What small thing that happened today are you grateful for?

Today I am grateful for the chance to sit and have some alone time in my room. I am someone who needs that to regroup and it was much needed today.

What small thing that you use daily are you most grateful for?

​I am going to say my toothbrush. I hate when my teeth feel like they have little sweaters on them.

What form of expression are you most grateful for?

I'm a writer. Day and night I have strings of words running through my mind. I get ideas for things I want or need to write about. It is how I express myself. It's how I cope. It's how I release. It's how I manifest and how I dream. I love that simply by placing certain words beside each other, I am able to invoke laughter or tears. I can paint a picture or describe a taste. To me, it's like magic. I'm so very grateful to be blessed with this gift.

Now I'm also a singer. My dad always tells me that I was singing before I was talking. My dad is also a singer so any opportunity we had to carry a tune together, we would take. Whether it was listening to records at home, or driving down the road and singing songs that he would teach me. I sing every day. Every. Single. Day. I can't imagine a day going by without me singing. I sing when I'm happy, when I'm sad. When I'm lonely, or when I'm surrounded by friends. Connecting with a song can be powerfully expressive. I'm incredibly grateful for this gift as well.

What moment this week are you most grateful for?

This one. Monday, July 25, 9:00pm. Full rainbow.

What challenge are you grateful for?

I love this question. I have faced, and overcome, many challenges in my life, as has everyone. I am grateful for them all because they have all shaped the person that I am today. I am so grateful for battling depression. Whenever I am faced with something that I question my abilities with, I remember that I overcame the major challenge that depression brought to my life.
I'm also incredibly grateful for the challenge of being a single, independent mom. It is something that I never thought I would be faced with, then something I didn't think I could handle at all. I am facing this challenge head on. I'm learning more about myself and what I'm truly capable of every single day. I'm so grateful. I know that I have more challenges coming, and I intend to face them head on as well.
Every challenge presented to us is truly a gift. It's the gift of seeing ourselves in a more appreciative light.

What tradition are you grateful for?

My family doesn't have a lot of tradition within it. We had some, then our family changed, so we started test-driving some new traditions. One that has stuck is every Christmas Eve we each open one present - our Christmas jammies. Some years I make matching pajama pants for us all, some years I buy matching ones. Regardless, we all look forward to opening that little gift that we all know what it is, but can't wait to put them on. I love this little tradition and will likely do it all of my life.

What story are you grateful for?

I love how all of these questions really make me think! Too often we can get complacent in our gratitudes and we just rattle off the same things every day without really digging in to all facets of our lives.
What story am I grateful for........ I'm a big lover of fairy tales and happily ever after. I love me a good love story. With that being said, I would have to say that my favorite story is of the amazing love of Claire and Jamie from the Outlander novels. Truly, if you have not read them, you are missing out. Their story literally spans lifetimes and changes and horrors and their love is always a constant. Ugh, I'm swooning just thinking about it. Those of you who know what I'm talking about, know what I'm talking about. LOL

What song are you most grateful for?

Well this one is impossible!!  Music is my life. Always has been. I can pick a song for each pivotal moment in my life and then all the ones in between. I can hear a song and be instantly transported to a time and place long forgotten. My favorites change monthly, at least!
I will go with what I am loving right now. Meghan Trainor's new album is currently on repeat constantly in my life. I love every song on it and think that she is just the shizzle. Here is one of her latest songs...it's my jam.
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Who in your life are you grateful for?
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This one really made me think hard. I don't know that I can say only one person. I'm grateful for everyone that has come into and, in some cases, out of, my life. Each one has contributed something to my journey. The tears, the laughs, the lessons learned, and yet to be learned. I have seen myself through so many eyes and that has all helped me to grow and be brutally honest and humble and proud. I am grateful for them all. 

What touch are you grateful for today?

Definitely hugs. I'm a hugger. My girls are huggers. My friends are huggers - or have turned into huggers thanks to me (right A.R.? haha!). Hugs lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and just feel good, dang it.