Because worry makes me sick inside.  And stressed and tightly wound and unpleasant to be around–for both others and myself.  And I feel 100x better when I don’t worry.  I feel like gratitude is the thing that cancels out worry and I’m on board with that.

-make a list, grocery shop, cook ahead

This is just better for scheduling, money, and health purposes.  A little planning helps a lot of areas.  The follow through will stop restaurant eating and munchie grabbing.  And when the pantry is stocked I feel like a productive adult, AND it saves valuable study time.
-Don’t over-pluck eye brows.

Because I’m 30 now.  And I have full brows >:-{ It’s happening and I’ll like it and have to work at them less when I work more with nature instead of fighting against it.
-increase eye contact

This not only helps me look less like a suspicious criminal or autistic socially-inept person, but I can see more intent in other people if I look at their eyes.  It instills trust, it’s professional, and it’s a good feeling, mutually.

So as you can tell, I put more effort into some of these than other, more more the afore-mentioned 7 PM bed time then anything.  Maybe I’ll edit a little later, but now I’ve GOT to go.

Related articles

• Lesson 4: The Role of Emotional Saturation and the Law of Attraction
• Stop Recycling Dysfunctional Experiences
• Emotional Forecasting: Preparing for the Storm of Holiday Feelings
• Be emotional.
• 8 tips on how to argue with your boss…

Hesitant to Use the Word “Resolution”

Because I’m serious about turning these dreams into goals, then habit and accomplishments.  This is not some starry-eyed hyped up New Years event.

Here is my PLAN to help me reach my aspirations in this next year:

First, I need a physical reminder of WHAT the goals are.  Because last year, I forgot all about my fitness goals, and subsequently did not do them.  At. All.  Yesterday Cool and I made “Beast Mode,” our health goals and the benefits of achieveing them, poster.  We hung it in the living room right next to the treadmill for reminder and inspiration.  We need to do a financial one and a love one next.  Then I’ll make a study one and a grad app checklist to easily refer to.

To help me have gratitude, think positively every day, and work on my social, I am starting a positivity jar.  I’ll write unexpected gifts, accomplished goals, beauty of nature, lol moments, good memories, blessed happenings on small scraps.  This will make me pay attention to all the good stuff.  And on a bad day, I can read them to remind myself it’s not ALL bad.

To succeed in turning dreams into accomplishments, you need a schedule and a timeline.  I already made my monthly goals to focus in on.  As part of that the day-to-day schedule is important:  Worry only 30 min/day, think of good things or 1 good thing 10 min/day, I need to write a post with a rough timeline before the semester starts back up.  I’ll probably write it today so I can practice it and adjust it for a week before I actually need to use it.

Break the big goals into managable chunks.  Here are the very first steps for each of my 2014 goals:

Exercise:  Right now just get up first thing in the morning, change into running clothes, and treadmill for 1 mile before getting ready for work.  Once I can get ON the treamill consistantly, I can make some time goals.

Eating:  Drink 2 cups of water to take my vitamins (kills 2 birds w/1 stone), make certain to drink as much water as possible while I’m at work alone in the early mornings.

Gratitude:  Sit for 10 min and think of everything good, or why 1 thing is awesome for that amount of time.  Then, I can start saying at least 1 nice thing to Cool every day and 1 nice thing to another every day.

Sleep:  Go back to the 4AM and see if exercise and vitamins helps at all.  If it doesn’t (after a real trial) just wake up at 5AM and call it good.  Practice strict wake and sleep times this week, before school starts.

Money:  Save some Christmas money.

Volunteer:  I signed up on Facebook to get volunteer updates for my area, and Cool and I talked about doing some physical work for Habitat for Humanity.  Next, fill out the req. forms.  And later, I need to estabilsh contact with the hearing aid center.

Appearance:  I’m starting to wear earrings daily.  And it’s uncomfortable, so I’m trying Neosporin now.  I’ll look into some sort of cleaning solution if the Neosporin doesn’t work.  Maybe contacts on Wednesdays?

Grocery situation:  I wrote down some crock pot recipies/ingredients.  We’ll start going to the Grocery Outlet every Sunday morning.

Eyebrows:  Ugh–I can’t stand it.  But I’m only allowing 20 stray hairs a day to be pulled so I can let them grow in.  I’m telling myself that if I am patient, I might treat myself to a professional shaping to have a good starting point.

Eye contact:  I will try to look people in the eyes at least 5x/d to start.

And the last goal success method:  Write WHY each of these is important to me.  Which will be a future post.

