My favorite t-shirt
Ten things that make me happy and/or grateful
What makes me happy?
What fills me with gratitude?
There are so many!
Back before Vishen Lakhiani started Mindvalley.com, he started a little website called gratitudelog.com, where you could setup an account and post what you were grateful for. The aim was to make keeping the gratitude log a daily practice.
There was even a minor social aspect to it, as others could see what you posted, and comment if they chose to do so. I had a number of comments over time that people really liked some of my posts on what I was grateful for, and why.
Unfortunately, gratitudelog.com no longer exists, though I have requested repeatedly that they reactivate the site, but it was my first introduction into keeping a gratitude log, which I have continued to do off and on ever since.
And I have found that, without exception, when I am keeping a gratitude log, and adding to it regularly, I am happier than when I am not.
Obviously this is my own experience, and thus not scientifically validated, but there have been clinical studies with similar results, so there is something to it.
So here is my decidedly unscientific, but honest, list of things that I am grateful for right here and now, acknowledging that if you ask me tomorrow, I'll likely come up with an entirely different list. ;-)
TEN:
I am grateful that, when driving home tonight, when an animal crossed unexpectedly right in front of my car, in front of my next-door-neighbor's house, I was able to stop in time and not hit it.
I think it was a raccoon, but may have been an overweight cat, but I actually got out of my car to make certain that I hadn't hit it; it had effectively played chicken with my car. No sign of it, so I did not hit it, which definitely made me happy.
NINE:
I am grateful that night, when I started to sit at my desk and belatedly realized that Truffle had gotten there first, I managed to somehow balance well enough that I didn't put my full weight on her, and avoided squashing her.
This was pretty much immediately after missing the animal in the road, so to miss that animal only to squash my own kitten by sitting on her would have been just too depressing. So I'm very grateful that my sense of balance, however awkward, saved the day.
EIGHT:
I am grateful for working air conditioning. I mentioned earlier in Discord that we had an unexpected guest this weekend, but I don't think I mentioned that our central air conditioner had ceased to blow cold the following night, and our temps were due to be in the 90s . . . in a house with virtually no insulation. I called Al, our A/C guy, who is also a good friend, and he promised me he would be out the following morning. He was, and he fixed it, YAY!
Then, a few hours later, it stopped blowing cold again. And this was Saturday night. And Al does not work on Sunday. Ever. Damn. The temperature got up to 95 degrees outside, and 85 degrees inside. Yuck. I left him a message and prayed.
He came out Monday morning, even though he doesn't usually work on holidays, and replaced our run capacitor. Again. Evidently the one he installed Saturday went bad, which doesn't happen often, but it did this time. Oh, well. It's fixed now, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
SEVEN:
I am grateful that Musica seems to be back to her old self, no longer in a panic over whatever was so upsetting her, and back to being loving and sweet (most of the time).
SIX:
I am grateful that our riding mower is back to working, as I was about to have to lay in machetes and scythes to hack through the thick jungle undergrowth.
Kidding aside, our grass is ridiculously high, as we had to wait several weeks for the correct part, so even just being able to make a few passes around the perimeter made me feel better. Hopefully the weather will cooperate so that I can complete he mowing by this weekend, at which point it will be about time to start it once again.
FIVE:
I am grateful that Lolo's meds are working, which consist of three Benadryl twice daily wrapped in ham, so that he is no longer biting his tail raw due to his allergies to fleas and chiggers.
He has been a MUCH happier boy for the past couple of months, which is a godsend, and it has no doubt added substantially to his quality of life.
FOUR:
I am grateful for my ongoing studies, especially my concurrent studies of Vishen Lakhiani's book “The Code of the Extraordinary Life,” with the Mindvalley “Quest for Personal Mastery,” taught by the incomparable Dr. Srikumar Rao. The book comes with its own lesson plan, and the two programs dovetailed very nicely together, giving me greater insights than If I had taken them completely separately.
I am strongly considering going through both programs once again, as repeating this sort of program tends to lead to further and deeper insights, and I am hoping that Marek may join me on the journey this time. I'm grateful that we have the opportunity.
THREE:
I am grateful for the Internet, for the increased speed and opportunities for communication, research and education, for the ability to look up complex information from the convenience of my phone, and for the intelligence and wisdom to put it all aside on occasion when I need a breather.
TWO:
I am grateful for Steemit, grateful that I found it when I did, grateful for all the great communities being built, for the friends I am making, and for the incredible explosion in opportunities for us all. We are truly living in exciting times.
ONE:
I am grateful for Marek, grateful to have finally found in one man both my lifemate and best friend, grateful for his humor and intelligence, for his honor and spiritual groundedness, for his honesty and tolerance, and for his ability to see me for who I really am, deeply, and love me for it, as I love him.
He is a truly amazing and wonderful man, even when we are disagreeing on something, and rarely in my life have I laughed so hard and so freely with anyone on such a frequent and ongoing basis.
Smart as hell, insightful, and hilarious. And did I mention that he speaks five languages? Yeah. That.
Those of you who have yet to meet him have something truly special in store. And the man can cook!!! Woo hoo!!! What more could I possibly want? ;-)
So there you have my list, or tonight's list, at any rate. Though Marek and my animals will always top the list.
Not to mention the friends I've recently met through 
Which reminds me of a conversation I had with my lifelong childhood friend, whom I've known from age six, and who is still a close friend, when we concluded that friends are the family we choose.
So there, in a nutshell, is what you all mean to me:
Friends are the family we choose.
Love you all.
This post, and all those from now until the end of 2018, I am dedicating to the work of #tarc and #yah, aka 
All SBDs earned from my posts will be evenly split between the two organizations.
#tarc #yah #ecotrain #ghsc #thirtydayhaikuchallenge #steemsugars #teamgirlpowa #womenofsteemit #steemusa #qurator #steemitbasicincome #knot #bethechange #chooselove #naturephotography #photography #neighbors #beauty #love #animals #dogs #rescue #adoption #spayandneuter #homesteading #permaculture #naturalhealing #dogrescue #dogsofsteemit #grace #poetry #philosophy #beablessing #naturalremedy #wildlife #atlantameetup #art #family #peace #tranquility #happiness #happy #gratitude
art and flair courtesy of @PegasusPhysics
