100 things

A wise friend poured into me years ago that “whatever we pay attention to grows.” My strong sense is that we pay attention to too many undeserving things.

“Those people who say things” — as we often joke in our household — always say that gratitude has to be practiced. The more we practice or pay attention, the more routine it becomes; the more it also rubs off on those around us.

So starting this holiday week off right, let’s pay attention to what deserves it. Let’s be a grateful people… practicing gratitude… starting with the words shared by many…

  1. I’m thankful for my family.
  2. I’m thankful for my fam and my homies.
  3. I’m thankful for 2019.
  4. I’m thankful for the coming new year.
  5. I’m thankful for my dog.
  6. I’m thankful for my cat.
  7. I’m thankful for health.
  8. I’m thankful for the good health and happiness of my six children and three grandchildren.
  9. I’m thankful for healing.
  10. I’m thankful for healing relationships.
  11. I’m thankful for hot sauce.
  12. I’m thankful for Costco.
  13. I’m thankful for Uber.
  14. I’m thankful for my parents.
  15. I’m thankful for my kids.
  16. I’m thankful for Keto.
  17. I’m thankful for keyboard shortcuts.
  18. I’m thankful for a good new book and being motivated more to read.
  19. I’m thankful for awesome neighbors and fantastic community!
  20. I’m thankful for the diversity of my neighborhood and learning from each other.
  21. I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve others and help those in need.
  22. I’m thankful for humility.
  23. I’m thankful for my wife.
  24. I’m thankful that pitchers and catchers report in 79 days.
  25. I’m thankful for Purdue.
  26. I’m thankful for Ohio State.
  27. I’m thankful for the Buckeyes winning!
  28. I’m thankful for what I have as opposed to what I don’t.
  29. I’m thankful for a job that I enjoy doing and coworkers and children who make me laugh.
  30. I’m thankful for a job that lines up with my talents.
  31. I’m thankful for my son’s diagnosis of Autism. It opened so many resources for us that were not available before!
  32. I’m thankful to live in a country that gives us freedom.
  33. I’m thankful for the freedom to vote.
  34. I’m thankful for the snooze button.
  35. I’m thankful for the mute button.
  36. I’m thankful for people who turn the volume down when I walk in the room.
  37. I’m thankful for C-SPAN.
  38. I’m thankful for Netflix.
  39. I’m thankful for meaningful conversation.
  40. I’m thankful for give-and-take conversation and being able to agree to disagree.
  41. I’m thankful for “Frozen.”
  42. I’m thankful for food on my table and increased awareness to help others.
  43. I’m thankful for my boyfriend.
  44. I’m thankful the injury wasn’t worse.
  45. I’m thankful for the hope that God can make beauty from ashes and can remake us into better versions of ourselves through pain and stripping away toxic relationships.
  46. I’m thankful I can still laugh.
  47. I’m thankful to give back to the Ronald McDonald House today.
  48. I’m thankful for social media. Most days. Some days.
  49. I’m thankful for the setbacks that have made me stronger.
  50. I’m thankful for College Game Day!
  51. I’m thankful for Jesus!
  52. I’m thankful for my new pair of jeans.
  53. I’m thankful a fresh bar of soap in the shower and no more small sliver.
  54. I’m thankful for my salvation.
  55. I’m thankful for sunshine.
  56. I’m thankful that the beach is always beautiful even if it’s cold.
  57. I’m thankful for living in Florida!
  58. I’m thankful for Florida in the winter.
  59. I’m thankful for the changing seasons.
  60. I’m thankful for snow — at least the first time in winter!
  61. I’m thankful for Thanksgiving and all that it means.
  62. I’m thankful for green bean casserole!
  63. I’m thankful for my mom and grandma passing down recipes.
  64. I’m thankful when my family gathers and how we still feel about each other when we can’t.
  65. I’m thankful for planes, trains, and automobiles.
  66. I’m thankful for my faith in God!
  67. I’m thankful for lifelong friends.
  68. I am thankful for warrior princess friends.
  69. I am thankful for my dear friends and their kindness to me.
  70. I’m thankful for laughter!
  71. I’m thankful for forgiveness, both the receiving and the giving.
  72. I’m thankful for the smell of Christmas trees.
  73. I’m thankful for Christmas and how everyone comes together.
  74. I’m thankful for coffee and wine.
  75. I’m thankful the kids will be home.
  76. I’m thankful for my kid’s brutal honesty.
  77. I’m thankful for doing work that matters.
  78. I’m thankful for grace and recognizing more how much I need it. It makes me a better person.
  79. I’m thankful for Black Friday and especially online shopping.
  80. I’m thankful for the love of family and friends that lights my way in the darkest of days.
  81. I’m thankful for the kindness of some people I’ve never met before.
  82. I’m thankful my cancer is gone!
  83. I’m thankful for what I’ve learned through cancer.
  84. I’m thankful that 11 years later — left side — I’m still here.
  85. I’m thankful that I can keep in touch with family and friends far away so much easier now!
  86. I’m thankful for 80’s music.
  87. I’m thankful for wise mentors.
  88. I’m thankful for awesome teachers.
  89. I’m thankful to learn from young and old alike.
  90. I’m thankful for the new Mr. Rogers movie!
  91. I’m thankful for the new giraffe born at the zoo!
  92. I’m thankful for a free birthday drink at Starbucks.
  93. I’m thankful for finding forgotten money in my purse.
  94. I’m thankful for Sunday football on my sofa.
  95. I’m thankful for making a difference.
  96. I’m thankful for you!
  97. I’m thankful for lots of things.
  98. I’m thankful for blessings each day.
  99. I’m thankful for another day.
  100. I’m thankful to be more thankful.

The reality is there is always something to be grateful for — always. And whatever we pay attention to grows. 

So let’s start this week off right, paying attention to being grateful.

Respectfully…

AR