I know for sure that I have two strong personalities that speak up with their opinions inside of my head all the time. Take the Thanksgiving holiday for instance. On the one hand I really do love to be around friends and family and feel all the love that we can with each other but then on the other hand I question whether Thanksgiving in the U.S. is just something that the marketing geniuses of yore dreamed up to get us to purchase and prepare feasts of food and then begin spinning our wheels for Christmas?

You know what? It doesn’t matter, not really. Whatever the case, it’s always a good time to find things that we can be grateful for in our day. Helps me keep things in perspective because believe me, I can find plenty of reasons to feel pitiful.

My sponsor/mentor one time had me write ten new things every day for two weeks that I was grateful for which immediately put me into the panic of thinking about my lists because of the perfectionist lurking inside of me. What I discovered is that I had nothing to worry about because there were plenty of things for me to be grateful about.

Here’s my list of ten things I’m grateful about today:

1.) Whoever is reading this list. You matter;

2.) Having a fantastic long run today and still being able to walk after sitting through a movie (Megamind-It was great);

3.) Having two clean dogs because my husband washed them today. They are very happy canines and we are very happy humans.

4.) That I made two sample windows for my model today for class and I feel pretty good about them.

5.) For my mom and step-dad and father and two brothers and two sisters-in-laws and nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles and cousins. Have a lot to be grateful for in this arena even if we all do live miles apart.

6.) That my husband still wants to sit on the same side of the booth with me at restaurants and then asks me while we’re waiting for our check if he had told me lately how beautiful I was.

7.) For so many good friends. I am so blessed for each of you.

8.) For my run-dog, Paul-Paul and my chair companion, Reality. Paul is laying right next to my chair as I type this and Re-Re is keeping David company in the bedroom.

9.) For all my kitties even though they’ve been playing chase and banging up against the garage door this evening.

10.) That I’m sober, abstinent and crazy-free for the most part.

11.) For my health. I won’t ever take that for granted.

12.) For my connection to the God of my understanding. Thank you for not giving up on me.

What are you grateful for today?