31 Days of Wishes

I recently read that the gals who started 30 Days of Thanks is now doing 31 Days of Wishes for December. I’m going to participate – but offline. I decided to journal rather than blog this time around.

I’m telling you about it because the 30 Days of Thanks was such an amazing experience on many different levels. Not just personally but professionally and as a writer. If you decide to join in let me know and keep me updated about how it’s going for you.

30 Days of Thanks – Day 30

I started 30 Days of Thanks at a time when I wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t sure if I wanted to take on another project. At the beginning of November I had been sick for 2 months with sinusitis. It doesn’t sound like much but for 2 months I walked around feeling like I had been punched in the nose and had to breathe through my mouth.

I went through 2 cycles of antibiotics, a steroid nose spray and then finally out of desperation I asked for Prednisone. While the Prednisone reduced the swelling enough that I could breathe through my nose again – all the medication had taken its toll on my body. I could breathe again – but I still didn’t feel well AND had a low white blood count to boot!

I started seeing an acupuncturist to help me re-balance my body and cleanse my system of all the medications that I had taken. Between the acupuncture appointments, herbs and a non dairy / no sugar diet, my blood count is back up and I’m just now starting to feel normal.

There were many times that I wanted to blog about what was going on with me but couldn’t – I was still absorbing the fact that I had allowed myself to get so run down!

Looking back I am so thankful that I did participate in this project. It helped me keep perspective during a time I wasn’t feeling so well and I think it had a greater impact.

Since this is the last day I thought I would share my top Ah – Ha’s that came to me while blogging everyday about what I am thankful for:

1. I am thankful for good health. I learned that self care is more than massages, facials and pedicures. True self care is taking time to eat a healthier meal, taking a break and walking around the block, to allow others to help, to ask for help and to rest when my body needs it.

2. The only way I can teach my girls to be thankful is to model what being thankful means. It’s not about telling or explaining to them. It’s about being open about what I am thankful for and verbalizing it. Whether it’s saying thank you to them when they listen to me or saying thank you to my husband when he does the dishes. It means taking nothing for granted.

3. The things that I am truly thankful for cannot be bought or found in a store.

4. I am truly the mistress of my universe and how I navigate through life is up to me and me only.

5. Everything may not be as I wish or want it to be but it is perfect for this moment.

30 Days of Thanks – Day 28 and 29

I’ve had the last 2 days to myself! It’s a rare occurrence and one that I’m thankful for! I get so wrapped up in doing when the girls are around, when they’re not it’s hard to remember to just stop.

Another thing I’m thankful for – I’m almost officially done with my Christmas shopping! YIPEEEE! I didn’t post yesterday because hubby and I went out and finished our Christmas shopping. I literally have one more present to buy – that’s it – I’m done!

I love Christmas time but dread the traffic and crowded mall. Every year I make sure I’m done with my Christmas and birthday shopping (both my daughter and mom have birthdays in December) by the end of the first week of December. Being done with the shopping early allows me to relax and enjoy the season.

On another note I can’t believe the 30 days will be over tomorrow. It’s been an amazing experience and one I’ll be blogging more about.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

30 Days of Thanks – Day 27

I think this may be the last year that my 7 yr old believes in Santa. She’s starting to ask questions that aren’t easily answered and the answers we give her are sounding less plausible by the day. She even asked me when I was tucking her into bed if I still believed in Santa. I told her yes – which isn’t a lie. For the last 7 years Santa has been a real presence in our house each December. It’s hard not to drink the kool aid when I watch the girls having so much fun believing.

So, I am thankful that my daughter still believes in Santa – even if this is the last year. Having a little one that believes in the magic of Christmas and Santa has allowed me to let go and revel in the magic with her. I’ve had all kinds of fun over the years making snacks for Santa, watching Santa movies, tracking Santa’s sleigh on the Internet each Christmas Eve and seeing her delight when she opens gifts from Santa. Who knows what next year will bring but this year I am going to soak in every minute and enjoy the magic while it lasts.

30 Days of Thanks – Day 26

Today I’m just thankful.

There isn’t one thing I can put my finger on and say I’m thankful. I just have this peaceful feeling and feel like all is right in my world. Is everything as I want or wish it to be? No – but it’s exactly as it should be for this moment and I’m thankful for that.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!