Gratitude Attitude

I have a lot in my life for which I am - and should be - grateful.  I've been given so many blessings, but I have to admit, I am not very good at taking a moment each day to acknowledge my gratitude.  Now, I'm not saying that my heart doesn't swell with thanks when I look at my healthy, well-balanced children, or that I don't thank my lucky stars that I have a nice roof over my head, but I do tend to sprinkle my days with a bit of negativity.  My way of thinking about something can, at times, be pretty skewed to see only what annoys me or frustrates me or scares me, not what is wonderful about my time here on this earth.

This morning I attended a cycling class at my gym.  I haven't been to a cycling class in almost a year. Now that I'm in between jobs for a few weeks, I'm trying to get back into shape.  I love cycling classes. They're challenging but empowering, and it doesn't hurt that the instructor played Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" this morning. (Yes, I'm a Gaga fan - my husband and sons just roll their eyes and shake their heads.)  Halfway through the class, I was completely winded and dripping with sweat. My legs burned on the climbs, and I won't even talk about sitting on that bike seat without padded shorts! But despite all of this, it suddenly hit me as I pedaled away: I was so grateful to be there! I was grateful to have the time to focus on my health and fitness again. I was grateful to my legs for their growing strength and ability - especially when there are many people in this world who can't even use their legs.  I was grateful to my body for hanging in there despite my neglect over the past year and despite my *ahem* advancing age.

That moment got me thinking about gratitude and how I need to practice it more often. I've tried to keep a gratitude journal in the past, but I tend to always let it fall by the wayside.  So, as a little experiment, I'm going to do a gratitude series on this blog.  Even if I only post one sentence, it's better than nothing.  I want to regularly express gratitude for all the wonderful things in this life, and what better place to do it than on a blog!

It's time to stop looking at the glass half empty and to start giving thanks and focus to the positive.

Today, instead of focusing on the fifteen pounds I'd like to lose, I choose to focus on how grateful I am for my body's abilities - and for its kick ass performance in cycling class today!

More gratitude to come...  In the mean time, share your own Gratitude Attitude by leaving a comment below.

xoxo,

K

Endings & Beginnings

Summer is over and today was the first day back to school for the boys. One period in time ending and another beginning.

The end of summer is always a little bittersweet, but for me, this time it seemed more so. After 10 years as a SAHM, this was the first time I spent the summer working rather than spending it all with my boys. I have to admit (regardless of how it sounds and regardless of the fact that I work part time) I felt like I missed out on so much I'd normally do with them. The babysitter took them to the pool. The babysitter took them bowling and to tennis lessons. The babysitter played board games with them (OK, so I probably wouldn't have done that, but you get my point.) I merely grumbled at them each workday morning, mad at myself for choosing a job that is so wrong for me, dreading the day ahead of me, dreading leaving them. Before I knew it, I'd dreaded and grumbled my way through the summer only to find it over before, it seems, it truly began.

 But where there is an ending, one can usually find a beginning. The boys had a great first day today, and I believe, they're truly looking forward to their (2nd and 5th grade) year. I'm looking forward to making better choices and creating some endings and beginnings for myself this fall. Summer may have gone a bit too soon, but I have to remember that fall is the season of learning new things and looking to the future. So no more grumbling and dreading that which is ending. Only embracing all that is beginning!