Gratitude Journal

The days are slowly getting longer. Temps are ever so slightly increasing. The promise of visitors and trips are encouraging. And yet, I still seem to be falling into a funk from time to time. Over coffee last week my therapist/coworkers/Italy family told me to start keeping track of things I'm thankful for in an effort to "focus on the good" rather than pesky things like- running injuries, potential furloughs, etc.

Although I think that more often than not, I'm the cheerful, optimistic type I figured I'd give it a shot. It's been a week now and here's my list. Yeah, it's mainly little things but if you can't be thankful for the little things, how are you ever going to appreciate the huge things?!?!?

Gratitude Journal- Day #1 (2/27/13)

• Waking up to a purring kitty
• Sunrises over Mt. Vesuvius
• Military uniforms

Gratitude Journal- Day #2 (2/28/13)

• Free range friendships. Boundaries? Lines? Ha. Those fences were torn down a long, long time ago.
• Parents who have always given me space and privacy, but at the same time give me a ton of love, support, and are always there.
• Plane tickets to foreign destinations...like Paris.

Gratitude Journal- Day #3 (3/1/13)

• The smell of chlorine
• Baseball caps (with the SF Giants logo on them)
• Carbs

Gratitude Journal- Day #4 (3/2/13)

• Online shopping
• All things peppermint
• Letters from my girls

Gratitude Journal- Day #5 (3/3/13)

• Lazy mornings
• Race bling
• Hot water at a turn of the faucet

Gratitude Journal- Day #6 (3/4/13)

• New freckles
• Ibuprofen
• Daffodils

Gratitude Journal- Day #7 (3/5/13)

• Naps
• Longer days
• Savage Chicken cartoons

Spring Time!

I know that it's been spring for a while, but with it being dark until late morning again and Easter only recently happening it hasn't felt very "springish." But now I think that I can declare it spring... Don't believe me? Here are my indicators proving that spring is finally here:

• There are bright red poppies blooming around the Greek amphitheater and wisteria flowers floating in the afternoon breeze.
• My ears are filled with the constant sneezing from allergy sufferers.
• I seem to ignore the clock and pay more attention the daylight when it comes to dinner time...and dinner at 845pm is a regular event. 
• On walks around base the shuffles of leaves cause me to jump because I know those evil lizards are on the lurk.
• Bug are once again attacking my house in full strength.
• MLB.com is the 3rd website I check in the morning before starting my real work day. 
• The surge in traffic in the opposite direction when I'm winding through the tiny towns and hills to my house after a long work day. 
• My freckles seem to be coming out of hiding.
• My hungry bear stomach has calmed down and barely wants food again. (Okay, so maybe that was due in part to marathon training.) 
• It's finally April.

And yes. April is the best month ever: Baseball season and the month I entered this world! So maybe I'm a tad biased, but truth is truth. So, happy "official" spring everyone!