Blessings

I have let most of the month of January go without the dreaded blog about resolutions, probably because they are pretty banal--lose weight, get more sleep, write more, exercise more, find a meaningful day job and not something that feels like running a cheese grater over my brain, etc.

For sure, there's plenty to work on--but the one resolution I  keep--and one that everyone can benefit from--is to count blessings regularly.  It's easy to get caught up in negativity--and even if it increases the number of hits to my blog, (eye roll, sigh) it really isn't where I live.   Counting blessings keeps me grounded. 

I am blessed. I have good health, and I love life.

My family is awesome.  I have teenage sons who are easy to get along with, and really make me proud of them for having good sense (most of the time) and their eyes on the future, not just the present.  I feel blessed that we actually have long conversations and laugh together a lot.

I am blessed that I have been married for a looooong time and it doesn't feel like it. I married the best guy, and I am amazed by him constantly for his wisdom, good sense, and wicked sense of humor. He's also a much better cook than I am.

I am blessed with a great Dad who is doing really well since my mom passed away. He's working, staying active, and jokes about cruising for chicks when he's going to the public library.

I am blessed that my in-laws all great people, and they have never once fit the stereotypes.

I am blessed that I can run again, and in yoga I can bend all the way down to put my hands flat on the floor.  After a debilitating back injury a couple years ago, I can't tell you how much this makes me happy.

I am blessed to work with such awesome people on my side job with the high school speech and debate team. I feel blessed that we are focused on the development of the students instead of just priming them for competition. We develop good speakers and actors and debaters, not good forensicators. (Though it is nice when they win anyway. I won't deny that we've been ranked one of the top 100 teams in the nation out of 3000.) It is a blessing to teach kids who want to be there, and to watch them grow from uncertain children to outstanding adults. It's nice to know that sometimes, they let us know we had an influence on their lives in profound ways.

I am super blessed to have the support and freedom to pursue passions such as theatre, music and art. I can't always be as involved as I would like to be, because life/work/family happens, but there is still room, and I am so grateful!  Right now I am so excited to be rehearsing a show with a new script so beautifully written it made me cry, and it's being directed by a person who is truly a genius.

Blessings lift you, and reminding yourself of them keeps the eye on what really is important.   Life is very, very good.