Day 31: Sick Days

In my line of work, I accrue sick time.  Year after year, it builds up.

The problem is, for the first ten years of my career, it was more work to be sick than it was to go into work feeling miserable.  So my sick time built up.  Now I have over 100 days that I know I will never be paid for. So, when I need to, I take one.

This morning I had a dentist appointment. Since I had to use sick time, I figured I would leverage the whole day.  And since it was a Friday, it was an extra added bonus.

The rest of the day, I consider "mental health" sick time.  It's important to me to "power down"and focus on me time and family time.  I wish this was something everyone could take advantage of. I'm a lucky guy.

So today, I am thankful for my bucket of sick time.

Day 30: Man Crush - Zac Efron

Today's post is actually an offshoot of yesterday's simply because I could not stop looking.  Today, I am thankful for Zac Efron, only one of my many "man-crushes."

Watching That Awkward Moment this week was a way for me to escape, mostly mindlessly.  I'm a guy, I appreciate the human form... and a lot of times I think with my guy parts.  Especially when I want to avoid thinking of more intense things going on in my life.  Sitting in that theater and watching him half-naked for a couple hours wasn't a bad way to do that.

He's not my biggest man-crush by a long shot.  He just happens to be Mr. "Right Now" because of the film.  I'm pretty impressed with how he has managed to move from kid-star to adult actor while maintaining a sense of self-respect and decency and actually improving his skills.  He has pulled of some challenging, complex roles (this not being one of them) and made something admirable of himself.

And he is certainly not hard to look at.

I'm realizing how difficult it is to come up with ideas, even after only one month.  And since I am such a connoisseur of the fine male form, this "Man Crush" idea might have to be a running theme.  I'll try not to abuse it too often.

Day 29: Belly Laughs

Laughter is the best medicine, or so they say.  And I think I would have to agree.  While it may not cure me if I'm ever diagnosed with an incurable disease, it definitely helps make the bad times better.

But of all kinds of laughter, the good, hearty, belly laugh is the best.  They're even better, when they come completely out of the blue and explode from your core. Every time, this happens, I'm thankful.

My most recent bout of belly laughter came from watching the film, That Awkward Moment, a chick-flick starring three young, male Hollywood stars.  While it fit that RomCom mold quite perfectly, there were several times throughout I couldn't control myself.

I mean, it's one thing to talk about "getting horizontal" to pee when you're "up" on Viagra.   It's another thing to see it in action.

Happy "Hump" Day.

Day 28: My First Comment

Today has been a crazy day already and it's only 6:30 a.m.  And it's also the reason I'm thankful today.

One of the first things I do every morning is check my email.  I'm weird like that.  And then I saw the email subject: "Anonymous has commented on your blog entry."

I've been on this quest for me, but in doing it publicly, I also hoped it might inspire or encourage others in the way that I was. Without "advertising," I wondered when anyone would even stumble along this blog, let alone comment. Still, I never thought I would feel like this when it happened.

It's amazing the rush you get from a few words of positive feedback, even from strangers.  A few well-meaning, kind words don't cost anything, but can be an invaluable gift to the recipient.  Realizing this, I'm going to be intentional about taking a moment or two to comment on others' works that inspire me.

So I thank you, Tom, for your encouragement and support to continue my quest.  I wish you all the best on your own journey and I hope you know you have a friend here if you ever need one through those tough days.

Day 27: A New Trailer

I know it has been out for a few days, but it took me a while to catch up with life.  But today when I watched it for the first time, I was so excited to see the new Maleficent trailer.  It made my day complete.

Sleeping Beauty has always been my favorite of the "princess" films.   Ever since I was a tiny mo, my inner Briar Rose would quietly sing "Once Upon A Dream" as I danced with my stuffed animals around my room in daily routine.  I have always loved that song. So innocent and hopeful, it pretty much defined my dreams of meeting my own handsome prince.

But although I loved Aurora, there was something so sinister and intriguing about Maleficent that made me despise and obsess over her.  I could never get her out of my mind.

When I heard they were making this film, I was crushed.  I was so sure they would ruin it just like they botched Green Lantern, my biggest obsession of all.  But I have to say, everything I have seen so far has not disappointed.  Angelina Jolie seems to embody the character Eleanor Audley made so captivating and Lana Del Rey's rendition of "Once Upon A Dream" is simply haunting.

So today, I'm thankful for creative visionaries who make my animated dreams come to life.

Day 26: Date Night

Tonight is Date Night.

