100 Days of Gratitude - Day 38

I am grateful...

1. That I got up at 6:00 to start a new Ayurvedic daily routine.
2. For a peaceful morning meditation.
3. That I had my last post op this morning and I am approved for full normal activity!!!
4. That I chose an afternoon meditation instead of a nap. 
5. For a conversation and reconciliation of sorts with someone from my past who played a very important role in my life.  
6. For the love I shared and the lessons learned with this person.
7. For a great lunch with someone cool and the excitement of new opportunities.
8. For basil ice cream, delicious! 
9. To have had dinner with a friend when I didn't want to be alone.
10. That I have the luxury and pleasure of coming home and getting into a bed tonight.    

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100 Days of Gratitude - Day 37

I am grateful...

1. For such a beautiful day. It's perfectly warm and the breeze is on point. It feels like summer.
2. To find a note of encouragement given to me a while ago while looking for something else. It was exactly what I needed to put a smile in my heart this morning. 
3. To sit on my couch, looking at the bay, doing some editing, while Derby sat beside me. 
4. To have some work!
5. That I got out of the house just in time to walk to the water and watch the sunset, something I haven't done in far too long.
6. For the luxury of an afternoon nap. 
7. That tomorrow is, hopefully, my last post op appointment. 
8. To myself for being authentic. As my life moves forward, the decisions I am faced with have more weight. I recently had to make a decision that was really difficult for me. As Ghandi said, "To believe in something and not to live it is dishonest". I believe that there are certain things I (and we all) deserve, and I couldn't make decisions that didn't support that belief. That does not mean it was easy. It's still hard for me to deal with every day. I'm grateful that I am attempting to be the most authentic me I can. 
9. That I made a new girl friend who emailed me to say she can tell I am a strong willed woman. What a compliment! 
10. For Derby Blue, my constant companion. 

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100 Days of Gratitude - Day 36

I am grateful...

1. To see a little girl dance with excitement when picking out her new glasses.
2. That I'm the only one in my family that doesn't have to wear contacts or glasses.
3. That I got to help SiennaJane and Everett water the plants.
4. To play with the kiddos and that Sienna asked me to stay for dinner. "We have plenty a food!", she told me. Such a little cutie.
5. For little 3 year old toes.
6. That I asked everyone in my family if they would do something kind and they all said yes without hesitation.
7. For hugs from my mom.
8. For music that recognizes the pain in me. 
9. For Rumi and his eternal wisdom. 
10. To be snuggled by Sienna. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 35

I am grateful...

1. For a beautiful day. It was the perfect combination of sun and breeze. 
2. For a free iced tea provided by Honest Tea just when I was thinking "I wish I had an iced tea."
3. That I ate ice cream for breakfast...and lunch.
4. That it has been almost 6 weeks since my surgery and I will do yoga this week!! 
5. That when I didn't know what to do, Kellie did. 
6. For clean clothes and clean sheets. 
7. For moments of light in the darkness. 
8. To know that someday my life will be lived in light with fleeting moments of darkness.
9. That I have a home and a room and a bed and clean water. I know I've said this before, but I hope I never stop being grateful for it. Today I drove by a Hooverville in my own town, a tent city for homeless people. 
10. For the health of my parents. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 34

I'm grateful...

1. For SiennaJane 
2. For Aliah
3. For Ryan
4. For Hilary
5. For Edie
6. For my mom
7. For Derby Blue
8. For Stephanie
9. For sleep
10. For Anne Shirley

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 33

I am grateful...

1. For 3 good hair days in a row (extremely rare). 
2. For kind and loving words from my aunt Edie.
3. To see the beauty of how someone else sees me. 
4. That I got out of bed for a coffee meeting after only 3 hours of sleep.
5. For painkillers when absolutely necessary. 
6. For the peace and rejuvenation of sleep. 
7. For Derby Blue.
8. For photographs, both taken by others and by my own mind's eye.
9. That though I wasn't able to sleep, a sense of calm remained inside me all night and morning long. 
10. That what I know is only the beginning. 
11. That my biggest responsibility today was taking care of Derby.
12. That I know this migraine will pass eventually. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 32

I am grateful...