Related articles

• Resolutions: Good Things Gone Bad (sportsmomia.wordpress.com)
• The Problem With New Year’s Resolutions (fitjourney50.wordpress.com)
• New Year Resolutions? Try Goal Setting Instead. (grandjuris.wordpress.com)
• The Anti-Resolution – Goal Smole (myetchasketchlife.com)
• The Greatest New Year Resolution You Will Ever Make (thelifemeblog.wordpress.com)
• New Year’s Resolutions: Why They Should be Avoided (thesupermommold.com)

It Has All Come To This

Christmas.  The new pinnicle of capitalistic greed.  A day of gifts and money.  What better day to start my week long transformation blog series.  New Years is a time for reflection and improvements, so in that vein here is my first item:  Gratitude.  Entitlement.

Day 7: What in my life do I have to be grateful for?  Who in my life am I grateful for? How have I treated them?  How have my thoughts, words and actions contributed to my family?

My actions come across more thankless and entitled than I feel.  INSIDE I am appreciative, notice small things, and am very glad for efforts made.  My actions do not align with these feelings.  My stubborn nature and social anxiety/aversion make my gratitude invisable most times.  Obviously, this needs to change.  Of course, it’s easier said then done.  The thought is there, and that’s the primary step.  Now, small changes in action must follow.

I am thanksful for many material items:  My computer, car, artwork, books, blankets/bedding, lava lamps, movies, shoes, clothes, jewelry, kitchen items, games, all of that.  I’m also learning, it’s not about THINGS.  Money really doesn’t ensure happiness.  It’s all about perspective and nature and people and loving what you have.  Forgetting commercialism and status and envy.  That’s not the person I want to be, and I have made strides.  My work especially, seeing the status symbols, the expensive grooming, a lifestyle I will never have used to make me jealous and hopless.  Now I see it is just items and salesmanship.  I am a simple gal who wants to live simply and appreciate beauty in nature.  Sure, I could stand to have another fancy pair of boots, a waterproof ski jacket, or newer tires on Rusty–but I wouldn’t hire a cleaning person even if I was rich.  Now, I’m into looking inward and to nature.

Kitties–which aren’t quite people, but not material either.  They bring me mych happiness.  The clinic cats are strong in my mind today, and I feel guilt that they are at work alone.  Maybe we’ll take them presents.  My jammies are urging strongly that I stay though.  At any rate, I love Goose who constantly makes me laugh and shake my head and who is so sweet inside and out.  Choco-Luv that plays too hard and likes Cool better, but who has a playful mentality and knows how to snuggle too.  Beezer, the best lap kitty who is so shy until she warms up to you and brightens each day when I’m crabby and bleary-eyed, by asking me to cover her up with an afgan.  Obnoxious Tator, who just needs vigorous love often and acts out if he doesn’t get his fill.  His expressive face is so silly and his demanding meows so ornery.  And even Larry and Alfred.  Buddies need appreciation too.

The people?  I thank my lucky stars for Cool.  I would be alone in the world without her–she understands me.  And bored, I would be so bored without her antics and troubles.  She gives me so much, without providing anything material.  Unconditional love for one.  Laughter.  An uplifting spirit.  We have fun together.  And I am happy my relationship with my parents is back to a normal, happy place.  They always mean well, and would fight a lion for me.  My parents provide me with advice and support and lectures when I need them.  My parents make every holiday, by providing the most gifts and a lot of love.  They are good people, and where I learned my strong morals and work ethic.  I am also lucky to have my boss.  Yes, she can be tactless, and eleitest, and insensitive, and unappreciative.  But she’s also mostly in my corner.  When it really counts my boss is there for me, and I like that.  Those are the main staples in my life, though there are peripheral people that have influenced me, but would take too long to list.

As I mentioned above, my actions and words do not always convey appreciation and gratitude toward these people like I wish it did.  Defensiveness, pride, and frustration often override my demeanor.  I wish I could show, through my actions how much the above people mean to me more often.  Now it will at least be in the back of my mind, and hopefully more in the forefront of my actions this next year.

Related articles

• Gratitude!

• What Are You Grateful For? (ganolifestars.wordpress.com)
• The Power of Gratitude (socyberty.com)
• Why I am grateful and why you should be too! (dallaspeaks.wordpress.com)
• 6 Ways to Cultivate Gratitude (thereseborchardblog.com)
• Masterkey Week 13 The Law of Gratitude (keithmasterkey.wordpress.com)
• The Power of Gratitude (artofconcentration.wordpress.com)
• Christmas:~~~~~~~~gratitude was not easy for me!!!! (ptsdawayout.com)
• Choices, Gratitude (withoutnoah.wordpress.com)
• A Very Grateful Christmas (thesoberistblog.wordpress.com)