One of the things I'm really happy we invest in is our subscription to theatre tickets at the Denver Center.  It's something we both enjoy, even if the husband ends up disliking most of the shows, it's an event.  We always turn it into a "Date Night" which I am incredibly thankful for.

On Date Nights, we always get dressed up super fancy (in Denver most people think it's ok to go to the theatre in jeans and sweats),  we go out for a tasty meal at a snooty restaurant, and we end the night watching strangers sing and dance and tell stories we couldn't possibly imagine.

Especially in relationships that have lasted so long and can tend to slip into the mundane and the state where you take your partner, your free time and your happiness for granted, arranging for special nights like these are so important.  Even more so if you have kids and have lost yourselves in your children.  They don't have to be fancy or cost a lot, but take that  time and enjoy everything you love about you and your partner.

Tonight, we are going to eat at Willie G's and see Evita.  It should be a wonderful date.

Day 25: Cheese

Seriously, this is no joke.

I.
Love.
Cheese.

Ever since I was able to forage for my own snacks growing up, I have loved cheese.  Being the youngest of seven kids, there was never anything truly "snack like" to be found by the time the rest of the pack had devoured their fill.  I think this was how I discovered cheese.

Back in the 70's, I don't remember cheese being officially and individually packaged for consumption, all I know is my mom would buy blocks of the stuff for use in her many casseroles and other concoctions massive enough to feed 10 people on a nightly basis.  When your pickings are slim, you'll try anything.  I eventually got to the point where I would carve huge chunks off the slab, eating cheese almost daily.  So. Darn. Tasty.

At 42, I still have cheese in the house as a main staple and today, I was jonesing for a snack.  Thankfully, they come individually wrapped now so I don't look like a vagrant gnawing off a cheese log.

Day 24: Life Hack Videos

Every once in a while, while trolling Facebook, I come across those posts or memes or videos that attempt to make the difficult more simple.  These are usually called "Life Hacks."

And every once in a while, one makes its way into my regular routine.  It's why I have come to be thankful of these little "Life Hack" vids.

The most recent to make it's way into my life has been one on how to boils and peel eggs.  I have NEVER been able to peel an egg without causing severe acne scarring to the flesh which should appear to be like flawless porcelain. While I shouldn't care much about aesthetics when peeling my own eggs, it's a problem for me because a.) it always takes me too long and b.) I can't make deviled eggs.  Until now.

The video below was transformative  to me in the way I approach egg boiling and eating.  I can now quickly and cleanly peel a boiled egg.

Of course, this method doesn't lend itself much to hygienic deviled eggs.  I'll keep working on that.

Day 23: Compliments

I've never been one who takes compliments well. 

My office manager sent this to me
in an email today.  I loved it!

I also never feel really happy with the things I do or accomplish.  People say I am always most critical of myself and that I need to start recognizing the good in what I do.  I've been working on that.  Maybe this process has helped.

Today was a pretty good day for me though. At work this past week, many people have had the chance to see a big project I have been working on.  Today, I heard compliments all around (first, second and third-handed) on how impressed people were with what I have done. It was actually inspiring in a place when I'm typically not all that inspired by the work that I do.

But compliments, when they are sincere and meaningful, make a person feel truly good about themselves.  So, for today, I am thankful for receiving and will work to be better at accepting them.

Day 22: Tiny Monsters

Every once in a while you need something mindless.  Well, sort of.  At least it's a distraction.  This is why I'm thankful for Tiny Monsters.

If you don't know about this game, you probably shouldn't download it.  It's pretty addicting.  And it can cause spousal tension and rivalry.  Basically you make monsters breed in order to try to get new monsters.  There are 150 different monsters and each has a "mythic" version you can get totally by chance.  They take hours to breed, hours to hatch, and in between you collect money, farm crops and feed them until they become adults.

The only real challenge is in trying to figure out what combinations of monsters you need in order to get what you want.  I can never seem to figure it out. Food thing there's an active Facebook community and a wiki/blog that helps you find combinations that might work.

Either way, there are times in my day when I just need to check out for a few minutes. Or hours.  When I do, I play Tiny Monsters.

Day 21: Mistakes

We all make mistakes.  On days like today, I'm most thankful when other people make them.

I had a pretty full day scheduled with consults and meetings, etc.  But with almost every one, someone in charge made a mistake.

