List #3: Appreciating Life

I simply could not title this my "grateful list" because as powerful as that word probably is, it feels like a big fat cliche to me. Ever since The Secret got people drunk on the idea that showing gratitude was the key to solving every ill in life (or gaining personal wealth), I feel funny about the word.  The truth is, though, I figure The Secret is not to be dismissed entirely. I think it is quite likely -- just as Jane Robert's "Seth" and many other writers and philosophers have suggested, that our thoughts create our reality (albeit slowly). At the same time, I think that The Secret was rather simplistic and has a few holes.  I'm not here to argue with it, though.  The basic precept -- that positive thinking and gratefulness will provide a human being with a much improved life -- I don't think I could argue with that.

So... here's my list:

• I have beautiful, amazing, miraculous children.
• My body is healthy and I have very good endurance.
• My brain is decent and certain types of intelligences come easily to me. (Ala Howard Gardner)
• My book has gotten good reviews and each good review seems to lead to another person willing to review it -- which in turn give me more good reviews.
• I have the luxury to sit around and write stuff (kids, don't use the word "stuff").
• My son charms everybody he meets and then that "everybody" turns around and admires me as his mother (as if I am somehow responsible for it -- hee hee!).
• My daughter is beautiful and speaks up for herself assertively and sometimes aggressively (a great quality in a pretty girl).
• My husband is a stand up guy and we enjoy each others company most of the time.
• I live in a society in which conveniences such as doggie diapers exist.
• I have good credit.
• I have not been arrested for anything (yet).
• I am mostly free.
• I have a nice room in which to watch TV and movies.
• I have time to watch TV and movies.
• I found a good inexpensive gym where I feel comfortable working out and it is close.
• I am learning Spanish, Medieval history, biology, accounting, self-publishing -- all of which makes my life more interesting and I figure keeps my brain clicking along better.
• My clients are on the whole some of the nicest people anyone would every want to meet.
• My husband edited my book for me, thereby waving me moola.
• My cars run.
• I have health and auto insurance and a good health and driving record.
• My son is very talented at karate.
• My daughter is very talented at singing and creating art.
• My children are enjoyable companions (when they are apart from one another).
• My son and daughter are naturally liberal when it comes to issues of race and sexual orientation.
• I may worry about money, but only as a middle class individual in a privileged society need worry about money.
• I wrote a book, and a play, and a screenplay, and another book. Granted, they may not have made me a career author, but I have completed some written works. No one can deny me that.
• I am responsible and have a right to feel proud of the job I have done as a business owner -- I am not perfect, but a perfectionist -- and my clients have benefited from that.
• I have a very open, honest, and relatively healthy relationship with my children; we can talk about nearly anything and everything.
• My children were blessed with good looks, so life is easier for them (this may be unfair, but that's our society and we all know it).
• I'm grateful -- there's the word -- I really am -- that I am not obese and that I don't have any type of deformity that might put people off (I used to have vitiligo that was quite noticeable but all of my color is gone now so people think I am just very fair-skinned).
• I can see, hear, and touch (and smell just a little).
• My hair is really good, thick hair that is very versatile; stylists love it.
• Childhood summers at the lake.
• Good friends who made (make) me feel like I am valuable.
• Technology that puts the answers to so many questions at my fingertips.
• Extroverts
• Sleep
• Good TV shows like Freaks and Geeks (even though it's old)
• Good books like Of Mice and Men (even though it's older)
• Seasons
• Pagans and hippies
  

• I was only slightly traumatized in my youth.
  
  

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