1. To my best friend for saying that I handled a difficult and emotional situation really well. 
2. For the chance to catch a bit of sleep this morning since I didn't get any last night.
3. To get an invite to a networking group lunch.
4. To connect with new people. 
5. To myself for getting out of bed on a day that I wanted to hide under the covers, putting on heels and make up, and most importantly, a smile and positive attitude. 
6. That I put off making a phone call, for whatever reason, until today. Because when I called today I got to talk to the person who most needed to hear form me. And it was a really cool moment. 
7. For some new work.
8. That I didn't get a ticket when I left my car for too long without putting change in the meter.
9. For Derby Blue, my little snuggly snuggle bug.
10. For Zac Efron. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 31

I am grateful!

1. That I started my day by opening a book to a passage about saying no, and how sometimes it's the best way to serve your heart. It was today!
2. That a last minute spot opened up for me at an event and I was invited. 
3. That I got to see Kathy Najimi speak. She was amazing!
4. To be inspired by amazing people doing work I admire. 
5. To meet some good people and expand my world. 
6. For Derby Blue, always adorable, always sweet. 
7. To my mom, who only said "I told you so" a little bit, and in the most loving way possible.
8. That sometimes people make it easy for you to walk away from them.
9. To myself. For making difficult decisions, and choosing the harder option. As The Frey song goes "Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same."
10. To Kellie, for being a really great friend. Today she invited me to a place she knew I wanted to be, she understood and respected my opinion, she listened with a loving ear, and she bought me coconut water when I really needed something to mix with my tequila. 
11. To one year ago Jen who wrote a list of all the things she wanted in a partner. 
12. To present day Jen, for not denying myself those things. 
13. To my aunt Edie, for texting me her gratitude list. For being a wonderful woman and a great friend. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 30

I am grateful...

1. That I woke up at 7:30 by accident for no apparent reason and had the whole day ahead of me.
2. That I crossed a couple more things off my to do list.
3. That the clouds parted and gave way to a blue sky. 
4. That I stumbled upon a new place and Derby got her nails clipped by someone who isn't me. 
5. That my women's network got a few new members today.
6. That I finished a couple projects and got to exercise my creative muscle.
7. That I watched Mad Med with Kellie while we painted our nails.
8. That a friend reached out to ask how I was doing.
9. For salted caramel fig. It is epically delicious. 
10. For my mom.

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 29

I recently read an article about how gratitude can hold you back from advancing your life, and I must say...whoever feels that way must not be doing it right. I believe that like breeds like. What we focus on is what we call in. If you start your day by stubbing your toe on the way to the shower and think "This is a shitty day" all throughout your morning, you won't be surprised when you're coffee spills, you're stuck in traffic, and your boss notices you're 5 minutes late. If you instead focus on gratitude, like "I stubbed my toe. But in a minute it will stop hurting, and I'm so glad I woke up in time to take a long hot shower", you might instead notice a cute dog on your way to get coffee, enjoy a good song and fresh air from your windows rolled down while you're in traffic, etc.

The idea from the article was, for example, that if you're grateful that you have a job you won't ask for a raise. As someone who practices gratitude I can tell you that when I'm grateful I want more good things for myself and especially others. "Life is good. How can I make it even better? What can I do? Who can I help?" are some thoughts that gratitude breeds in my own mind. It's also key to remember to be grateful for yourself. You can be grateful to yourself for killing it at work and realize that it is time for a raise. I know that when I'm grateful for life's blessings I'm much more likely to be grateful to myself instead of looking down on and being hard on myself. And I bet you are too.

Sometimes we stub our toes. It still hurts for a few minutes whether or not we want it to. But our reaction is what we have control over, and what will set the course of our lives.

Today I'm grateful...