In the first case, the person responsible for forwarding my email couldn't even do that correctly.  Additionally, she was supposed to have something of "publishable" quality for her staff at the meeting.  When we reviewed it, everyone saw that it was littered with errors.  Not only did it make me chuckle, it made me look better.

In the next instance, the person I met with made a mistake in her agenda and double booked me.  Our meeting was shortened to 30 minutes which meant more productive time for me.  Win!

When my last meeting of the day was scheduled, I repeatedly asked the organizer if I was the right person to be at the table.  Several times, I gave him the name of the colleague who I felt was the more appropriate choice (she and I do completely different jobs).  He said I was the right person.  At the meeting, it was quickly evident to all involved that I was the wrong choice, the person I recommended was the correct choice and the meeting needed to be rescheduled after 10 minutes.  I love being right in a room full of higher ups.

This is why I love when other people mess up.

Day 20: Online Bill Pay

I only get paid once a month, so when I do, I have to take an entire morning to sit down and sort out my bills.

Even though it takes time for me to do all the balancing and reconciling, I'm fortunate enough that most of my bills are set to pay automatically through one account or another.  I even have one bill that sends me a text message, and all I have to do is reply "Yes" in order to pay my bill.

I remember back to the days where I had to do all of this in addition to writing out checks and stuffing/ stamping envelopes.  THAT is what made a half day adventure into a full-day one.

Thank you, internet genius, who allows me to pay all my bills in one easy place without paper cuts, checkbooks and trips to the post office.  Now I have more time for me.

Day 19: My own bed

There's nothing like my own bed. This is what I am thankful for today.

This is not my bed but...
you get the picture.

I like to get away for long vacations and little trips, but it seems like no matter how long I am gone, I can never really get used to the bed in the hotel.  I never get a really good night's sleep and I can't wait to get home.

When I do, there's nothing quite like climbing into the clean, cool sheets at home on that first night back.  It's always so relaxing and comforting to be home.

And I always sleep straight through the night, holding my honey and surrounded by my fur babies.

Day 18: Board Games

Sometimes, there's nothing better than a board game to make a get-together into a giggle-fest free for all.  This is why I will always be thankful for board games.

Tonight, we went out to dinner for our Great Aunt Mary's 84th birthday.  After a nice meal, we returned to her house for some wine.

After a glass, her daughter Sue broke out a new board game she had received for Xmas and hadn't opened yet.  It was called "Pass The Popcorn," a movie Trivia game.  Right up my alley.

The directions were pretty confusing, so we made up our own and set to playing.  It took a while, but was highly entertaining and got the husband all riled up.  In the end, I didn't win, but the whole point is just to have fun and enjoy the company, right?

Right?

Day 17: Taking Astronomy

I don't have a yard, so I must walk my dog multiple times a day.  This means I'm out at least once before dawn and again at least once after sunset.

Although she is wonderful company, on those clear nights, I'm also accompanied by many celestial cohorts as well.

As I dangerously and haphazardly cross streets with my face turned skyward, I try to remember everything I know about these starts that billions of people throughout time have also used to guide their lives.  I start naming the starts and shapes that I know.

In college, I signed up for a class that I thought would be an easy A.  Astronomy.  Although I ended up with a solid B at the end of the semester, I'm so glad I took it.  Although it hasn't helped me to be that much more well versed in intellectual conversation, it helps me enjoy my daily walks.  And it also lets me understand Big Bang Theory just a little more. 

Day 16: The "On-Call" Sitter

As I get older, it seems as though I tend to forget some pretty major, important things.  I'm beginning to understand how it was that mom and dad left us behind so often.  There's just so much to keep track of.

"I'm walked and had my medications, but I miss my daddies!
Hurry home safely! I love you!"

In this case, we were headed out of town for an overnight trip.  Nothing extensive, but we'd be gone from 8 a.m. Saturday to about 3 p.m. Sunday.  Despite all the details I paid attention to, I forgot one pretty major thing.

The dog needed to be walked, fed, and given her medication.  WTF?!?

Fortunately, my niece is the most wonderful "on-call" sitter in the world and was able to rearrange her schedule on a whim just so she could be available for her cousin. WHEW! She even sends us "Miss you" texts from our little girl.

So this long weekend, I am thankful for Steph who is willing to drop everything and help.  Love you!

Day 15: A Cleaning

So, it's not like I can't wait for that regular six month visit to everyone's friend, the dentist.  On the other hand, I have had so much dental work in the span of my many, many years on this earth, that a visit to the hygienist is not an unpleasant one.

