Life can be full of stressors. There are times when only the negative prevails. It doesn’t matter where one is in life, there is always stress. Sometimes it seems out of our control and then inevitably casts a pall on the rest of the day, maybe causing a restless sleep, only to awake with the same anxiety.

This all happens without a pandemic.

Sometime in 2019 a friend posted a challenge of sorts on Facebook to write something you are grateful for, tuck it away, read it later. The point being that no matter the crap going on some good could be found in every day.

I randomly started writing “grateful notes” and put them in a container. I found myself doing so on days that were a challenge. Where I had to really look to be grateful. The simple act of writing the phrases helped get me out of my funk, or at least lessened it. It made me aware that plenty of good exists in my life.

I stopped writing them when I went back to the United States last year and have not resumed doing so since returning to Baja. Each day sitting at my desk I would see the container not getting any fuller. It was time to read what I had written.

This is what I wrote; the order is how I pulled them out of the container:

  • I am grateful for people helping me with book projects.
  • I am grateful for the people who believe in me.
  • I am grateful for the love AJ gives me.
  • I am grateful for friends near and far.
  • I am grateful for people who push me to write.
  • I am grateful for honest friends.
  • I am grateful AJ and I were not hurt worse.
  • I am grateful for my sister, Jann, giving me this opportunity.
  • I am grateful for the richness books bring to my life.
  • I am grateful for new friends in Todos Santos.
  • I am grateful for the unconditional love AJ gives me.
  • I am grateful for everyone who helped get my book published.
  • I am grateful I get to travel.
  • I am grateful for caring neighbors.
  • I am grateful my mom signed me up for tennis when I was a kid.
  • I am grateful for friends who look out for me.
  • I am grateful for the comfort AJ brings me.
  • I am grateful for nice Airbnb guests.
  • I am grateful for AJ.
  • I am grateful for my time in Baja.
  • I am grateful for neighbors who look out for me.
  • I am grateful for everyone who helped me after the dog attack.
  • I am grateful for authors who write interesting books.
  • I am grateful for friends who tell me what I don’t want to hear.
  • I am grateful for my health.
  • I am grateful for an abundance of fresh produce.
  • I am grateful for people in Baja welcoming me.
  • I am grateful to spend time with my mom.

This does not exhaust the list of things I am grateful for. I am certainly grateful for the friend who put the challenge out there to everyone to try this. I’m not sure if I will resume writing what I am grateful for, though it makes it more real. What I hope to do is pause long enough each day to consciously acknowledge what I am grateful for. I also need to start sharing with people how I am grateful for them being in my life. Let this writing be the beginning.

Pin It on Pinterest