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Friday, June 19, 2009

Gratitude

Today feels so much more hopeful than the last few weeks have felt. Partly it's due to a huge release in pressure since the board meetings are over and I no longer need to stress out about the big proposal I was presenting.

With the return of hope, I thought a gratitude list was in order. Here's what I'm feeling grateful for this morning:
- the delicious burritos my daughter cooked for supper last night
- my husband has been picking up the slack a lot around the home front while I've been busy having meltdowns and disappearing when I needed to for visits to the labyrinth and the grave
- the fun and crazy orange and green room Julie and I created - just in time for her 12th birthday (eventually I'll get some pictures posted)
- the free carpet I just got for my new creative sanctuary in the basement
- the lovely voice mail from the lovely Michele, "just so that there was a pleasant voice on my answering machine not asking for ANYTHING"
- the equally lovely emails from Linda and Cynthia for essentially the same reason
- all of the friendly, supportive comments on this blog - you really lifted me up when I was feeling pretty low
- the fact that our board of directors put enough trust in me to approve my full proposal (even though they had to drag it through the mud a bit before they could approve it). (But... can I just say... YIKES! I have a lot of work to do!)
- some really kind and supportive things said to me by several board members (some of whom felt really badly for the "dragging through the mud" I had to live through)
- I get to hire 2 new staff to take some of my workload (and launch lots of new and exciting ideas)
- I have some renewed energy and a few new creative ideas for my day job and don't feel quite as desperate to leave it as I did a few weeks ago
- a fun day on Monday when I got to take a Zimbabwean visitor out to a field to ride a tractor and play farmer for awhile (by the way, according to him, things are looking up in Zimbabwe!)
- the wonderful email exchanges I'm having with my soulsister-whom-I've-never-met Vicki (not much point in linking to her blog since she NEVER UPDATES IT! hint, hint.)
- a great book
- speaking of books, I sold a photo (from my Flickr set) for $50 and get to buy some new books, guilt-free! Can't wait 'til they arrive in the mail! (Some of them are recommendations from you, my lovely blog readers. Thanks!)
- great biking weather the last few days
- it's Friday! It's the weekend!

What are you grateful for today?

10 comments:

bbb said...

I'm grateful for my sister! :-)

Karmyn R said...

Yeah Vicki - UPDATE YOUR BLOG. (double hint).

It is amazing how a little bit of stress can take a person down a notch or two. I'm glad you are feeling better and have found your gratefuls again!

(I was up all night with a sick baby so am a little too dazed today to think straight)

darrah said...

I'm feeling a bit of stress this week, so this was a great reminder. Here's my list:

I'm grateful for the rain. I'm grateful I found the energy to get out of bed and go for a run this morning. I'm grateful for my supportive fiance. I'm grateful that it's Friday.

Leah said...

I'm feeling grateful for a nice dinner with family last night and for my snuggly kitty pals that are keeping me company today. :-)

Sending love and hugs your way!

mmichele said...

Yay. Grateful for YOU.

Anonymous said...

I'm grateful for the love I recieve everyday from my loving, brilliant, caring wife. :)



Marcel

Olivia said...

Heather I love your gratitude list, and that hope returned. It was fun reading how things have moved in several ways. Boy, your life is certainly full-full-full and you are doing well with everything! Blessings and love, O

Anvilcloud said...

I'm glad you and your proposal are both out of the mud. I think it's a board's duty (or so they feel) to drag things through the mud.

Anonymous said...

Very happy for you in these turns of events at work.

Vicki said...

I just am having time to update myself on your blog. I've had a huge deadline hanging over my head for the past 6 weeks and a team member check out on me so it was all on me. I'm finished now and it's nice to be back in the breathing, thinking AND creative world.

I have something to send you. I had not read your blog to know about your request and had already thought, "I need to send this to Heather". Ahhh one of those moments.