31 day Challenge: One sentence to describe the day, along with 5 reasons to be grateful. The one sentence daily serves as a reminder of the small moments in life we often forget due to lack of documentation.
August 1st: Breaking old habits once and for all……out with the old and in with the new.
1 I am grateful to have an extra hour and a half to catch up on progress notes at work
2 Grateful my client still follows my recommendations of remaining vegetarian
3 Grateful our cats co-exist without hissing much anymore
4 Grateful to have enough parsley to use for new recipe
5 Grateful to have watched Saving Private Ryan
August 2nd: I spent $15 on a hanging scratch post for Junip, only for her to turn up her nose and saunter away.
1 Grateful to escape and going camping this afternoon (which means I will have to catch up on this list Sunday night)
2 Grateful to meet a new friend through Stephanie
3 Grateful Jozoara’s Coffee Shop has more punch cards, since I consume their beverages so frequently
4 Grateful we don’t have to purchase charcoal, since we still have some leftover
5 Grateful my boyfriend humors my last minute plans
August 3rd: “In the woods, we return to reason and faith” Emerson quote posted at Fall Creek Falls near the tallest waterfall
1 Grateful to find a new trail
2 Grateful to explore the suspension bridge over the waterfalls in the wee hours of the night with friends and Keegan
3 Grateful to lay down and look up on the bridge at the stars, so very peaceful and exhilarating all at once
4 Grateful to swim despite the frigid water
5 Grateful for yummy food Matthew and Stephanie prepared 🙂
August 4th: Walking in surprised to a spotless house might be the biggest turn-on yet.
1 Grateful to wake up to cooked bacon and breakfast casserole on the grill
2 Grateful to hike a different trail this morning (and for meditating in a beautiful area)
3 Grateful to reunite with the kitties
4 Grateful Keegan cleaned so much today
5 Grateful to enjoy a frosty with oreos
August 5th: Whether or not you make a decision, you’re still making a decision
1 Grateful Keegan began his own gratitude journal today 🙂 🙂 🙂
2 Grateful to pick quite a few tomatoes from the garden
3 Grateful Keegan took me on a date to Istanbul
4 Grateful to get new tags for my car
5 Grateful for a small bit of me time this afternoon
August 6th: I feel like shit, but I’m gonna act happy and host dinner anyways.
1 Grateful grandma brought wine and flowers to our house
2 Grateful Aunt Shelly purchased us a new fancy dish set
3 Grateful for a delicious catered lunch and chance to catch up with coworkers
4 Grateful to still have money on kroger gift card
5 Grateful for afternoon nap with my super cuddly cat
August 7th: The rain won’t stop me from running errands this time!
1 Grateful I made time to run immediately after work
2 Grateful to discover synthetic pheromones to sooth Keegan’s slightly stressed cat, which utlimately helped the cats get along better than usual
3 Grateful to make time to research schools and jobs
4 Grateful to get together with everyone last night for Kooch’s birthday (Ferdinand, Caitlin, Jessica, Clint, John, his brother, Weston, Chad, Phillip and anyone else I forgot)
5 Grateful Keegan has begun his very own gratitiude list now 🙂
August 8th: Pay attention when you drive
1 Grateful to watch What Dreams May Come….SUCH a good movie
2 Grateful to set up my client with the perfect lawyer to represent her case
3 Grateful to catch up on leftovers in the fridge
4 Grateful for the rain
5 Grateful to soak in the tub with eucalyptus bath salts and depeche mode
August 9th: The head knows better
1 Grateful for the chance to catch up with Marissa, Marie and Jessica at Kooch’s house
2 Grateful to discover new Phoenix album on spotify
3 Grateful to grab coffee with Tika
4 Grateful the synthetic pheromones are working wonders
5 Grateful to look at some schools and newly listed positions
August 10th: Forgiveness is letting go of the idea that the past could have been any different
