30 Days with a Grateful Heart - Day 1

A friend and I were chatting this evening and she invited me to participate in

30 Days with a Grateful Heart (2011) - Wanna Play?

I jumped at the chance to take on this challenge because 2011 has been a hectic year and one full of changes. These changes, both mental and physical, have somehow affected me and messed with my mojo. Whereas I'm usually someone who is focused on what I have versus what I don't, I find myself in a funk of sorts and focusing on the negative. So, this challenge will, hopefully, help me turn my attitude to one of gratitude and help me do two things: 1) End this year on a high note of recognizing all the wonderful things/people I have in my life and, 2) Bring me into a mental place that will energize me and prepare me to attack 2012 with gusto, hope, and gratitude so I can get back where I want to be and where I belong.

So...Day 1: I'm grateful for friends who care and who hold me when I forget how to hold myself.

Here I've been VERY blessed! I am fortunate to have many friends and acquaintances so far in my life and I look forward to not only nourishing those relationships but being open to welcoming in new people as I meander through life.

Some friends are from my early childhood...they share a past experience with me that makes me feel like I'm "home" when I'm in their presence or even when I think of those days. I may not have been constantly in touch with these people but as we have crossed each others' paths again, I am reminded of memories made, experiences shared, and a connection with my elementary school days. I love that we're still in touch and I treasure getting to know some of them again as adults and see how their lives have progressed.

Some friends are from middle and high school. Again, some I've stayed consistently in touch with but others I have only recently become acquainted with or reacquainted with and I'm LOVING every minute of it! I realize that I was lucky enough to go to school with some pretty amazing individuals! I enjoy building and nurturing these relationships and our shared experiences.

My Toot-n-Totem II friends are really family of the heart. We had a GREAT group of kids working there and many of us have stayed close even though the place closed to the public on 12/23/89. How do I know the exact date it closed? Because my second son was born that day and my husband STILL attended the last hurrah. It was THAT important of a place in our lives and the people we met there are STILL and always will be a "family" to me.

My OSH friends that I still have around...great memories and experiences and I grew up a LOT there!

My neighbors here in Hollister are just WOW! I live near an amazing group of people who have embraced each other as friends and who enjoy each others' company. Our kids are close (some like brothers and sisters) and I can't imagine living anywhere else!!!

Not a day goes by where I don't think about this network of people that I've been blessed to become a part of and who feed my soul on a daily basis. There have been times where I've needed to be supported and "held" and they've been there and then some! Other times I've been happy to lend them support and encouragement. That's what friends are for, right?