1. For an epic nap! I know that once I start working again I won't have this luxury, so I'm loving every minute of it. 
2. That my women's network is getting some traction! I'm so excited for it! If you're a San Diego woman, check out the San Diego Miracle Worker's Power Posse I started on herfuture.com and request to join.
3. That I got to cross 2 major things off my to do list today.
4. That my sister, brother in law, and father are all feeling better. Family health is on the mend. 
5. For night drives with the windows down. 
6. That Kellie is home safely and soundly. 
7. That my cousin is safe...I have been worrying about him so much lately. 
8. For open and honest conversations. 
9. To be confident that the universe is taking care of me. 
10. That I trust that what's real cannot be threatened. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 27 & 28

So yesterday I didn't have time to actually put my list down on paper (or more accurately, online) but I did make the list last night in my head as I was falling asleep. Here are today and yesterday's. I'm grateful...

1. To my sister for being fun and easy to work with.
2. To my sister and brother in law for babysitting Derby for me for a night.
3. To the bartender at my venue who gave me a bunch of bottles of waters for free when I was super thirsty. 
4. To live so close to the best farmer's market in San Diego county. 
5. To the cheese guys at the farmer's market. 
6. For fresh bread.
7. For delicious organic strawberries. 
8. For just enough time to throw together a sweet date night for my favorite guy.
9. For fun, and laughter, and love and play. 
10. That my car did not explode before I had a chance to fix it. 
11. For enough leftover flowers to make a floral headband for my date. 
12. For pants that aren't jeans. 
13. To be dating someone that always spells "your" right in every given situation.
14. To dance with my guy.
15. That it's been close to 5 weeks since my surgery and I am finally feeling so much better!
16. For mini breakthroughs that make all the difference. 
17. That I figured out the oil situation in my car all by myself. Boosh!
18. To my parents for always graciously hosting holidays at their house.
19. To have spent today with my family. 
20. For SiennaJane in her white eyelet dress and blonde curls. Watching her smile and laugh and play is one of the great joys of my life. 
21. For the opportunity to help make someone's wedding day beautiful and get paid for it.
22. To be safe at home with my dog and a full belly and tired eyes after a great weekend.
23. That I can go to bed at 8pm if I want to.  

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 26

I am grateful...

1. For a shift in perception from fear to love. 
2. To myself for not giving up when it took a lot to shift it. 
3. For 2 days of work.
4. That working means spending time with my sister and creating lovely things. 
5. That I was surrounded by beautifully smelling flowers all day.
6. For finding 3 pennies on my morning walk.
7. That my brother in law is ok after a work injury.
8. That Derby was a good girl while I was gone all day. 
9. That I made a friend in the elevator. 
10. That my body is healing. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 25

Today I am grateful...

1. For a chance to wear a dress I've had for about 6 months on its maiden voyage. 
2. That Derby went to the bathroom quickly this morning when I was in a hurry (it's the little things).
3. That I got to meet someone very cool who is willing to help me on my career journey.
4. That I got to see an otter playing in the ocean - so cute!
5. To connect with someone important to me. 
6. To be shown love.
7. To be reminded that love lives inside of me.
8. That there is only 1.5 weeks left until I can be active again and do some yoga!
9. For a peacefully sleeping Derby Blue on the end of my bed. 
10. For the opportunity to easily make someone's night. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 24

I'm grateful...

1. For easy access to clean water
2. For comfy clothes that let my body move
3. For an opportunity to help someone who needed it
4. For quality time with a great friend
5. To watch Derby run around playing
6. For vanilla date shake flavor at yogurtland 
7. For pictures of SiennaJane
8. For the luxury of naps
9. For the memory of recent laughter and smiles
10. For exciting projects to come.

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 23

1. Flowering purple trees in my neighborhood
2. A great morning meditation followed by writing 
3. A morning walk with Derby Blue
4. Red and purple roses that smell amazing
5. Spending some quality time alone with my brother
6. Having a meal with my family
7. Help from my dad
8. A phone call with my best friend
9. My mom's laughter and smiles when she opened the gift I gave her
10. SiennaJane
11. Thoughtful advice from good friends
12. Feeling that I know am guided
13. Being actively true to myself 
14. Open communication with an important person
15. Getting things off my chest
16. A book opening to the perfect page 
17. Arielle Ford and the Art of Love
18. Gabby Bernstein 
19. Katherine Woodward Thomas
20. That I took the time to read through my journal from last year at this time and was able to witness and appreciate how far I've come...and then realize there is more work to be done
21. A great evening meditation 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 22

