start writing a list of the things that I am thankful for at the end of each day (like the lady dancing in gym class)

I think he’s so beautiful!

I took a super fast trip to Henry’s to get some stuff for dinner and as I was climbing in my car I noticed this dolled-up old lady intently checking herself out in her visor mirror across from me. I think she used to come into the nutrition store that I used to work at many years ago because I recognized her trademark long, jet-black ponytail and fancy matching cowgirl hat and plethora of costumey jewelry. I just think that she is cute in her well thought out get-up and I like her old lady spunk! So that’s it. I’m thankful for her.

I haven’t been doing a very good job at this goal! Maybe because I feel like I notice beauty every day, or take note of things that I am thankful for that I don’t have to write them down. I want to start writing it down, even if it seems like something really small. Well today I am thankful for something BIG. I am thankful to be alive. I am thankful for this every day but today I feel extra thankful because today just after I dropped my brother off at work (not something I normally do), my 3-year-old daughter and I were sitting at a busy intersection waiting to turn left. Traffic was speeding by in both directions in front of us and we were the first car in line at the light. Well our light turned green and for some reason I hesitated to make sure that no cars were running the light. It may have been because as our light turned green there were still cars speeding through the intersection, I don’t know for sure, but it was a miracle that I did hesitate for whatever reason because a huge delivery truck plowed into the intersection right where we would have been (and on the same side as both of us were seated, no less) had I not waited to go. The driver slammed on his brakes and stopped mid-intersection where I was able to envision my car being right there. It would have been scarier except that something told me not to go so I felt okay. It would have been more traumatizing had I started to go and then realized that he was coming. I am so thankful that my angels or spirit guide were there to protect us. I am SOOOO thankful that we are both okay! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Drive safely guys!!!

This morning I got to go hiking. I took my dog Maizey with me for company. On the way to the “mountain” (it’s really a hill but it’s name has mountain in it, so I’ll just go with that) I saw a beautiful Great Blue Heron flying overhead, getting ready to land. It was so big and beautiful, and almost prehistoric. It may seem like no big deal but where we live, in the middle of the city, with construction going on all around, I was thankful that these beautiful birds still grace us with their presence. We have a mostly dry river bed running through town and on the outskirts a nice regional park for the animals, but pretty much every other inch of undeveloped land is under construction. It’s a real bummer that nothing is sacred and I wish I had some semblance of control over what I feel is the impending doom of our planet, but I don’t, and to simply witness a beautiful bird in flight, when it should be scared off by our senseless infringement on it’s territory really brought beauty to the start of my day. This is what I am thankful for today.

I am thankful that I got through my first school paper and can go to bed.

Last night I took a hike with my 9 year old daughter. I was really “blah” yesterday and kind of grouchy and I didn’t really even want to go, but we have been a couple of times together (I used to go alone or with my dog) and she really likes it and can keep up well so I said that we could start going every Sunday and maybe on Thursdays too. Anyhow I didn’t feel like going, I was on my period and all tired and in a funk, and I had spent the day watching the Chargers lose, but since it means a lot to her, and I can always use the exercise, I decided to just go for her. I am glad that I did. The weather was nice and cool. The hike felt easy and the sky was absolutely gorgeous. It was another amazing sunset that was much different from the other that I wrote about a couple of days ago. This one was all monochromatic and the clouds were all shades of blue and purple and just really different and beautiful. Our dog was well behaved and it was nice to get out of my funk and spend time with my daughter. And as we got back to our car (it was dark by this point) we could hear the coyotes yipping and howling on the hills behind us. It was cool. Finally, I am always just thankful that I am healthly and able bodied enough to even BE ABLE to hike, as some people don’t have even that, and that I have a daughter who wants to go with me enough to be upset if we don’t. It was a very nice end to the day.

Yesterday I was thankful for the MOST gorgeous sunset that I have seen in a long time. It took my breath away. I wish that I could have gotten a good picture of it because it was a spectacularly awesome way to end the day!