1. I am thankful for all friends and family that survived the last year and the struggles it presented to many. I celebrate surviving, it used to be my mantra and still is, but I've also come to realize that there has to be more to life than just surviving, there has to be meaning and purpose, and even occasional joy (thought it can be joy over little things, doesn't have to mean a whoopee celebration).
2. That Papa Bear and I survived the past year, both financially and emotionally. The loss of my job at the end of July was a major life changer/game changer. We have managed to make ends meet (just barely) for the past months, and my stress levels, blood pressure, and gut issues have returned to the normal range. Being home after working for so many years is such an incredible blessing! There are no words. Even if it doesn't last, I will cherish this time I've had to recover myself.
3. I am thankful that both of my kids had someone to share Christmas with this year, and both enjoyed their holiday. Being alone at Christmas is often sad and lonely, I've done it in the past. I have hopes that both will continue in the relationships of present, I am content with their choices. There will likely be a move to Dallas for my daughter sometime this year, maybe, we shall see. I would love having her closer. I don't get to see my kids nearly often enough.
4. I am thankful that Papa Bear and I are so well matched when it comes to living together. We watch shows on tv where couples continually disagree with each other, have strongly opposing ideas about life, or want such very different things. It reminds me of how my life used to be in the past chapters. You don't have to be cosmic twins to have a good marriage, but you have to agree on the fundamentals or be able to compromise in a way that both feel okay about it.
5. I am thankful that I've been able to work through my remaining resentments with a few individuals from my past, especially one particularly evil ex, and let it go. I can acknowledge that they acted out of their own levels of pain and unresolved issues, and while I don't excuse what transpired, it no longer has emotional weight to me. It just was, and it is no more, I am free of it, very free.
6. I am thankful that being home has provided me the time and energy to cook good suppers for Papa Bear, he loves it. Now I need to convince him that we need to focus on healthier fare, because he's gained weight, and we both already weigh too much. Eating at home saves lots of money too.
7. I am thankful and excited to have reconnected with some dear blogging friends from the past this week, and also for becoming better acquainted with some I've known only marginally. I love bloggers and blogging, and keeping up with what's going on in each other's lives!
8. I am thankful for my furkids and their amazing individual personalities. In the past two weeks Sophie (the elder feline and reigning queen) has finally decided it is okay (just barely tolerable, but it's a start), for Tiggy or Gracie to nap next to her on the blanket on the sofa. They've been trying to do this since they were babies born here nearly four years ago and she would swat at them or stomp off in a fuzzed-up huff. Maybe the cooler weather was good for something, or maybe like me, she is mellowing a bit in her old age (she's thirteen now). It is so sweet to see them cuddled up together.
9. I am thankful that I am getting along with both my younger and older sister, staying in communication, and learning to maintain the balance of sharing and privacy/closeness and detachment that is necessary to keep those relationships working. We've struggled for many years and I've banished one or the other, or both from my life for extended periods in the past. But life is short and I know that resentments are displeasing to God. So I've worked on it, and I set boundaries I can live with. Family is family, for better or worse. One critical rule... I refuse to discuss one sister with the other. (Being the middle child has too often put me in the no-win role of peacemaker.)
10. (Wow, I'm at ten already?! I remember now how easy this is once I convince myself to begin.) I am thankful that the holiday gloom that often rides just below the surface in my life has passed, the anniversaries of my father's death on 12/30/2009 and my mom's on 1/09/1995 - and the bitter cold winter funerals in Dakota that followed - will soon be past, and I can move ahead into the new year ready to once again to take up the battle with de-cluttering our very cluttered house and storages. This is the year of learning to live minimally, and to have our surroundings reflect that. I can do it!
Ten Things of Thankful is the brainchild of Lizzi at Considerings. It's been running each weekend for a long time now, and is a wonderful way to refocus on the good things that happen in our lives, despite whatever problems we are facing. There is always something to be thankful for... always!
Hey! Welcome back to the TToT!
ReplyDeleteThanks Clark! It's a good attitude adjustment exercise!
DeleteYour list is inspiring. There is much to be thankful for in our lives. Often we take things for granted, usually until they are taken away then we get mad. Good thing we have a God who loves us in spite of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Patricia! It's like the quote that says "What if the only things you woke up with today were the things you remembered to thank God for yesterday?" Doing the TToT has always been such a good way of reminding me about the little things that matter!
DeleteLove that you are moving forward on relationship and forgiveness issues. That will make for a healthier 2017. And the weight issue....darn, I am right there with you!
