Gratitude journal for 01/17/2018

[Mamabug]

There are no rules, except please post gratitudes, not complaints. You may post daily, once a week, whenever you want.

Recognizing the positives in our lives helps us nurture our resilience and can improve our happiness factors and our health outcomes.

[Mamabug]

1. Although my symptoms of whatever bladder or kidney thing are not gone, they are much more tolerable. And, in spite of continued frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom, I feel good.

That is such a gratitude, considering I felt "yucky" for two months. I'm able to attend things I want to attend, and exercise again.

2. I phoned a life-long friend yesterday to thank her for the beautiful home-made Christmas card that she sent last month. We've been friends for 50 years, since I was 6 and she was 7. We had hardly any contact for many years (ages 20-50?, maybe especially ages 40-50) because of many miles of distance and life just happens, I guess. But, we re-connected a number of years ago and it's like those many years without connection just disappeared. Yesterday, we probably talked for about an hour.

[pennstater]

Today, I am grateful for:

1. Had follow-up mammogram and ultrasound - good news. No biopsy needed.
2. Read an inspiring article by Tim Shaw, a former Penn State and NFL player, diagnosed with ALS at 30. He is 5 years from diagnosis and now using a wheelchair. I actually saw him as an honorary captain at a PSU game this past fall. He used a scooter and teammates held him up. It was a letter to himself, a younger Tim. It made me think what I would tell the younger version of me.
3. Babysat my 5 month old great niece for an hour. Nothing like an infant asleep on you to fully relax and reflect on the important things in life.

[Daisycat]

1. I got a very high review on my yearly evaluation. Which means I’m still able to function at work even with this and a bigger raise.

2. I know I said I wasn’t getting any more but that’s not ever going to be true... so my two new piercings stopped hurting and are actually really cute.

I didn’t like them the first few days but now I think they are adorable. (Dermals)


3. My new side jobs are working out and I’m actually having extra money to save for things (besides just piercings )

[Mamabug]

1. I went to Silver Sneakers on Tuesday.
2. I started a new "Matched Circle" this week at Circle of Hope. I've been volunteering there since 2012. Two or 3 "Allies" are match with a "Circle Leader", who is a person struggling with poverty and / or other issues of low resources. We provide "intentional friendship" to help support them in meeting their goals -- trying to eradicate poverty in our community, one person at a time. This is my 4th 18-month match since I began volunteering.