1. I'm grateful for my doctor. 
2. I'm grateful that tomorrow is my mom's birthday and that I get to celebrate her!
3. I'm grateful to my friend Nicole who answered the phone when I needed to speak to her. 
4. I'm grateful Nicole is coming to visit, giving me something to look forward to. 
5. I'm grateful for Nicole's loving ear and thoughtful words of advice.
6. I'm grateful for two clear messages to trust today. I am trusting! 
7. I'm grateful to Kellie for taking Derby out for me tonight. 
8. I'm grateful to some friends who generously emailed me some feedback when I asked.
9. I'm grateful that today was Day 1 of Deepak and Oprah's 21 day meditation. 
10. I'm grateful that after the meditation I was asked to write of a time I felt safe, and in that answer I was brought to a beautiful memory: "In the mediterranean ocean. I was floating in the translucent deep blue sea. It was a hot day and the water was the perfect temperature to cool my body. I felt completely secure, safe, and content. I wasn't sure how, but I knew in my soul and in my bones that everything would be ok. I was with people who loved me and I felt that love shine down on me, warming my soul as the sun did my body. Bathed in this love I felt safe." 

A photo of me and a friend around the time I spoke of in #10

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 21

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1. I'm grateful that I woke up to a phone call from my dad asking me if I was better today.
2. I'm grateful for a text from my aunt Edie hoping I was well today.
3. I'm grateful for a phone call from a dear friend to catch up.
4. I'm grateful that friend is doing so well and feeling so centered and connected after a long time of feeling less so. 
5. I'm grateful that I started and finished a project to my satisfaction today.
6. I'm grateful that I used my creativity to make something with my hands.
7. I'm grateful that my mom called me tonight to see how I was and tell me she loves me. 
8. I'm grateful for a long hot shower.
9. I'm grateful for Derby Blue.
10. I'm grateful that Call the Midwife kept me company today while I rested and created things.

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 20

1. I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to rest my body today because I really needed it. 
2. I'm grateful that Derby was so cooperative with my day of rest.
3. I'm grateful that I've made someone happy. 
4. I'm grateful that when I get in bed tonight I'll have clean sheets and a clean body.
5. I'm grateful to have had a long conversation with my best friend.
6. I'm grateful for simple but sweet text messages from a friend letting me know he's thinking about me.
7. I'm grateful that my copy of Miracles Now came in the mail last night and I'm excited to open it. 
8. I'm grateful to know in my heart that I'm being taken care of. 
9. I'm grateful that Kellie hugged me when I was breaking down.
10. I'm grateful that my mom told me that when Sienna said her prayers tonight she said "And God bless Auntie Jen." 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 19

1. I'm grateful I was able to sleep in, even if it was by accident.
2. I'm grateful that little Everett crawled up on my lap with a book when I was babysitting.
3. I'm grateful for Everett's chubby cheeks and joyous smile.
4. I'm grateful for the experience of singing Everett to sleep. That was really cool. 
5. I'm grateful that my sister got me a chai tea latte for no reason. 
6. I'm grateful that when SiennaJane walked into the house yesterday the first thing she did was scream my name and run to find me. It feels amazing to have a little angel love me. 
7. I'm grateful that I got to spend time with the kiddos and my sister at the Wild Animal Park.
8. I'm grateful that a butterfly landed on me and just hung out for a while.
9. I'm grateful that my other sister is healing well and fast from her own surgery.  
10. I'm grateful to have eaten a home cooked meal from my mom, who is an amazing cook. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 18

