Today, I am thankful for...

LOL!!
Yep, prozac is good but not THAT good.
Once at the library i said out loud that Jesus was the Son OF God and also the best psychiatrist i ever knew. Got some strange looks.

Amen and Amen Cano and Birdie. Years ago my challenged psyche manifested into mega aches and pains while we lived in our tiny 24ft fth wheel RV (no slideouts). 6 months turned into 4.5 years, 1/2 of our daughter's life at the time. The doctor prescribed Zoloft and a friend commented that everyone who lives in a RV should have Zoloft. LOL. I did get better though when we moved into a house.

Jim - you might consider the Thought for the Day thread over in the California Forum for your wife's quote needs. Loved your additions.

Here I am going to quote Mark Hunt at Everyday Cheapskate (DPL Press) again as it fits our Thankful/Gratitude Discussion:

Gratitude: The Antidote for Greed

Gratitude is more than an annual ritual performed hastily before diving into the Thanksgiving meal. It’s more than a holiday decoration; more than a snappy word that rhymes with “attitude.” I am told that of all the human emotions, gratitude is the most powerful.

So powerful is gratitude, it can obliterate fear, hopelessness and doubt. Gratitude can heal a broken heart, slow the aging process and restore broken relationships. Gratitude creates hope and hope brings joy. It is in joy, not fear, that we can find strength.

Greed is the Enemy
We have just come through a period in our country’s history when so much has meant so little to so many. The easy availability of credit that allowed us to live beyond our means enabled greed to creep into every area of our lives. Some call the affliction affluenza: An unhappy condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more.

The more we have, the more we want. The more we want, the more it takes to feel satisfied. The more credit we accept the further into debt we slide.

The more we have the greedier we become and the more we suffer from possession overload. We let what we lack eclipse any feelings of gratitude for what we already have.

Affluenza in its advanced stages leads to stress. And stress leads to the breakdown of mental and physical health.

Gratitude is the Antidote
Gratitude, the conscious and heartfelt expression of appreciation and thankfulness, is the number one best antidote for dissatisfaction.

Greed says I must have more; gratitude counters with I have more than enough. Greed says my life is pathetic; gratitude says I am so blessed. Greed steals joy; gratitude restores it. To develop gratitude you need to talk to yourself and regularly write your thoughts.

The idea is to begin to see all of life, even the difficult times, as challenges, opportunities and blessings. You may also find it helpful to “reframe” a situation—to choose to see it from a new perspective.
Reframing can be difficult but is especially important when misfortune strikes. If you wreck your car, that is unfortunate. Still, it means you’re alive and that is something for which to be grateful. And you get bonus blessings if no one was hurt, you have a good insurance policy or the car wasn’t totaled.
Authentic and heartfelt gratitude can hush up insatiable desires and negative attitudes.

For instance, you can hate your job, hate the boss, hate the people, hate the commute and hate the work. Or, you can be genuinely grateful that you have a job today.

You can learn to appreciate everything about that job, even the distasteful aspects because they build your character, tolerance and compassion.

No matter the situation, you choose your focus. If you choose fear and anger, expect depression and misery. If you choose to respond with a grateful heart, expect hope, satisfaction and joy. Yes joy, even in the midst of adversity.

Giving is the Action
Want to really pull the plug on your greed? Become a giver. Giving away some of what is most precious to you—your money—is the ultimate thank-you note.

Giving opens the door to God’s blessings and your eyes to see the big picture. It allows us to view the world through new eyes of compassion.

Giving is an outward expression of a personal affirmation that no matter how bleak your situation may appear, you really do have enough.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.

Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past. It brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Thank you, gg. I wish I could convince my greedy children of that.

I am thankful for...

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Having the choice to make buttermilk and toast supper if I want to

My most troubled grandniece may be finding her way.

Today I am thankful for ...

This blasted bronchitis is 99% gone!

Christmas is almost over (sorry to be a Grinch).

My best PCA Tania - who is leaving today for two weeks. : (

Today I am thankful for my personal weight loss coach. Her services are free through DH's work. I had my first consultation with her today. Yea! She will be giving me tips and, more importantly, motivation.

I'm thankful for the fact it is rainy and overcast, strangely enough. The cloud cover traps the ground heat and keeps things warmer. It will only be in the mid 40's tonight. (Jim)

Today, I am thankful for:

Dreyer's Cookies and Cream. Don't care for that flavor much, except this brand. Which I am eating between keystrokes. :-)

Cotton

The amazing, astounding, humbling generosity of my employees. As a company, we adopted a children's emergency shelter for Christmas. Even with the layoffs, personal belt-tightening, and uncertainty of recent days, they still came through. Blankets, shampoos, soaps, toothpastes, cleaning supplies, baby wipes, vitamins, crayons, not to mention three iPod Shuffles from the boss and on and on... Two lined and decorated and stuffed this electronics chest that's been gathering dust in the warehouse for two years. Another gathered four of her grandkids and delivered the chest today. Her husband lost his job and they are behind on everything, but it was important to her that the grandlings understand how very lucky they are in comparison. I am teary-eyed proud of each and every one.

Today I'm especially grateful for my friends here at DG.

I'm grateful that I don't feel I have to put other people down in order to feel OK about myself.

I'm grateful for the kids who are looking forward to my Santa Clause gig on Christmas. Grateful that I will not be druking and wallowing in self-pity, hoping that everyone else is as miserable as I am.