I'll admit, I cringe when she hacks away at my gums with her railroad spike.  When she pokes at my fillings and the metal margins of my crowns, the accompanying electrical charge makes me almost want to lose my continence.

But when it's all over, there's nothing quite like the feel of an incredibly squeaky clean set of choppers.  Today, that's what I'm thankful for.

Day 14: A Worry-free Dinner

Every once in a while, you have a really long day.  It's packed with work from long before sunrise to well past the setting sun.

Yesterday was a great day.  After getting up at 3:30, arriving at work before 5, experiencing one frustration after another and coming home late in the evening, the last thing I wanted to worry about was dinner.

But on my drive home, I knew my husband would have been working on homework all day and that a dinner plan would not have been on his mind either.

Luckily, there's "The Kid."  My niece, who is now 25, independent, and a remarkable human being.  She and her boyfriend, as a thank you for having them over for dinner time and again, had come over and made a wonderful, from scratch, homemade meal for the four of us.  It was an incredible worry-free end to a grueling day.  Almost like having my very own Star Trek Replicator.

For thoughtful children and a worry-free dinner, I am thankful.

Day 13: Forgiveness (and timestamps)

Goals are good.  They are intended to be things you work toward.  Sometimes we don't always achieve our goals right away.  We may experience slips along the way.  Like when we try to quit smoking, cut soda out of our diets... or pledge to write one blog entry per day.

The best part about that is that understanding reader (if there even are any other than myself) can be pretty forgiving.  Also, there's also that technological miracle called the timestamp.  Even though I'm a couple days late with this post, I can still make it appear as if it was done on time.  Voila! Magical.

Granted, I can't let this happen too much, because like setting a resolution to work out more at the gym, missing days makes it easier to miss even more.

So today, I am thankful that for these two things so that I can work toward my goals with just a tiny bit of flexibility.

Day 12: Acceptance of my quirks

At least once a week, my husband will make a big production about climbing out of bed, stomping into the closet, and slamming his palm down on the light switch to turn it off.  As he marches back to bed, he huffs out a big, frustrated sigh and glares at me.

I had left the closet light on. Again.

It's one of those things that, no matter how many times I'm told, no matter how intentional I try to be about turning it off when I leave, it always manages to stay on.  Personally I think there's a ghost who turns it on when I'm not looking.  There's no way I can leave it on that much.  But apparently I do.  That's "my thing."

Last night, there was an unfortunate spill in our kitchen involving a 44 oz. drink from Sonic.  We spent quite a bit of time, energy and paper towels cleaning it up.  After it was all dry, the husband wanted to wipe up with Clorox wipes so it wouldn't be sticky.  I couldn't blame him.

This morning, I went downstairs and discovered "his thing."  Whenever he cleans, this is how the Clorox wipes end up. Opened. Wipe sticking out.  Drying up.  I huffed out a big, frustrated sigh and slammed my palm down on the lid to close it.

When he came downstairs, I pointed it out to him.  He got that grumpy look he always gets when I call him out on something, and then we both laughed about it.  He smiled and said, "Well, I guess that's 'my thing.' But even after I die, I'll still turn off the closet light for you."

I am thankful that I have a husband who can laugh at the little things that get to us and appreciate that, even though he will be turning off that closet light for eternity, he will always love me every time he does it.

Day 11: Time with old friends

So I have this friend.  I'm sure we all have them.

You used to be inseparable.  Every day you spoke.  You saw each other nearly as frequently.  You went to movies and bars and made jokes and new friends.  You laughed together until dehydration set in from the amount of tears streaming down your face.

But then something happened.  It may have been a move, a job change, or a new relationship started.  Whatever the catalyst, the phone calls become less frequent and the time together even more sparse.  Eventually months would slip by without even a phone call or a thought. Time and that friendship seemed to slip away from you.

Today I got to spend time with one of those friends.  What a blast.

 Perhaps it is the absence that makes the time you get to reunite so meaningful and cherished.

Although I hate that the fates caused us to become more distant, I love that when we see each other again, we can pick up where we left off and we have so much more to catch up on.  I truly am thankful for the time I get to spend with long-lost friends.

Day 10: The Weekend

Unlike Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, I KNOW what a weekend is.

Sometimes the work week can be so long, that Friday afternoon quitting-time whistle is the only light at the end of the tunnel.  Sure, in my case, I know this typically means chores and laundry and ironing and housework and errands and grocery shopping and work that I need to do from home simply to get ready for the week to come.