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1. I am grateful I received some very nice words today from some people I love.
2. I'm grateful that my sister is ok and on the road to being better.
3. I'm grateful that my aunt Edie's sinus infection is gone.
4. I'm grateful to have spent the day with my family.
5. I'm grateful to and for my niece and nephew. They constantly show me how to play, how to have fun, how to let go, and that sometimes it's best just to get naked.
6. I'm grateful I got to eat a fresh orange picked from my parents yard, sharing it in a huge mess with SiennaJane and Everett.
7. I'm grateful I got to sit and read a stack of books with SiennaJane in my arms listening and learning.
8. I'm grateful I got to play ball with SiennaJane in the pool and hear her laugh and watch her smile so big and innocently. Childhood is such a gift and this kid makes me so happy.
9. I'm grateful for Everett's chubby little cheeks.
10. I'm grateful for bath time with the little ones. Their little clean nakey selves are just too cute. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 17

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1. I'm grateful for a really great meditation last night...I feel like I am on the edge of something awesome and I'm so excited. 
2. I'm grateful that I woke up on a cloud.
3. I'm grateful that Kellie fed Derby for me this morning when I was out.
4. I'm grateful that my barista made a mistake in making me a medium coffee instead of a small.
5. I'm grateful to be inspired for new projects and to have an open mind for what's coming. 
6. I'm grateful to be free to walk outside my house wearing what I want and not be persecuted or feel unsafe. 
7. I'm grateful to witness a gorgeous sunset.
8. I'm grateful for a new friend.
9. I'm grateful to be heard and witnessed by a new friend.
10. I'm grateful for play time with Derby. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 16

1. I'm grateful that my mom bought me a gift of 4 hours of house cleaning, woo! Cannot wait to use it! 
2. I'm grateful for morning snuggles with Derby.
3. I'm grateful I ran into a friend while walking Derby.
4. I'm grateful for the beautiful day, it was truly gorgeous.
5. I'm grateful for the breeze that perfectly kept overheating at bay.
6. I'm grateful for some kind words. "I miss you" and "you're awesome" can mean so much.
7. I'm grateful my aunt has so much love as she deals with being sick.
8. I'm grateful I was invited to a workshop with Byron Katie tonight.
9. I'm grateful I went and heard some of her wisdom.
10. I'm grateful to spend some quality time looking into the eyes of someone I really care about. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 15

1. I'm grateful for the sun and the opportunity to bask in it.
2. I'm grateful that my aunt Edie went to the doctor and is on the road to recovery.
3. I'm grateful that everyone in my family got back from the desert safe and sound.
4. I'm grateful for the beautiful tulips in my home that keep opening up more beautifully.
5. I'm grateful to myself for taking the time to go through and delete about 1,000 emails today. 
6. I'm grateful for the beautiful sunset I'm currently watching while pondering my gratitude. 
7. I'm grateful for the breeze. I've been feeling this a lot lately, it really soothes my soul.
8. I'm grateful that 1 week from tomorrow I can do yoga again!
9. I'm grateful for the fro yo that I'm about to get, I know it's gonna be amazing!
10. I'm grateful to be alive today.

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 14

I want to share this video with you guys because it illustrates the power of choosing positivity over negativity. I'm willing to speculate that the folks at Honey Maid didn't initially have a loving reaction to all the hate they received from their original ad, but they shifted that negativity back to love. As a result, they received a literal ten fold of positivity in return. Like attracts like. We cannot, nor should we try to, control the way others react to us. What we can do is choose how to respond and move forward when faced with low level energy. Being mindful of our gratitude, even when it's difficult (like the days we can only be grateful that we got through the day) is a key tool to living in and drawing in our best life.

1. I'm grateful for sleeping in.
2. I'm grateful for the beauty of this day and the opportunity to enjoy it. 
3. I'm grateful to see Derby run around at the dog park, tongue hanging out, having a blast.
4. I'm grateful to feel healthier today than I did yesterday.
5. I'm grateful for all the smiles on my face and in my heart today when thoughts of last night came to mind.
6. I'm grateful for creative inspiration.
7. I'm grateful for a sale on some brushes at Dick Blick.
8. I'm grateful for Post Secret, Sunday Secrets, and the entire community and what they continue to do to make people feel less alone in their struggles. 
9. I'm grateful for my balcony, and the way the breeze is calm and the sun is bright when I sit out there looking at the bay.
10. I'm grateful for what's to come. And I'm grateful to have faith that it's going to be exactly what I need. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 13

