100 Days of Gratitude - DAY 100

It is day 100. I think when I started this project, 100 days ago, I was sitting right here on the far left corner of my bed typing on this laptop. What has changed? Well, the color of my room, for one. It used to be pink and now it's purple. Most notably my body has healed. I went from barely being able to move without pain to an acrobatic yoga class last week. I still don't have a "job", but I am doing things each day that I feel good about. Brunch Club was born and with the help of my amazing community I have been able to positively impact lives. I have made some really great new friends and my circle has expanded. I have started to facilitate a women's circle in my home and it's been wonderful. I have gone through this journey with my great aunt Edie, who has also done 100 days of gratitude. I have met one of my heroes, Gabrielle Bernstein. I have grown closer to my niece. I have forgiven and let go of some people. I have cried of a broken heart. I have been euphoric in joy over love. I have been sick, healthy, happy, sad, and everything in between. I have lived 100 days of life and in each one found at least 10 things to be grateful for. And I'm grateful to you all for taking this journey with me. Thank you.

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I am grateful...

1. That I kept the commitment to myself to complete this 100 days of recording my gratitude.
2. To each person that has come into my life during this time, like Adam, who came over tonight with medicine because he knew I was feeling sick, and took me to Whole Foods to get groceries because he knew I had nothing in the house. Like Viviana and Lisa who I didn't know until a couple months ago and now bring so much love into my life.
3. For Derby Blue, who probably got the most shout outs on all these lists. Who has been a loyal and loving furry friend to me for 7.5 years. 
4. To my inner guide, my higher power, the spirit guiding me constantly. 
5. For friends who have continued to be a source of joy, love, and support in my life. For Aliah, who I am so grateful to be able to grow with along our respective paths even though we are so far apart. For Kellie, who has been an awesome companion to live with and learn with. 
6. For the vast knowledge held by the universe and the access to it. For all the books and articles I've read and the information I have learned, day after day. That because of this and constant new experiences I am able to learn and expand my mind every day.
7. For the love and support of my family, and connections I've been able to create again, like with my cousin who I hadn't seen in years. For his sobriety and his doing so well. For each moment I get to spend with my niece and nephew. For hugs from my mom and smiles from my dad. 
8. For Brunch Club, everyone involved in it and their generosity with time, money, and hearts. For everything it has done for each person involved in any way and for everyone willing to help. 
9. For Jamie. In loving him I have learned about forgiveness, and letting go, and what I really want in a partner. For the way I feel when he looks at me. 
10. For love. Whether I feel it from Earl, the homeless guy who sleeps by the bank near my house, or in long loving hugs from Kellie or Jamie or in Adam coming over to bring me medicine, I feel love in all the ways it is offered and there is nothing more warming, more beautiful, or that gives me more life than love. For that and everyone who brings it I am eternally grateful.   

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 99

I am grateful...

1. To sleep in. Really in.
2. That the first thing I saw this morning was a message from a loved one.
3. That soon I will be getting a paycheck.
4. To spend time with Kellie.
5. For fair food and rides and photo booth fun.
6. For Derby Blue.
7. That Lisa is home and I get to see her soon.
8. That all my siblings who went sky diving today are safe and unharmed.
9. That I won the coin toss and didn't have to drive to the fair.
10. For a nice phone call with Adam

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100 Days of Gratitude - Day 98

I am grateful...

1. For such an amazing morning full of love and happiness.
2. For a mid morning nap.
3. To see a beautiful friend at the Farmer's Market and give her hugs and kisses.
4. For an hour catching up with Kellie while laying out in the sun.
5. That Kellie is happy for my happiness.
6. That Derby is such a good, sweet girl.
7. For texts all day that let me know I was loved and thought about.
8. For the great people that I worked a wedding with who made it run smoothly.
9. For great clients that are so in love. Couples like them make my job a pleasure. 
10. For Pablo Fernandez, who is awesome, and who I am very excited to do good work with.  

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 97

I am grateful...

1. That I got to celebrate my cousin's birthday at a fun breakfast with him and my brother. 
2. That on his birthday he is 86 days sober and doing great. I am so proud of him.
3. That my brother gave me a box of shoes for Soles4Souls.
4. For time to do a little yoga after breakfast and before my afternoon meeting.
5. For a fairly quick and easy meeting with good clients.
6. For something to look forward to all day. 
7. For the consideration of someone telling me in advance that they were running late.
8. For a great surprise date with someone very special to me.
9. For a first time acro yoga class, how fun!
10. For a truly beautiful night and the person who orchestrated it. 

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 96

I am grateful...