But it also means sleeping in and watching tv and reading and catching up with friends and cuddling with the husband and the kids.  Two days (sometimes three).  Uninterrupted. Me time.

And on this Friday afternoon, after a long week, that's what I am thankful for.  The weekend.

Day 9: Mobile Food Apps

I probably shouldn't, but I work a lot.  As a result, I end up eating on the go, eating at my desk while I work, sacrificing no time for myself.

In doing so, however, I have found out how to maximize my time getting food so that I don't really need to wait.  I have discovered, and am wonderfully thankful for, the mobile food app.

With these apps, I can avoid lines, I can bypass people paying with coins and exact change, I can ignore those who just can't make up their minds.  In fact today, I have survived solely on these wonderful inventions.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I barely have to wait, don't have to pay and there's even little need for me to socialize.  Here's what happens.

I open my app.  I build my meal exactly how I want it.  I checkout AND pay through the app with my credit card.  I go to the restaurant, bypass the line, and head straight to pick up my food.  Because I have already paid, they hand it to me when I arrive and I walk out.  Efficiency at its finest.

Thank you, technology innovators, for understanding the needs of my belly.

Day 8: A Flexible Schedule

For the last few years, I have had the luxury of working in a place that respects the amount of work and dedication I put into my job.  Without going into too many specifics, much of what I do requires me to be on a computer all day and, as long as I have a reliable internet connection and a phone, I could pretty much work from anywhere.  Because of this, I have had the flexibility to work from wherever I need to.

Now, out of complete respect, I try not to abuse this.  I usually get up early, get to the office shortly after 6 a.m. and put in the required time in my gopher-farm cube.  But there are some days, like today, when I just really need to be at home.  Sometimes it's to stay with my sick husband, sometimes to take care of appointments, and sometimes just for pure mental sanity.

So for today, and many other days like it, I am thankful that I have a job and a boss that allow me a flexible schedule.

Day 7: Honesty and Follow-through

I'm not sure how to categorize this.  Maybe by the end of my rant, it will come to me.

About 8 months ago, this friend of mine (who moved far away) got a Google Glass.  I was pretty impressed. And jealous.  Although my involvement with technology and technology integration in my work has declined over the last few years, technology really is what I love about my job.  But the catch about this technology is that it isn't available to everyone; you can only get a Google Glass by invitation.  At the time, I told her how jealous I was and she mentioned, in an offhand manner, that if she ever got invitations to hand out, she would let me know.

Today, I got invited to be part of the Google Glass community.

Now, I'm not thankful for the Glass (yet) since I have received nothing but the invitation.  What I am thankful for is that my friend values me enough, respects her promises, remembers, appreciates the work I do, that she would give me one of her invitations.  She received only three.

Too often we make promises, say things we don't really mean or don't intend to follow through on just to be nice.  This is not the case for this friend and I respect, appreciate, value that so much.  She is a great model of what I want to be.  This is what I'm thankful for.

So thank you, Meg.  I'm about to be one of the newest members of the Google Glass community.

Day 6: Returning to Work

I've been on vacation for two weeks.  This is a mid-size vacation for me.  My small vacations are a couple days to a week, my big vacation is six weeks. It comes with a career in education.

I like what I do.  I'm not super-passionate about it, and I have learned to let go and bring as little work home as possible.  When I am not on the clock, I do my best to focus on other aspects of my life.  I do not want to be one of those people who cannot let work go.

But I'm also a little routine-driven.  I thrive on keeping myself busy.  After a week off, I begin to get a little stir-crazy which is why, even though I hate to admit it, I am thankful when I get to return to work.

Day 5: Snowy Days

I hate the cold and I hate the snow.  Yes, I have lived in Colorado my entire life. But despite the fact that I would rather have temps in the 70s and 80s year round, I am very thankful for snowy days like today.

They give me an excuse to stay inside, cuddle with my fur-babies (and husband if he's off), and get things done around the house.  They also allow me to engage in endless hours of reading (or binge-watching).  I don't need to get into my tiny car that doesn't handle well in the snow.  I can stay in and not feel guilty.

So for today, "Thank you, Mother Nature."

Day 4: Binge Watching

I know this completely goes against my expressed love for books, but there are days, and I have just had two of them, that I am so thankful for binge watching.

