This n That

Today I am Grateful for ~

• Working on my personal essay with my honors mentor.
• Her encouragement and affirmation when I was minimizing my accomplishments.
• Maintaining my focus on graduation in May and transferring to Wayne State in the Fall.
• Streching beyond my perception of myself and staying the course even though it is very uncomfortable right now.
• Being invited to join/accepting the invitation to join Phi Theta Kappa. It's the honor society for 2 year colleges.
• Having Dr. Friedman & Dr. Abraham join Richard & I at the lunch after the induction ceremony.
• Getting the chance to talk with Lisa again. I like her.
• How quiet snowy nights are.
• Walking meditations a few times this week.
• Feeling better after being sick.
• Starting to get back to a more normal routine.
• The beauty of snow covered branches.
• My cat sleeping on the desk in front of me.
• Loving being in the theater/on the stage.
• Chocolate chip cookies.
• You.

Love,

Sharon

Showered with Love

Today I Am Grateful For~

• A great weekend last week reconnecting with my softer side.
• Being a part of making a difference in the world.
• Receiving an abundance of affirmation and affection over the weekend.
• Special "just for me" messages from the Universe.
• The warmth and hospitality of Mary Ellen and Milt. Not to mention the unconditional love that they shower on me.
• Anne Flamard and her vulnerability and courage.
• Connie Meador, Barb Crumm, Carol Nickeloff, Darryl Loshbough, Jim Kasparzak, Barb Kasparzack, Chris S., Tera Garza, Rosa Nuno, Cathy Netter, Elizabeth Kasparzack, and Kathy Briggs.
• Striving to be the change I want to see in the world.
• Reconnecting with awesome people who strive to grow and make a difference and who exude love and acceptance.
• You, my mystical connection, you.

Love,

Sharon

Growing Stronger

Today I am Grateful For ~

• Being the first person in class to solve an Algebra problem given to us and earning extra credit for it! This is huge progress!!!! I am starting to become comfortable with this subject!!! Woo! Hoo!!!
• Feeling stronger already as a result of the yoga & pilates.
• Realizing that taking the pilates class is a mini-dream come true. Years ago I read an article on pilates and thought, "I want to do that!"
• Realizing that I can always make an exercise class part of my school schedule. Wow, what a concept!
• Picking up my application for graduation today.
• Feeling so totally relaxed right now.
• Loving/supportive comments about my lists~Thanks, Nat and Leo!
• Shaina putting her head on my shoulder today in the car.
• Cuddling with Richard when I got home tonight.
• TLC this weekend and the opportunity to see/hang with SG Michelle.
• Reminders from the Universe helping me stay on track regarding changing the habit of sometimes getting my wants met at the expense of others.
• Learning to embrace my inner brat. Okay, maybe just accepting the idea of embracing my inner brat. I'm not exactly to the embracing stage yet.
• Growth even when it challenges my concept of who I am.
• You.

Love,

Sharon

Enjoying Myself

Today I Am Grateful For ~

• An awesome Oliver! rehearsal. Participating in workshop restructuring, building platforms that will be the London backdrop, climbing around, through and over props stuffed in storage to get to the props we need.
• Knowing the names for tools and being able to go get the "9/16 ratchet" or the "lag bolts", etc. when people called out for them.
• My math instructor's sense of humor. Quote for the day, after asking an illogical question: "Listen, just because I ask you a bad question, that doesn't mean you have to give me a bad answer...just tell me my question doesn't make sense." Hm-mm, I think this could apply to interpersonal relations as well as math. I love this guy!
• Intuitively using a couple of yoga poses yesterday when I had a severe headache. As a result I adverted a migraine.
• Professors who have a passion for what they teach and inspire their students to take action.
• The Universe providing experiences that I didn't even know I had dreamt of until having them.
• Choosing to go to my work-study job today even when I didn't want to. I feel stronger when I "make" myself do what I don't want to do.
• The cameraderie of the Oliver! cast and the acceptance and connections I'm forming with my classmates.
• Flirting and being reminded of my desirability.
• Richard making dinner tonight.
• Standing in the kitchen eating together before I had to rush off to class.
• Our deepening communication.
• A lavender bath and a cup of chamomile tea before bed.
• You, I'm grateful for You.

Love,

Sharon

Gifts

Today I Am Grateful for ~

• Pell Grants.
• Having books & supplies handled.
• Our friend Steev's computer skills and sense of humor.
• A brand new dictionary!
• The joy of reading it.
• Going to my first satsang last night. It's an informal gathering at our local yoga center where they discuss yogic texts, ideals and principles.
• Having Richard join me.
• That the discussion was thought provoking.
• Having another one of those "creating the life I want" moments last night.
• Realizing that I've fallen off the forgiveness wagon and recognizing the need (for my peace of mind) to jump back on it.
• Campfires in January.
• A last minute invite to a neighbors birthday dinner.
• My second yoga class today.
• Following the flow.
• The gift that is, You.

Love,

Sharon

En-Couraged

Today I am Grateful For ~

• A safe, uneventful New Year's Eve.
• Shaina returning home safely.
• The over the range microwave that is being installed in my kitchen by my handy husband.
• Never-ending hot water.
• The way my smaller cat Tippy has of burying his head under my chin and kneading his paws on my chest (thank god I clip his claws!).
• A warm safe house to live in.
• Softly falling snowflakes.
• In depth, introspective, open conversations with Richard.
• His courage and increasing ability to look inward.
• Taking a look at where I put my wants first, at the expense of others.
• Deciding that it is a survival tactic and that I won't use it anymore because I want to Thrive not survive.
• Knowing that if I slip up, I can always start fresh.
• The wonderful, comforting thought that came to me today when I decided that I "should" spend part of my day meditating and getting right with God. As soon as that idea crossed my mind, it was followed up by... , "Actually, you are already right with God. You just need to get right with yourself." WOW!
• The feelings of safety and comfort that continue to echo through me every time I realize the truth of that statement.
• How en-couraged I feel, as a result.
• Knowing that I can do whatever it takes to Thrive and that it doesn't have to be at the expense of others.
• You, my Epiphany, you.

Love,

Sharon