1. To know who I am and want I want from this life. It took me a long time to get here.
2. For music, and communicating with people by sending songs back and forth. 
3. For Derby Blue and her constant companionship. 
4. For an invitation to have a delicious breakfast with friends new and old.
5. For a really great and meaningful compliment.
6. To know that the words I choose carefully and thoughtfully make an impact on people.
7. To cross a few things off my to do list.
8. For Kellie, always, and specifically now for lending me epsom salt and vitamins because I'm feeling under the weather.
9. For my family, who will look for shoes they no longer wear to donate for a project I've been asked to help with. 
10. To be asked out by the only person I've wanted to go on a date with this year.

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100 Days of Gratitude - Day 95

I am grateful...

1. For a chance to sleep in.
2. To get some emails done before play time.
3. That the sun came out and the day was beautiful.
4. To spend a few hours at the beach.
5. To spend those hours at the beach with my sister and her kids, my little sand crabs.
6. For SiennaJane and everything she does and says. That she gives me so very much love and affection. For our close relationship. 
7. For a moment that I can only explain as happysad, that I don't even fully understand myself, that brought me to tears in (I think) a good way. 
8. For a long walk with Derby Blue and pandora. We both needed it and the night air was perfect.
9. For a call from a friend who I am so excited to collaborate with!
10. That so many people are doing different things to help out with Brunch Club out of the kindness of their hearts!

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Brunch Club

I am so grateful that there's been interest in Brunch Club. The more people get involved the more good work we can do. For anyone wondering how this came about, it went a little like this...

In May I created my own non profit here in San Diego. Brunch Club is a group I started to positively impact the homeless community. I live downtown and see homeless people every day. Most people walk by them and pretend they don't exist because it's just easier. It seems so daunting to try to help. That, and we're scared. But I believe alienating them is the worst thing we can do. They are people, who started out as babies just like us. A series of unfortunate events occurred in their lives and now they have nothing. Some have fought for our country, many have been abused, and all have been thrown away by society. On my birthday this year I bought some bagels from a cafe and handed them out to some homeless people on Broadway. Just 5 bagels. The gratitude they showed and the look in their eye was so powerful. How simple to just look at them instead of past them, and it makes such a positive impact.

A few months ago I was feeling down in the dumps about a breakup I was going through. I felt myself sinking into self pity and I really didn’t want to go down that road. So I decided to be of service to someone else, which is the best way I know how to get over myself. I knew I wanted to feed the homeless, to give them what I could, but as I’m unemployed, what I can give isn’t much. It was Thursday, and I posted a Facebook invite for a day of service on Sunday. I didn’t know if anyone would show up, and I planned to do it alone if they didn’t, but I knew that if more people came and chipped in a few dollars we could feed more than 5 people. I didn’t want to just drop off stuff to them though, I wanted them to know they are thought about, and cared for, and most of all worthy of a good life. So I made 50 handwritten notes with words of inspiration. On the other side I wrote the name and address of a local shelter.

On Sunday morning 7 people showed up at my house to help me. We made 50 packs with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a bottle of water, a toothbrush, a granola bar, and a note and went to hand them out in a forgotten part of town where the homeless congregate. In a matter of minutes the packs were gone. As I got back into my car I turned and looked at a man sitting on the floor as he took his sandwich out of the bag. Taped on the bag was a note I had written, and as he read it his face lit up and was enveloped by a warm smile. We made eye contact as he held back tears.

Through Facebook, my wonderful local community, and word of mouth, Brunch Club grew. For the second event in June 37 people came to my house. We were able to get some food and hygiene kits donated from some local places. With my own money I bought enough supplies for 150 packs of requested items. I wrote twice as many notes, and other members of the group wrote some too. We fed 200 people and handed out 150 packs. I put out a jar for donations and recouped the costs plus $100 extra that will go towards July's event. We saw more tears of gratitude and joy, handed out hugs, shared prayers, and heard stories. 

In the near future I hope to hand out tote bags or ideally backpacks with the items and notes inside so we can eliminate using plastic bags and offer them another item that is often requested. I hope to get a sponsor or sponsors who will donate bags, food, and items so that I don't have to borrow from my limited resources. 

A meal and hygiene items can really help, but truly it’s the connections that make the most impact. It’s the tears from a 17 year old boy who told us that he’s all alone because everyone he has ever known has been killed on the street. He asked us to pray for him, and we stood around him in a circle and did exactly that. We hugged him, we shook his hand, and we told him we wanted to see him make it to his 18th birthday next month. He just kept repeating “thank you”. This is what the Brunch Club is about. This is what we do. We look people in the eye and tell them they are worthy. We give them what we can. We give them food and stuff they need, and we give them love.

Please 'like' our facebook page to get updates about our events and join in. Follow us on Instagram @brunch_club. If you would like to donate money or items, please get in touch with me at jennifereliz@gmail.com. Thank you!