Last week Mom emailed me and reminded me about a “gratitude journal” that she, Dad and I used to keep when I was a junior in high school. Each day we would each jot down 5 things that we were grateful for, from “a loving family” to “a cat on my lap” to “my new golf clubs.” It was remarkable to recall how easy it was to spend a couple of minutes thinking about what we were grateful for, and what a big difference it makes to focus on the things that bring us pleasure and joy rather than the things that stress us out and make us worried or anxious. Especially now that my life is more stress- and pressure-filled than it was 10 years ago, it was inspiring to think that I could shift my energy in a positive way with so little effort.
I really want to bring back the gratitude journal, but I don’t want it to consume my posts, so I am going to give it its own page.
(Per Knittikins’ suggestion, the page is now organized chronologically with most recent post first, so no need to keep scrolling all the way to the bottom!)
8-22-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) Rocky road ice cream
2) Good news from the mortgage guy about what kind of condo I can afford!!
3) It’s almost the weekend
4) Fun events with friends planned
5) Warm late summer evenings
8-21-07 (ack, it’s been a month!!!) Today I am grateful for:
1) Interesting new cases at work, esp my new pro bono case
2) Sweet phone call from a friend
3) A relaxing evening reading a good book
4) Ben & Jerry’s (yes, I’m a bit obsessed)
5) A nice thank you note from a friend whose bachelorette party I attended
7-22-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) A relaxing day by the pool with Knittikins and others
2) Seeing a good movie yesterday
3) Getting to have a nice dinner & evening with BF last night
4) Afternoon naps
5) Going to Hawaii soon!!
7-19-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) A successful morning in court and a nice judge
2) Getting on yet another new case at work
3) Getting to go to a Dodgers game tonight
4) The prospect of a restful, work-free weekend
7-17-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) Having awesome friends who give me great advice
2) Getting to sleep in
3) Having dinner with friends tonight
4) a fun trip this past weekend with my co-workers
5) going to Hawaii in 2 weeks!!
7-12-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) Getting praise on my work
2) A fun lunch in the sun with my favorite work friend
3) Post work drinks with some co workers
4) Being at home (finally!) in a comfy T-shirt
5) Tomorrow is Friday and the rafting trip!
7-11-07
1) Being busy at work again
2) Mom & Dad booking a trip to see me in October, yay!
3) Getting a $4 million judgment for our client (I am now 1 for 1 in trials – ha ha)
4) Lots of congratulations & thanks for # 3
5) A decadent chocolate cupcake at lunch
7-10-07
1) Getting put on two 1/2 interesting new (to me) cases at work
2) Fun bowling event with work people
3) Getting compliments
4) Being able to go to sleep early tonight
5) The Alaska Airlines sale that will allow me to see Mom & Dad an extra time this fall!
7-9-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) Long, warm summer evenings
2) Yummy dinner at Dolce with friends
3) A nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon
4) A cool breeze through the window
5) Getting to hear about Dad’s penny slot winnings
6) 2 fun trips coming up next month (Hawaii and Vegas!)
7-8-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) Time by the pool with Knittikins
2) Gorgeous weather all weekend
3) A yummy dinner & salsa dancing last night
4) Time to finish an excellent book (The Year of Magical Thinking)
5) Catching up on the phone with a good friend
6) Lots of good quality time with Noodles this weekend 😉
7-5-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) A fun 4th of July with friends
2) A chance to catch up with some of my co-workers over lunch
3) Today feels like Monday, but it’s really Thursday!
7-3-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) No work tomorrow!!!!
2) A lazy morning
3) Dinner plans with friends tonight
4) A friend letting me know about a cool writing contest
5) Getting a sweet and appreciative email from a partner I work with.
7-2-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) It finally feels like summer for real!
2) Having fun plans for the 4th of July (yay for the Farm!)
3) Having a good lunch with my favorite co-worker
4) Having time to clean up my office so that I can actually see the surface of my desk!
5) Having a slow day at work to relax and catch up on small things before I dive into something new.
6) Having a wonderful family who made my weekend visit so great!
6-30-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) Enjoying the company of my parents this weekend
2) Going to the Saturday Market, one of my favorite hometown things
3) Sitting outside in the sun this afternoon, reading and enjoying the beautiful garden
4) Eating dinner at one of my favorite restaurants
5) Laughing hard tonight watching Curb your Enthusiasm
6) Sleeping in!!!
7) Lots of people have been reading my blog!
6-28-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) Being at home with Mom & Dad!
2) Having a painless and easy flight
3) Mom & Dad buying me pretty clothes for Hawaii
4) A fun lunch today with my co-workers
5) Good friends to feed Noodles while I’m away
6) 3 days of R & R ahead of me!
6-27-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) My big case settled (for real this time, after a brief panic today)
2) Drinking an ice cold Sprite on a warm evening
3) Seeing one of my co-workers be honored by the ACLU today
4) One more day of work left this week
5) Flying to see my family tomorrow!
6-26-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) My biggest case settling!!!!! (aka, not having to travel with laptop this weekend)
2) Getting off work at a VERY decent hour)
3) Good baby news from 2 of my co-workers
4) My favorite lunch being served at work today
5) Having free time tonight to do whatever I please!
6-25-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) Finally being at home in my PJs
2) Hearing that ppl are saying nice things about me at work
3) Dinner with 2 of my co-workers
4) A cool breeze coming in the window
5) I get to see my family in 3 days!
6-24-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) A fun weekend with various of my girlfriends
2) a beautiful hike this morning
3) Noodles is nuzzling my feet (he loves me again!)
4) A fresh pedicure
5) Greek food for dinner
6-21-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) A fun evening with my co-workers
2) Belly laughs
3) Winning on the motion to compel I drafted!
4) Getting a chance to blog (with Noodles at my feet no less)
5) Tomorrow is Friday!!
6-20-07 Today I am grateful for:
1) Having so many fabulous friends (that includes you OEO) 🙂
2) The return of the email chain with my law school girls (how did I survive w/o it?)
3) Long summer days and leaving work when it’s still light out
4) My supportive parents, and my Mom’s lovely comment applauding me for questioning my life path
5) My boyfriend NOT having to pull another all nighter at work tonight, so I can see him!
6-18-07 : Today I am grateful for:
1) Getting back a draft brief from a partner that is barely marked up (aka doesn’t look like it’s bleeding to death!)
2) Yummy berry cobbler with whipped cream at lunch
3) A happy voicemail from one of my high school friends
4) One of my favorite bands is headlining Street Scene this year
5) I am going to Maui in 40 days (not that I’m counting….)
6-17-07 : Today I am grateful for:
1) a wonderful father (even though he’s far away so I couldn’t celebrate Father’s Day with him) and the rest of my family
2) spending a relaxing day in the sun yesterday with a good friend
3) my Sunday night dinner ritual with 2 girlfriends
4) “cat-napping” with my kitty for an hour this afternoon
5) having a sweet and thoughtful boyfriend
Little Miss Law 