Giving Thanks

With the American Thanksgiving holiday almost here (the Canadian Thanksgiving was last month), I wanted to spend a moment and talk about what I am most grateful for. Lots of my friends are blogging about 30 days of thanks or gratitude and I just don’t have the time to do it over 30 days. I am an “I want it now” kind of girl so I thought I would post my entire list of 30 things that I am thankful or grateful for. I hope I don’t bore you with the usual things and I hope I amuse you with some of my other things. So here goes.

I am most grateful and thankful for:

1. My family (almost goes without saying and I hate to waste a number for this one, but if I didn’t list it my family would kill me).
2. My really good friends (in no particular order and my apologies if I forgot anyone). These are the people that help me in thick and thin and whenever I am in a pinch or just need a hug. But they mostly help me to celebrate my wins! I wish I could spend more time with all of you. Here they are: Sarah A.; Michelle U.; Kristen P.; Stacy B.; Antonette A.; Dawn G.; Amber M.; My daughter Lisa; Toni Jo A.; Petra B.; Loren F.; Pat M.; Fabienne F.; Tracey F.; Jackie L.; Jen B.; Annika E.; Sydni C.; Jodi G.; Sandy K.; Cari V.; Jeanmarie K.; Diane P.; Cheryl D.; Pat E.; Rebecca R.; Karen D.; Kate K.; Nel S.; Rachel W.; Gretchen C.; Michelle H.; and more.
3. A really fast internet connection. Man, my Surewest internet is screaming fast.
4. A great (almost) ex-husband that I can talk to and not fight with anymore. This gives us the ability to share the holidays and other events which makes it so much easier on the kids.
5. Gardeners. I hate doing any kind of gardening or taking care of plants of any kind. I focus on human beings and don’t have the time or the bandwidth to be sure my plants are alive. I decided a long time ago that humans are more important.
6. Housecleaners. I absolutely hate cleaning house and it is even touchy having housecleaners because I have to actually tidy up before they come. Now if I could just get the kids to do the tidying then I would be really happy.
7. The planet we live on. I am really passionate about the effects that global warming is having on our earth and I personally vow to do as much as possible to save the planet as I possibly can one step at a time (the hybrid car is going to have to wait until next year). I even named my company after my belief in this one thing: The Green Chick LLC.
8. Microsoft Office. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, Groove… they are amazing programs that make my day so much easier.
9. Web technology like TimeDriver, TimeBridge, MyClientspot, Central Desktop, Basecamp, HootSuite, TweetDeck, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, hulu.com. The list could go on and on. All of these programs make my list easier and keep me organized.
10. Online bill paying.
11. Great virtual assistants that keep me on track and organized, keep me accountable, help me stick to deadlines for my own stuff and not let client work take over on the priority list.
12. My mastermind group! This would almost be my number 1 thing because of the amazing growth that I have realized from this group. The friendship and camaraderie is amazing and the feedback and accountability is priceless. I have never been more stretched mentally in my life and it feels so good.
13. My cats (and since they can’t read I won’t list their names here). But I really do love them a lot. They keep me company during the day when the kids are at school and just keep my spirits up when I have a bad day.
14. Candles. I love the fire glowing and the beautiful scents—it instantly relaxes and grounds me. I just wish my cats weren’t so interested in the flames and I could light them more often.
15. Office supplies. I could live in a Staples store for the rest of my life and be happy. I love post it notes, pens, file folders, etc. I have a nice cabinet in the garage where I keep my supplies and I always have what I need.
16. My bottle of magic on my desk. Someone very special (Toni Jo) sent me a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and in it came a gold coin, a candle, a journal, a soothing eye mask and a small bottle of what is probably sugar. But the bottle says it has magic in it and I believe it does. I keep it on my desk and look at it several times a day to remind myself that I have magic and can do anything!
17. Naps. I love to sleep and frequently recharge during the day with a quick 30 minute cat nap (the cats even join me sometimes). It reinvigorates me and is my personal mode of mental meditation.