1 Grateful for closure
2 Grateful for finding a new swim hole
3 Grateful for Keegan’s show being cancelled so our friends can hang out at our house instead!
4 Grateful for Keegan taking me to Demo’s and to grab coffee
5 Grateful to spend time with Nichole painting crates for her wedding
August 11th: Disconnect to connect
1 Grateful to see We’re the Millers with popcorn from the house hidden in my bag
2Â Grateful to go to Curious Heart and H&M today
3 Grateful to see dad
4 Grateful to wake up to breakfast in bed
5 Grateful to have such dependable friends
August 12th: Take advantage of opportunities
1 Grateful to enjoy a free meal and nutritional information lecture at Bosco’s in Franklin with mom and grandma
2 Grateful to receive the MOST delightful e-mail detailing my academic future 🙂
3 Grateful to see Pookie at mom’s new house
4 Grateful to save money by enjoying leftovers for lunch
5 Grateful to make time to go on a run
August 13th: Reaching goals feels like a snowball effect: Once you begin with just a few days, success becomes much easier to obtain in the upcoming days. Woot Wooooot!
1 Grateful to imagine reuniting with Ponder next week!! I have missed my friend so much….
2 Grateful to go swimming with Keegan as soon as he gets home
3 Grateful to make spaghetti tonight with all organic veggies and organic beef and homemade sauce, angel pasta, whoaaa
4 Grateful to watch Schindler’s List tonight over dinner
5 Grateful to not feel sick anymore!! Which tends to happen when I have to double up on birth control
August 14th: At some point, it’s okay to give up.
1 Grateful for the wine and sweet note our neighbor left us
2 Grateful to deposit the $330 check that arrived unexpectedly in the mail!
3 Grateful for the opportunity to apply for a new position
4 Grateful that my grandma has a nice boyfriend who remembers their 39th anniversary, even when she doesn’t
5 Grateful to receive quite an awesome variety in my CSA basket today!!
August 15th: Helloooo boost of energy and optimism
1 Grateful HR asked for my resume 🙂
2 Grateful to catch up with Linda
3 Grateful to meet new friends and take a free hoop class!
4 Grateful for pancakes and sausage for breakfast
5 Grateful to try a new dish, http://vegucatedkitchen.com/summer-squash-rice/
August 16th: Hooping is becoming my latest obsession, and unlike 2 years ago, I plan to stick with it this time!!!
1 Grateful to hoop for over an hour today, outside, in the lovely sun, practicing the only 2 tricks I know so far haha
2 Grateful to grab drinks at Toots with Kooch, Marie, Alpha and Marie’s friend
3 Grateful to catch up with Stephanie tonight and check out some live shows downtown 🙂
4 Grateful to pick FIFTY NINE cherry tomatoes from the garden this morning!! Wooooot
5 Grateful to have decided on a major for graduate school 🙂 And now it’s time to apply!
August 17th: When you grow your own food, you naturally begin to foster a sort of “barter system” with other like-minded friends.
1 Grateful to trade peppers with Kimmi at the Handlebar
2 Grateful to enjoy lunch with Dad and Keegan at Slick Pig, yuuuum
3 Grateful to hang out at the cook out at Tim’s with old and new amigooos
4 Grateful to see Dana briefly
5 Grateful to have time to hoop and read
August 18th: That awkward moment when you’re forced to drop someone…..
1 Grateful for peach cobbler with homemade ice cream, chocolate covered bacon on a stick, fried mac n cheese AND Cheerwine floats
2 Grateful for adventurous friends to join us at the fair
3 Grateful for the lovely kitchenware from my aunt
4 Grateful for peace of mind and such a carefree weekend
5 Grateful to begin planning fall vaca 🙂
August 19th: Snakes, flooding, moving, and losing my cat filled my dreams, so I didnt the snooze this morning!!
1 Grateful to make a trip to the library
2 Grateful to visit Foodlands Grocery near the square for the first time
3 Grateful for the neighbors to return our tupaware…..stuffed with cookies!!
4 Grateful that Keegan bought me ice cream
5 Grateful to spend a lot of time with my kitty!!
August 20th: Good things are happening, and what it ultimately boils down to is keeping your eyes ahead
1 Grateful to submit application to graduate program
2 Grateful to receive a dozen pears from a client, free
3 Grateful another client won her disability case
4 Grateful to finally clean out the closet in our side room
5 Grateful to soak in the tub, meditate and make a trip to the library
6 Grateful to schedule an interview for a new position!
7 Grateful to hoop outside before it started to sprinkle
August 21st: Tonight feels like old times……oh, how I’ve missed my core group of friends coming together!!
