Grateful List

I miss being grateful. I have had some weeks where I was downright snarly and anything but grateful. It's the perfect time to remind myself the small stuff is everything!

1. I'm grateful for Dear Teen graduating. Behind every graduating teen is a nagging caring mom.

2. I'm grateful for the wonderful Mother's Day I had. It was that great, it still sticks with me. My children took me to breakfast, I was declared "You, my mom, ARE EPIC!" by an 11-year-old male, and all the kids got along and listened. OH! And the next line in the same child's note: My mom is epicly awesome.  I don't care if epicly is a word or not, I'm still swooning.

3. I'm grateful that even though it's been cloudy and rainy (our summer is just beginning - maybe), I've still felt like a light has been shining over my family.

4. I'm grateful for running. I may be achy and whiny, but I notice a difference in how I parent. I'm much more calm.

5. I'm grateful for finally taking a step out of my shell. I usually worry way too much. "Oh, I won't say or write that because people will think I'm a dork. I'm not sure if I should cheer when no one else is." Well, I leaped out of my shell this whole past week, I yelled and cheered when no one else did. I spoke up when I really didn't want to do something. AND, I emailed a writer whose work I admire and who I've run into at the school a few times. Guess, what? Even though I thought she'd think I was an idiot, I sent the email. We're having coffee next week.

I challenge everyone to do something you've been afraid of doing. Want to ask for a promotion? Go for it. Want to cheer when others tell you not to? Do it! Don't want to take on that PTA position? By golly, just say no.