ReplyDeleteOne can truly feel the burden lifted when forgiveness is achieved, May. Dragging that baggage along in life is very wearing. Now if I can get serious about working on the weight issue, I will have two reasons to feel better about myself and life this year!
DeleteNumber 4 is such a blessing! No matter what comes, when you have peace, support, and love at home, it makes everything better.
ReplyDeletePapa Bear is truly one of the greatest blessings in my life, Kristi. There is not a day that I don't realize all the kind things he does and how supportive he is of me. The laughter is uplifting too!
DeleteI'm glad I dropped by the TToT even though I haven't participated in awhile, myself. I NEED TO! Your post is full of blessings and life progress. Sometimes it is interesting to look back just a little to see how far you have come. I'm happy to hear your daughter may move closer to you. That would be wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt is so easy to get out of the habit of things we know are good for us, Val. I used to do this faithfully every week, and always felt so good when I was finished, despite how much I was struggling when I began. My life has come so far in ten years that I hardly recognize that girl or story anymore. I am truly blessed beyond measure. I hardly dare to hope she'll move, it's hard for her to be so far away.
DeleteYour list makes me smile. I need to get off my own pitty party and remember all I have to be grateful for. Thank you for the reminder...
ReplyDeleteYou'll note it's not the big things but the small ones that really matter. You should join us next week, Skipper. The link is open on Saturday and Sunday. I intend to stick with it this year, it's a great attitude adjustor! :-)
DeleteHooray and welcome back! I've been pretty sporadic myself lately and I hope to get more consistent again. I am so happy for all of these things in your life falling into place. Life does that from time to time, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteSo much good here! xo
I've missed doing it Lisa, I let so many things that were important to me slip away last year under the stress of my former job, and one by one I'm reclaiming them. I do have many really good things to be thankful for, and that helps so much in times of struggle to find the strength to bear it and realize that it won't go on forever.
DeleteI LOVED reading this post, Josie! I always have admired your ability to find hope and thankfulness in all situations (and yes, even back when you would disagree with me, I could see that you were still able to do that in what may have been your lowest times). I always thought that I was able to do the same --- maybe up until the past five years. Now that I have read yours and went on to say (write) something stupid like I just did, now I might have to try and do the same thing. I have always believed in the good things - that happy is always possible, ugh --- I guess I just forgot that. SO, in the near future, this type of post is inevitable. Damn. Don't we hate to have to prove ourselves wrong?
ReplyDeleteIn any event, YOUR list was wonderful and quite understandable. So many of the things you write about are things I can really, really relate to.
Thanks for what has been my first smile of this day --
Big hugs.
J.
This was such a happy comment to read, Jamie! Back then you were always telling me life would change and things would get better, and I wasn't at all convinced, as you know, but... you were right! We can't go back to old lives, we don't get a rewind option, but we can be assured that the Good Lord still has some blessings in store for us, sometimes right around the corner from where we are about to give up hope. I shudder now to think that at times I nearly did decide to end it all, look what I would have missed out on! I am praying for you every day to stay strong and keep believing. God hasn't abandoned you, I promise! <3 Maybe you should try a daily gratitude thing like Josie does, or join us weekly for this one. Sometimes we have to dig really deep to find anything good to say, but your smile just made me smile, so that's my thankful for today! :-) XOXO
DeleteIt's so true - once we start to look for the thankful things, it's so easy to find them. We realize our lives really are blessed in many ways.
ReplyDeleteDay in and day out, no matter what challenges I'm facing, I'm always acutely aware of how many amazing blessings I have, from the biggest, to the smallest. I am grateful for them all!
DeleteI just loved this, as I do with all of your writing. I aspire to write a list like this!
ReplyDeleteThank you Cheryl! I think in some ways you do note your blessings on your Facebook page. I could probably make a list for you just from reading about all the fun things you do with friends and the positive attitude you have about your life and your time. I've always thought you were probably the most overall content person I know!
Delete:) Showing gratitude more is one of my goals this year (I don't make resolutions, I make goals, I miss a week, it's breaking a resolution, but I can always reboot a goal :) ) I have found that it does make me more positive in even the most negative situations. And I found this week, as I was thinking about this post, I was able to more quickly and eloquently express gratitude for the little things that I don't post about. The boys doing a chore I asked hem to do, My Dad going to pick up Ed from weight lifting when he's done early. The every day things :) I'm going to keep it up :)
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what this weekly exercise, and the daily one I do at the other place, have helped me with, Missy! I've learned to not just take note of the big blessings that come my way, but to be thankful for all the little things that happen or go right, and sometimes even for the things that I'm glad don't happen! :-)
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