1 Grateful to catch up with PONDER, Kooch, Caitlin and Paxson
2 Grateful for the bea-u-ti-ful flowers Keegan suprised me with 🙂
3 Grateful to receive brown eggs from Kimmi’s friend, so so tasty
4 Grateful to catch up with Tika over coffee
5 Grateful to have time to submit more paperwork to graduate program
August 22nd: Nostalgia reminds you of who you are
1 Grateful to catch up with friends at Michael Franti show
2 Grateful for Woodlands!! Yuuum
3 Grateful for this new Ben & Jerry’s flavor, Chocolate Peppermint Crunch
4 Grateful for time to make new recipe
5 Grateful that my grandma is in good health
August 23rd: Let’s see how much fun we can pack in 12 hours.
1 Grateful for STS9 show with Ponder and friends
2 Grateful for Joe’s Crab Shack
3 Grateful for all these new albums: Washed Out, Bonobo, Phoenix, Strokes and Valerie June
4 Grateful to get in 12th and Porter for free, since Marie knew the door guy 🙂
5 Grateful to run into the other Marie, who insisted on buying me a tasty beverage
August 24th: Running on only 2 hours of sleep means you must keep drinking to keep up on the boat!
1 Grateful for the pontoon boat and FUN adventures with friends
2 Grateful for another “free entry opportunity” (it’s called sneaking in)
3 Grateful for crawfish
4 Grateful for good reads from the library
5 Grateful to not be sunburnt, hooray!
August 25th: So I’ve noticed how the more often I appreciate my circumstances, the better they become! Out with the old, in with the new 🙂
1 Grateful to find the Tiny Tea Factory, even if they’re closed on Sundays
2 Grateful for a much needed nap after the pontoon adventure yesterday
3 Grateful for the chance to catch up with Brittany and Justin at Jozarra’s and to run into Erika
4 Grateful to be a bridesmaid in their wedding!! 🙂 So exciting
5 Grateful to touch base with Casi, Tika and Dad today in Smyrna
6 Grateful for a nice soak in the tub
7 Grateful for new eggplant recipe
August 26th: After a jam-packed weekend, I am actually somewhat relieved to return to work and my bed.
1 Grateful to receive 3 reference letters for graduate program in one day
2 Grateful to enjoy Chicken Tortilla Soup at home, one of my FAVS
3 Grateful for coffee with the lovely Nichole and Tika
4 Grateful to discover we have History Channel 2
5 Grateful to hear from my friend Nikki in India, to know that she is safe
August 27th: Pep talk with coworkers: You’re only capable of accomplishing what you believe you can do!
1 Grateful for date night with Keegan 🙂 Carrabba’s yuuum
2 Grateful for time to hoop and learn new tricks
3 Grateful to hear from my madre
4 Grateful to test out the new shower head…..4 settings, very spiffy
5 Grateful for good health and positive attitude….this just may be the most spiritually significant month of the year 🙂
August 28th: Well, I guess if there’s nothing wrong, we will end our session early 🙂
1 Grateful for apples in CSA basket
2 Grateful to see LIGHTS at Cheekwood with Caitlin for her b-day!
3 Grateful to schedule a time to meet with my former professor
4 Grateful to complete essay
5 Grateful for a smooth day at work
August 29th: Stepping outside of the mind turned out to be easier than expected
1 Grateful to hoop with my lady friends after work
2 Grateful to submit every bit of paperwork to graduate program other than one reference letter
3 Grateful to find a cheap lawn mowing services until we purchase a mower soon
4 Grateful for the sunshine and warm weather
5 Grateful to GET PAID tomorrow, first time in 4 weeks woot woooot
August 30th: Remember the good in everyone.
1 Grateful to reconnect with Erika. Long time no see!
2 Grateful to have yummy food at bbq tonight
3 Grateful to plan minin vaca with Keegan
4 Grateful to have an amazing supervisor at work
5 Grateful to hoop for over an hour today and to sweat, a lot
August 31st: Let’s see how much friend time we can squeeze into one day.
1 Grateful to make it to 3 bbqs in 24 hours.
2 Grateful for breaskfast at Goodness Gracious
3 Grateful to receive Basil from new friends
4 Grateful to book flight to South Dakota
5 Grateful to enjoy so much time outside