Gratitude Diet: Week 3

Gratitude Diet: Day 15 — Today is the last day to sign up for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Though I started looking up plans early, I waited until today to choose a plan as I deliberated long and hard over which one was the best for me. Save money with the lower premium on A? Or have more peace of mind choosing B? I wish there were better choices and that health care was more affordable. The Affordable Care Act needs a lot of fixing. Unfortunately, most of the Republicans in Congress refuse to work with Democrats to fix it. They would rather try their hardest to tear it down and see it fail than find a win-win solution that benefits us all. And it’s really a shame because affordable health care should be a basic human right. After all, there is no “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” when you’re dead, too sick to work or too poor to pay for health care.
Today, I’m thankful for my good health and health insurance. I’m also thankful for the right to vote, to rally, to protest, to resist, and to write and call my representatives to voice my opinion on policy and to hold them accountable. I hope you’re thankful for those rights too. Let’s use them to create the changes this country so desperately needs. Don’t sleep! Power is dangerous in the hands of the greedy, the ignorant or the few. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks

Gratitude Diet: Day 16 — Sunday is usually family-filled for me and it is such a blessing. So, today I am grateful for all my family - all the love, hugs, support, long conversations, family dinners, road trips, walks, laughs, birthday cakes, sweet memories and more. I have the best family ever and I love you all! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks​

Gratitude Diet: Day 17 — It’s time for bed so I retire upstairs for the evening. As I begin to settle in, I hear a noise downstairs. I’m puzzled. It doesn't sound like any of the normal house noises or the washing machine which is running mid-cycle. I think “What was that?” I hear the noise again. I pause to decipher it. It sounds like paper rattling. Then I quickly realize it can be nothing other than the mischievous family dog. Deciding to watch his latest caper to see what he is truly up to, I slowly walk down the stairs, making sure not to hit a squeaky one. I peer over the banister to find him gnawing and pawing at a big bag of dog food! I caught him red handed! 🤔 Or, shall I say wet-nosed? There he was trying to put together a little midnight snack without anyone knowing. He was taking advantage of the fact that the dog food bag was bigger than usual and hadn't fit completely into its plastic container. Our dog is always up to something. After 13 years, he still can’t be trusted and his mischievous acts never cease to amaze. He’ll dig through your purse to find a snack - be it emory boards, business cards or anything else made of paper. He’ll eat artwork, money, your socks and your homework, just to name a few. So, today, I am thankful for our mischievous cockapoo. He’s provided us with lots of laughs, entertainment and, Lord knows, he’s increased my patience probably threefold at the very least. 😂 #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks

​Gratitude Diet: Day 18 — We are one week away from the big day. All the prepping, decorating and shopping is almost done and we can finally settle into the enjoyment of Christmas Day. The holiday season is often busy and stressful, but how joyous and peaceful it is when we focus on the real reason for the season - Jesus and his incredible message of love for one another, compassion, understanding and forgiveness. No matter what religion we are, I think that’s a universal message we can all celebrate. Today, I am thankful for Jesus, that beautiful Christ Spirit. Wishing you all a happy holiday and the peace and joy of the season. Much love! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks

Gratitude Diet: Day 19 - This is one of my favorite poems since childhood. It reminds me to be thankful for that ever-growing pile of dishes in the kitchen sink. And I am truly thankful for for them. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks

Gratitude Diet: Day 20 — Today, I came home to find my cousin had returned home from college for the holidays. Having no idea she was already home, I was quite surprised. And what a beautiful surprise it was! It was a joy to see her smiling face and to hear the excitement and happiness in her voice. Today, I am thankful for pleasant surprises, especially those filled with so much love!
#GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks

Gratitude Diet: Day 21— About 6:30pm today I was drained and sleepy. I was so tired I was pretty sure I could have gone to bed for the night at that very moment. But seeing how 6:30pm is far from my normal bed time, I decided to stay up despite wanting to crawl under the covers. Needing a boost of energy, I opened up Spotify to find some tunes to power me through the rest of the day. After 30 minutes or so I was singing, dancing, snapping my fingers, energized and wide awake. I love music! I love how it can take me down memory lane and make me fifteen again, lift my spirits, send me daydreaming or make me dance so hard I think I’m one of the Jacksons - uh, Janet or Michael, of course. 😄 Lol! So, today, I am thankful for music and all the tunes that have become the soundtrack of my life. What power music has to move, to motivate and to connect to our emotions. And when music is sacred, it can also bring us into deep self awareness and devotion, raise our consciousness and open our hearts. Every day, I’ve got an “earworm” and a chant in my heart, making me move or bringing my joy. And I am thankful.
#GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks