Ya know, I’m just throwing this out there, I’d be more grateful for Hump Day if it really lived up to it’s name. 😉  I jest. [Sorry if I embarrass you with my crudeness, Mother.]  No, what had happened was I came home and finally got my shoes off and Chloe and I were relaxing on the sofa.  I was sitting here thinking of how Wednesday kinda felt like it beat me up!  And, after a few minutes, I realized I was mentally reciting a list of the horrors Wednesday had thus far brought.  As I let Chloe out the back door [Chloe’s relaxation time is about 5 minutes most days], something came back to me.  I listened to Iyanla Vanzant’s speech on gratitude this morning in the shower.  And I recalled her posing this to the audience: Think back to a situation where there was something you really, really, really needed and you couldn’t see it coming from anywhere.  Did it show up?  And even if it didn’t, did you get by without it?  Were you grateful for that moment?  Are you grateful about that moment right now?

Here I was not being grateful.  I needed to change that. With a quickness.  So I began ticking things off…

• I’m grateful for the birds, the grass, and the trees in my yard.
• I’m grateful I have my own yard and my own house.
• I’m grateful to get up off the couch and let Chloe out a million times because for 12 years and 11 months I have had a constant companion with me.
• I’m grateful for the $300 vet bill today because it means Chloe is still alive and fighting.
• I’m grateful for the after-hours phone calls from work because it means I showed up in this life as a follower and now I’m a leader, my voice counts, and I have a job when so many others do not.  It’s a gift, not a burden.
• I’m grateful for my friends who let me vent and show empathy when I forget to be grateful for it all.
• I’m grateful for the toothache because it reminds me I have teeth, I have insurance to cover a root canal, and what isn’t covered by insurance can be covered by American Express.

And then it got a little deeper and emotional and Iyanla’s statement resonated loud…

• I’m grateful for the heartaches because it means I listened to my heart and had a priceless adventure.

This list just goes on & on.  It’s endless.  But it refocused me.  Lastly, I’m grateful for the silent mode on my iPhone because I need a nap.