Grateful to be sober. Grateful to be able to give. Grateful for people who appreciate me.

katie

Today I am thankful that:

My oldest dog is doing much better (meds are working!)

The weather is continuing mild--have 15 Asiatic Lily and 25 Scilla bulbs to put in tomorrow.

There is a full kitchen at the office. Made a pork roast while squinching at my work computer screen. Aroma drove all the teenage boy-type workers craaaaaazzzy. But I planned so they were finished and gone before it was done.

Mmm...pork roast...mmm...

It was mm, mm good. My BIL is home this weekend (long-haul truck driver), so took half to my sister's. Using the other half tomorrow to make lunch. Drippings going into crockpot with pinto beans. I don't like them, but the warehouse boys do and would be a shame to waste all that flavor. Most of my company is closed Christmas Eve, but a few of us have to work and I will be making semi-homemade chili and Rotel queso. It really is nice to have a large kitchen/breakroom at work. :-)

Today I am thankful for:
my church family
honest creditors and fortuitous mistakes. I over paid on a bill and got a $150 refund. Timing could not have been better.
Chili cheeseburgers
Hugs from surprising sources. My old dog even gave me her version of a hug today. lol. (Jim)

DH calls what you're talking about, Debra, the modern version of Vidal Sassoon. "If you don't look bad, I don't look good."

Today

I am thankful that Katie is doing better. The support she is receiving from DG people is rock-solid. xoxo

I am thankful I listened to the voice in my head nagging me to go to the office and catch up filing. Didn't get the bulbs planted, but found a file that was going to bite me in the butt--HARD--if it had been left sitting much longer. LOL

I am thankful for the sunshine and warm wind that let me dry towels and pillowcases outside this afternoon. :-)

I am grateful, that after 3 days of rain, it has all been gentle (here at least) and has not made the hill behind us where the wildfire was in August come down. We would not be threatened so much as our dear neighbors - an elderly lady who does have adult children living with her now the fire burned about 200 ft from her house) and a young family with 4 small children. All of us watch out for each other and are there to help. We are an unofficial neighborhood watch.

Oh boy, today...

I am thankful to have had 26 years of friendship with Bruce Amason, chiropractor and a very dear soul...who is now officially retired. Love ya, Bruce.

I am thankful for the record-breaking 79 degree temperature this day because my hands feel the real cold front that's headed this direction...and I ain't ready for it yet. :-)

I am thankful that, when I tripped over my own feet playing chase-me-down-the-hall with the boss' 16-month-old-grandson and made a full-out sideways-slide like it was a game-winning single to First...that I didn't land on the baby. LOL





This message was edited Dec 21, 2010 9:29 PM

I am thankful to be back to semi normal. OH SO THANKFUL that i never lost intirely the light at the end of the tunnel.
I am thankful for my little Cricket, Who never left my side and gave me little licks and looks of love. For big ole Dillen, Who also stayed close by. For Prissy and Precious who took turns in my lap and reminded me when it was time to feed everyone. And for Miss Kitty, Who decided to forgive me for bringing the kittens home and gettng in my lap some too.
I'm thankful for you guys also
even tho i could'nt seem to make myself communicate. Words simply did'nt exist.
My councelor has been off work for a couple of months. I did'nt go to my doctors appointment nor to my other councelors. But i will in the New Year.
It will soon be the Holy Night. When the world seems to stop and take a breath.If only for a second.If any of you get a chance and there is a clear night, Go out somewhere it is quiet and look at the bright stars and feel the power of God.
Vickie
I have'nt rang the SA bell near as much as i should. It seems like there are so many people without this year.
On the good side, I have helped some.I pray that God will see to their needs.

Today I am thankful for...

The glorious sunset colors this evening. Too often, I work too late to see or am too preoccupied to look.

Perfect toasty grilled cheese sandwiches.

Cable television.

Again, I am thankful to be in a part of the world with more doctors than trees. DD#1 got off the plane on Monday coughing and wheezing but she went to Cape Cod with Idiot Boyfriend Monday night. By yesterday she was having trouble breathing (she has asthma) and went to the ER there. She got IV steroids and antibiotics and a nebulizer treatment. I went back to my doctor, too, who says I have a stubborn asthma-like cough.

This evening, I am thankful for:

Pre-shredded cheese (for someone with carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, it is WON-derful)

Flashlights with working batteries (needed one today)

Bifocal eyeglasses (Contacts are just un-NATCH-yerull LOL)


[Loony Dutch Iris. Growing all over the place in December! Photo is from this morning.]

Today I am thankful :
I found some Bells of Ireland blooming
The mandarin orange tree looks like it survived the recent cold
And, most of all, the man I call my grandpa is celebrating his 85th birthday today. ~N~

Today I am thankful that I found my purse that I thought had been stolen.

I am thankful that I have presents for some of my Mexican friends. Thankful that I have candy and stuffed animals to give to the local kids on Christmas. Thankful for children who think that having me show up in my home-made Santa costume with little presents is one of the best parts of Christmas.

Thankful for children who can be so generous themselves and so appreciative of small blessings that my heart sometimes seems to burst open.

katie

I am thankful that DD#1 is home for Christmas and does not seem as angry at me as she did last time we saw each other. And I am thankful that this year, she seems grateful for Christmas gifts.

Today I am thankful for,

Harrison Ford's "Indiana Jones"

Rosalind Russell's "Auntie Mame"

Gene Wilder's "Waco Kid"

Today, I'm thankful for phones that allow texting.

And I have to get my copy of Auntie Mame out and watch it. "Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!"