If you are not aware of this phenomenon, it can be achieved through DVDs, DVR, Netflix, Hulu or any number of products and services that store entire seasons of TV shows that can be watched one after the other.  A lot of times people might call this "catching up on their DVR" but usually only applies if they wait to watch an entire season (or series) all in one sitting.  This first happened to me with a show called Battlestar Galactica (apparently it happens to so many with that show that IFC's Portlandia made a spoof of it).  Ever since, when I discover a new show, I usually binge watch.

The past two days it has been catching up on the US version of Being Human before it starts again this week.  Yes, I'll admit it.  I am a TV junkie, but I love it.

For a little humor, enjoy the Portlandia skit below.

Day 3: Pants

People laugh when I say it.  Anyone reading this might as well, but every day, even when I'm frustrated and fed up, I'm thankful for my Pants.

Pants. Short for Pantsome, evolved from Handsome, nickname for my cat Echeb.

I found him at the Denver Dumb Friends' League.  I knew right away that he was the right cat for me.  His temporary name was the same as my own.  He was the only one that wasn't shy behind the glass, and he was clearly a scrapper; he had a major cut down the side of his nose.

For the last 12 years he has kept watch over this family, and he is always by my side when I'm in bed, watching, tv, reading or working on my laptop.  Without a doubt, he loves me despite my smothering, roughhousing and sometimes angry behavior.  He gives me attitude, sure.  I give it right back.  But at the end of the day, he's by my side. And we love each other.

I love my Pants.

Day 2: Books

So this one may seem a bit odd.  Unusual.  Even basic.  But I can't imagine a world without books, so for them, I am thankful.

Even this picture makes me want to escape into my own world.

I love books because they allow you to escape into your own world.  They spark your imagination, and they open up your mind to the infinite possibilities.  They even spark your creativity.  I truly believe that.  I cringe when people say, "If it's that good, I'll wait for the movie."  That's so painful to hear because, with movies, you are living someone else's creation.  Where a book starts you on the journey, your mind still makes up so much of the detail, the visuals, the sounds, the smells, the voices.  The experience of the story is yours, and no one else will ever see it the same way as you. 

If someone asks me what my favorite book is, I can tell them.  I can make a list of all  of them if I need to.  But if someone asks me for a recommendation, I hesitate.  Just because a book held a world of meaning for me, doesn't mean it will have anything in it to connect with you.  Luckily most other good readers know that.

There was once a time when I wished I could get paid to do nothing but read.  Heck, there are times now where  I still wish that was the case.  Regardless, I thank every writer out there who takes a risk and shares their stories with the world.

Day 1: Friends of Inspiration

On this first day of the new year, 2014, I am thankful for good friends who inspire me.

As I look through the very small pond that contains people I call friends, there are many colorful fish.  Most are fun to spend time with, a good portion make me laugh, some challenge my thinking while others are really no challenge at all.  But on the short list of those friends are the ones who truly inspire me; they make me feel creative, like I can do anything.  When I'm down, this is the most valuable friend of all.

Of course, as I had mentioned, it was a friend who inspired me to begin this blog.  She did not know it.  I have not told her.  She may come across it one day, and if she does, I say, "Thank you, Meg.  Even though you are far away, your creativity and your bright-eyed, child-like wonder enthusiasm inspires me every day.  I'm ten years older than you, but I look up to you and look to you for inspiration every day.  You are out there doing incredible things with your life and helping me to take a good, hard, long look at my own."

You've got to start somewhere...

It's that time of year when people are committing to change, both realistic and not, for the year to come.  I suppose, in interest of conformity, I am one of those people.

But this is not a litany of all my resolutions.  I have some, but I'm not usually one to make (or stick to) too many of those anyhow.

One commitment on my ledger is writing more.  I'm not sure I have much to say that's worth reading, but what I do know is that, like any talent, writing improves with practice.  So let this be my very public practice space.  It may not be much, nothing lengthy.  It won't be the only place I write, but it will be daily.

Yet another intangible, more sappy commitment of mine is one of character change.  I'm 42. I've slipped into the rut of negativity.  I exude it, and worse, I surround myself with it.  If I can change my own attitude, maybe I can be a slightly different, happier person.  Who knows?  Maybe I can also change those around me. It's called Positive Mental Attitude.

A few years ago, a wonderful friend of mine began a blog.  It was simple.  Every day, she gave thanks for something in her life.  It was her way to focus on the positive things in life that keep us going.  Even reading it, I always felt just a little more inspired, so this is my attempt.

---

I resolve to maintain a daily blog, no matter how short each entry, that focuses on something I am thankful for, maintaining a positive perspective and outlook.  365 days. (How's that for official?)

---