18. Hot chocolate. I don’t drink coffee or tea and was feeling a little left out of the whole Starbucks crave. That is until I discovered they serve more than just coffee!! Who would have thunk? Anyway, I am hooked on their peppermint hot chocolate and order it year round (not just during the holidays). I even have a ritual on Fridays to order the cocoa and get their yummy oatmeal. It is my little treat after a long week and I feel a little bit more connected to the rest of the world by getting out and doing something that almost everyone else in the whole world does (go to Starbucks).
19. Birthdays! I love celebrating everyone’s birthdays and even my own. It is the one day of the year when you can truly celebrate yourself and all that you have accomplished since your last birthday. I always buy myself a gift so I know I will get something I really want! My kids always are very thoughtful and make me something, even if it is a handmade card. Birthdays are also special because they mean I am alive!
20. Computers. If I didn’t have my nice little army of computers I couldn’t do what I love and partner with entrepreneurs as their virtual assistant. A lot of the things mentioned earlier wouldn’t be possible without computers. Another fancy tool that makes my life easier.
21. Comfy, top notch hotel rooms. I absolutely love to travel and thoroughly enjoy the whole experience when I get to stay at a nice hotel with those wonderfully cushy down comforters and a room I don’t have to clean.
22. Grocery stores. I really enjoy food shopping. I really love it when I can go without any kids. I love to look at all the beautiful fruits and vegetables, the aroma of the baking bread in the bakery, the abundance of frozen foods just waiting to be heated up or eaten, the yummy Chinese food, the fresh meat department with all the fresh fish and steaks just waiting to be grilled or broiled. My senses explode with possibilities of the food I can make to soothe my soul. I love food and I love grocery stores.
23. Chocolate. I LOVE chocolate. Mostly milk chocolate but I am gaining a new appreciation for dark chocolate as well. And don’t make me eat white chocolate which isn’t really chocolate at all. I always have a stash of chocolate in my desk so that I can have a nibble whenever I want. My favorite would be Godiva, but I usually purchase Dove from the grocery store for cost factors. Those little bite size ones are just perfect.
24. My car. It is a 2004 Kia Amanti and I absolutely adore it. It is diamond silver colored with leather interiors. The front seats are heated (we call them butt warmers) which make it cozy in winter. The back seat is spacious enough to have two teenagers back there and they don’t have to touch one another. It is a V6 and has some nice pep to it. I really like the moon/sun roof especially since I live in a warmer climate. The trunk is huge! The gas mileage sucks which is why I really want a hybrid. Maybe next year.
25. My iPod. I love having all my favorite music at the touch of a button. I have my iTunes on the second computer in my office so I can always listen to any song I want while I am working. It is just a beautiful thing.
26. Choices. This is huge for me. I really like to have a choice for anything that I do. My great coach Stacy once told me that if someone gives you two choices, always choose the third option. I have never forgotten that piece of advice and whenever I am trying to make a decision I always think, “Hmmm, what else could I possibly do in this situation?” This has made a huge difference in my life. Thanks Stacy.
27. Love. I love being in love, I love being loved, I love thinking about love, I will be in love again. I love myself.
28. I am grateful for all the opportunities I have as a woman. I so appreciate all that the women before me have done to secure those options for me. I cannot imagine not voting, not being able to own a business, to not travel by myself… to marry who I want, to go wherever I want. I could list a bazillion things here.
29. God. I don’t believe in any one God, but I do believe that there is a spiritual being out there looking after me. I also believe that I hold the power in my own mind to do anything I want to do and don’t even need anyone’s help (God or otherwise) to have the life of my dreams. That is super powerful to me.
30. ME. I love me.

Comments

[Anne Ferguson]

Nicely done, Sharon! Wish I'd thought of some of them first!

[Laura Jo Richins]

Great list, Sharon! Thanks for sharing and reminding me of a couple of things. Can't wait to get my housekeeper back. :)

[Layne]

Nicely done!
Smiles,
Layne