1. I'm grateful that my fever broke in the middle of the night.
2. I'm grateful that after my fever broke I got some much needed sleep.
3. I'm grateful that my cold was almost gone when I woke up, woo!
4. I'm grateful for a great conversation with my cousin and love, Stephie.
5. I'm grateful for some quality time with my favorite guy.
6. I'm grateful for the V Elements festival.
7. I'm grateful for DJ Pork Chop & Dink.
8. I'm grateful that I found my garage clicker, wooooo!!!! Thank you St. Anthony!
9. I'm grateful for a day full of love, spirit, and good conversation.
10. I'm grateful for the breeze and the orange yellow sun shining on me while I danced with my healing body. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 12

1. I'm grateful for the crescent moon.
2. I'm grateful for my aunt Edie who reminded me to look at the crescent moon.
3. I'm grateful for echinacea and green tea.
4. I'm grateful for the time and opportunity to rest when I need to.
5. I'm grateful for Derby Blue.
6. I'm grateful for Rumi, his wisdom, and being able to read it.
7. I'm grateful for Bob Dylan.
8. I'm grateful that I got into my garage tonight.
9. I'm grateful for clean drinking water right out of my fridge.
10. I'm grateful for the abundance that I know is coming my way. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 11

"Faith has no reasons, proofs or justifications...it's a blind resolve based on nothing but the unwavering belief in something you find true, good & beautiful. Faith requires an unreasonable audacity." - Annie Lalla

1. I'm grateful that the flowers Kellie gave me are blooming beautifully, bringing pink spring joy into my home.
2. I'm grateful for The Art of Love and the wisdom I've gleaned so far. 
3. I'm grateful that it's free!
4. I'm grateful to all the great people who donated their expertise so I can experience it.
5. I'm grateful for the connection that this gratitude project is bringing between my great aunt and myself. 
6. I'm grateful for the people at Office Depot who were very kind and helpful today while I was trying not to have a meltdown.
7. I'm grateful for a good friend who always makes me laugh and whose love I can feel even across the country.
8. I'm grateful for pictures and videos of my niece and nephew.
9. I'm grateful for 2 new episodes of The Mindy Project after a 2 month hiatus.
10. I'm grateful for a long hot shower and for getting into bed early! 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 10

1. I'm grateful that I got to spend time with SiennaJane, my beloved niece!
2. I'm grateful that SJ was so sweet and loving and full of life during our play.
3. I'm grateful that I got to see my mom and sisters and little nephew.
4. I'm grateful for spending some quality time with a dear friend who I hadn't seen in way too long. Girl time is precious.
5. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to share some wisdom with her through books that I really love.
6. I'm grateful that someone else is going to do my taxes, woo!
7. I'm so grateful for my bed!
8. I'm grateful that my great aunt Edie sent me her gratitude list yesterday. It was heartwarming and I felt so much love from her.
9. I'm grateful for hugs from my loved ones.
10. I'm grateful that each day brings new opportunities.

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100 Days of Gratitude - Day 9

1. I'm grateful for a sweet note and a bouquet of flowers from Kellie.
2. I'm grateful to myself for paying off my jay walking ticket, finally. 
3. I'm grateful to that I got to see my mom today and that she helped me with something I couldn't do myself.
4. I'm grateful that I got to see my dad today and he helped me with a few things I couldn't do myself.
5. I'm grateful to have fresh clean sheets to sink into tonight.
6. I'm grateful that I get to see my niece tomorrow! I love that kid with my whole heart.
7. I'm in pain today, but this makes me realize I am so grateful that I can walk, and sit, and stand, and drive, all on my own. 
8. I'm grateful that there are places I can go when I don't want to be alone with myself, and just for an hour I can be in a room with other people who want me to be okay.
9. I'm grateful that today I remembered something a homeless guy said to me a few months ago when I gave him a granola bar. "You have a beautiful face and a beautiful heart." I am so grateful to have been seen by this man.
10. I'm grateful that when I called a good friend, even though it was late on the east coast, he picked up and gave me a nugget of good advice. He told me "Don't put your energy into something that's not giving anything back to you". And he's right.