Grateful Day

I have these days (well, mornings, really) where the grass appears greener, the sky bluer, and the pep in my step a bit higher. I am overwhelmed by all the good in my life. I start counting all the things I am grateful for and the list goes on and on and on and on. I’ve tried “gratitude journaling” before and because I am me, I have a hard time being consistent with it (there will be a whole post on this later, don’t you worry!) I am inclined to think when this overwhelming feeling takes over, someone is telling me to stop and smell the roses. To stop letting negative thoughts creep in. To appreciate all of the many wonderful people in my life and all I have in life. When something sparks this feeling, my mind starts to reel, thinking, counting, and multiplying all of the good things in life. You see, what I’ve found is when you stop and give gratitude to one thing; you begin to see the gratitude in all (ok, most) things. For example (this may or may not be the domino effect that happened in my brain this morning):

1) I love my dogs. Sure, they are naughty and aren’t the best behaved dogs in the world, but they are mine. When they sit and stare at me with smiles on their faces (yes, of course, they want something I have, duh) my heart swells with gratitude for these unique creatures in my life.

2) My mind starts to wander to my family. I am anticipating a Sunday Funday with them this weekend and am pretty excited for it. Every family has their unique quirks, traditions, and dysfunctions. I am very grateful for mine. Team Lauf, baby!

3) I go in the kitchen, where our couch is still sitting, and look at the dirty mess that is my house right now. Yes, I just admitted my house is dirty (sheetrock dust!) and messy and guess what? I’m okay with it. For it means I have a house to live in. The mess will likely be taken care of sooner rather than later, but my gratitude for this structure will remain.

4) I grab my phone, which is next to my sleeping husband, who arrived home from work around 10pm and was probably up until some ungodly hour typing notes. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.

5) I eat my breakfast and watch the Today show. Do you get where this is going? Wow, I have food to eat. Wow, I have cable TV to watch. More gratitude.

6) I kiss my hubby and pooches goodbye and get into my car. Car to drive = gratitude. Being able to afford gas in the tank = gratitude.

7) I began driving to work (I have a job!!! A good one! With benefits! Using my degree! With great coworkers!), smiling at the people next to me while stopped at red lights (another day, another post). I am thankful for the grass that looks greener, the sky that looks bluer, and the extra pep in my step.

8) I decide to call one of my best friends, who I talk to fairly often on my way to work and who has experienced the excited, overwhelmed (overwhelming?) grateful Lauf a time or two. She does not answer, but that does not stop me from being incredibly grateful I have her in my life. I begin to think of friend after friend, some who are on active duty, some who are in the reserves and some who were…lost at sea. I am grateful for all of them, for the impact they have (have had) on my life.

Now, of course this could continue all day with everything I see and everyone I encounter, but it very likely won’t. You see, it is a daunting, exhausting task. The more you look for the good, the more you find. And I can’t count that high.

Can you?