41st Turn Around the Sun

Every day as part of my morning routine, I journal and write down at least ten things I am grateful for. I have been practicing gratitude journaling for several years now, and it helps me start each day on a positive note. Today, I decided to take my gratitude journaling up a notch. I decided in honor of celebrating my forty-first turn around the sun, I would write down forty-one items that I am grateful for.

As Byron Katie says in A Thousand Names for Joy, “Life is simple. Everything happens for you, not to you.” I 100% agree with this statement, and writing down what you are grateful for every day can help you understand that everything that happens is for you, not to you or against you.

This may seem trivial, but reflecting on what you are grateful for every day can change how you process information. This has proven to help me with my PTSD tremendously. I can’t guarantee it can help others, but it can’t hurt to try. Perhaps tomorrow you take a moment to write down one item that you are grateful for.

So here is my list of 41 things I am grateful for:

1.      I have survived 41 years on this planet.

2.      I had 35 years with my dad.

3.      My mom came to visit me and we didn’t kill each other!

4.      I have been married to my best friend for close to 21 years.

5.      My kind-hearted oldest daughter.

6.      My firecracker younger daughter.

7.      My creative team- the blue heelers Stella and Sajar.

8.      My finance officer- Nappy the 18-year-old min-pin.

9.      My feline crew- Hero and Mishka.

10.   My best friend- K.

11.   My best friend- V.

12.   All my outdoor gardens.

13.   My indoor plants.

14.   My book collection.

15.   Running shoes.

16.   Roof over my head.

17.   Ability to work and pay the bills.

18.   Healthy food options.

19.   Clean water to drink.

20.   Earning my yoga 200-CYT (certified yoga teacher).

21.   Making new friends this year (this is hard as an adult!)

22.   Staying in touch with old friends.

23.   My brother-N.

24.   My sisters- N. and C.

25.   My brother and sister-in-law’s.

26.   Working from home.

27.   Living in a small town.

28.   Good school district for my daughter.

29.   My front porch (it’s great for porch sitting!)

30.   My backyard patio.

31.   Learning to love meditation.

32.   Following through with writing and publishing my first book.

33.   Learning the business side of publishing.

34.   Reliable vehicles.

35.   Getting to walk my dogs every morning.

36.   Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.

37.   Variety of teas to drink.

38.   Picking apples.

39.   Husband fixing my printer.

40.   Trying out new places to eat.

41.   Music, all the music.