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The New Year provides a place of clarity where I gather the moments of my year to examine their purpose. I bet when written, gathering all the pieces into one space can awaken the peaks and valleys throughout a year. And with the evolution of a year, this awareness provides the steps to change that course. 
What did you do with your year? Did you challenge yourself, learn a new lesson or grow...

On January 7, fifteen-years will have magically passed since I quit smoking and transformed my life, by deciding to change one thing.
I remember grappling with resolutions. Knowing I should quit smoking yet not quite committed. Choosing quit dates, then finding a reason not to follow through. Now the New Year was fast approaching and I extended my quit date to February. 
February 7, I thought,...

On Thanksgiving Day we picked up several copies of our local gazette and found our story, Pay it forward for Ryan on the front page. A story about giving back, even when you are in pain, in fact, especially when you are in pain. These small steps allowed me to see Joy again.

It is time to put aside your Eeyore tendencies and find your inner Tigger. While optimism is both genetic and learned, it is something we can improve if practiced.
Join me on a year-long journey with gratitude leading the way and watch your attitude transform. Both, thinking positive and surrounding ourselves with positive people make gratitude infectious. Find your people and uncover gratitude...
Reframe...

Brain Struggles
Some day’s time dissolves into nothingness as the pieces I once identified with slip through my fingers. The familiar fades in the distance and I examine the world for something recognizable.
I know every journey is different and that path is covered in a haze of unknown. The mystery of life unfolds so slowly, revealing meaning through love and challenge, heartache and joy, all...

A lesson during a recent writing course had us return to stories or ideas and rewrite them, a memory from long ago
The dimly lit room
The squalid hallway assaulted my senses with dread and disinfectant as they led us to his room. The outdated space with its cold tile floors and blue ticked curtains shifts my gaze from familiar to foreign while this somber scene unravels before us. 
The cramped...

 
DRINKING | Water - lots of water
EATING | Panera strawberry salad
EMBRACING | the spontaneity of summer
CATCHING | little z's
ENJOYING | New writing course
COOKING | as little as possible
TRYING | healthy eating
MISSING |  slow days
FEELING | Relaxed
LISTENING | The moth
WATCHING | 
READING | Chasing slow
WEARING | flip flops
PLANNING | summer fun
WANTING | to run
NEEDING...

"All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us."
Gratitude: Week 52 (June 18 - June 24)
Did you notice how swiftly a year went by...
I did it, I completed (52 weeks) of documenting gratitude by cultivating lists of grace-filled moments each day and writing weekly stories on my journey. This immeasurable expedition of transformation and growth was a welcome shift to start...

"A child has a special way of adding joy to every day." 
What brought you JOY: Week 25
There is no need for introduction, joy was simple this week. Pure and simple and perfectly delivered. This week joy arrived as I witnessed my first grandchild come into the world... there are no words, just a wave of emotions, and JOY!
She is perfect and they brought her into the world in the most loving...

"Gratitude is the vitamin for the soul" 
Gratitude: Week 51 (June 11 - June 17)
It has been a wonderful ride, goal, and commitment that even I  was unsure I would be able to complete. But here I am, with one week left to go both glad of sad that I am done.
I plan to continue my personal journals of gratitude because of the amazing renovations enriched within me, yet ready to move on to other...