10 Things I Am Thankful For - Tomorrow is Today

1. I am thankful to be debt free - thank you for the feelings of control and liberty
2. I am thankful for the treasures we found with Mel Fisher - thank you for the feelings of adventure and excitement
3. I am thankful for our perfect home - thank you for the feelings of security and contentment
4. I am thankful for the perfect job - thank you for the feelings of fulfillment and validation
5. I am thankful for all our friends - thank you for the feelings of community and warmth
6. I am thankful for my perfect body - thank you for the feelings of health and fitness
7. I am thankful for our travels - thank you for the feelings of discovery and expedition
8. I am thankful for my artistic endeavors - thank you for the feelings of creativity and recognition
9. I am thankful for our worship of the gods - thank you for the feelings of connection and spiritual peace
10. I am thankful for my husband - first, last and always my most precious possession - thank you, thank you, thank you!

10 Things to be Thankful For - Technology

It's amazing what we use every day that was science fiction just 30, 20 or even 10 years ago!
1. GPS that keeps me from getting lost
2. Email that lets me communicate quickly in writing
3. Facebook that lets me keep in touch with what family and friends are doing
4. My iPhone that let's me access the internet from anywhere
5. My iPod that lets me carry thousands of songs in my pocket
6. Digital cameras that take thousands of pictures without any film
7. Digital movies that we can download and watch on demand
8. Direct deposit and ATMs that let me get paid quickly
9. eBay that lets me find forgotten treasures and sell unwanted clutter
10. My computer that lets me write this blog!

10 Things to be Thankful For - Emergencies

With Tropical Storm Debby wreaking havoc, I am thankful for these emergency necessities
1. News radio that keeps me updated on road closures and storm warnings
2. The Weather Channel that gives constant status updates
3. The hurricane shutters we can put on our windows if needed
4. The solar powered generator we bought to charge phones and computers in an emergency
5. Our pantry full of nonperishable food
6. Our strong cinder block home that is safe and secure in wind and rain
7. Our fireplace that can cook food and keep us warm
8. Our lake with lots of fish we can catch
9. Our well stocked first aid kits
10. The knowledge of safety and preparedness that my dad instilled in me throughout my childhood

10 Things to be Thankful For - Special Days

Every day is a day to be thankful for, but some days of the year are extra special, and I am thankful to have these reasons to celebrate.
1. My Birthday
2. Gs Birthday
3. Our anniversary
4. Moms Birthday
5. New Years Eve
6. July 4th
7. Thanksgiving
8. Samhain
9. Christmas Eve
10. Christmas Day

10 Things to be Thankful For - Friends

1. I am thankful for friends who enjoy going to the theme parks with us.
2. I am thankful for friends who like having game nights.
3. I am thankful for friends who sing karaoke.
4. I am thankful for friends who share my love for theater.
5. I am thankful for friends who perform improv comedy with me.
6. I am thankful for friends who support my business.
7. I am thankful for friends who remember us on birthdays and holidays.
8. I am thankful for friends who open their homes to us.
9. I am thankful for friends who go to movies and shows with us.
10. I am thankful for friends who believe in our talents.

10 Things to be Thankful For - The basics

If you are thankful for the simplest things in your life, it allows your gratitude to deepen for the complex things. I am grateful for these things because they are essential for life...
1. I am thankful for the magical air I breathe.
2. I am grateful for the clean water I have to drink.
3. I am thankful for the delicious food I eat.
4. I am thankful for the sheltering home we live in.
5. I am thankful for the comfortable clothing I wear.
6. I am thankful for the reliable car I drive and the gas I need to drive it.
7. I am thankful for the soap, shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste that keep me clean.
8. I am thankful for my job that pays me so I can buy all these necessities, plus so much more.
9. I am thankful for the support of friends.
10. I am thankful for the love of my mom and husband.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Morning Routine

Sometimes we take the simple things for granted. I thank the universe for these daily luxuries that make my morning so easy.
1. My alarm clock.
2. Running water.
3. A hot shower.
4. My electric toothbrush.
5. My toaster.
6. My refrigerator.
7. My coffee maker.
8. TV and the local news
9. Air conditioning.
10. My car.

10 Things to be Thankful For - The Summer Solstice

1. I am thankful for the longer days that let us do more outside each day.
2. I am thankful for fresh fruit and vegetables from the local farms.
3. I am thankful for holidays like Memorial Day and July 4th.
4. I am thankful for ice cream on a hot day.
5. I am thankful for cooking outside on the grill.
6. I am thankful for summer afternoon thunderstorms that bring much needed rain.
7. I am thankful for the sweet taste of honey mead.
8. I am thankful for warm summer nights outside.
9. I am thankful for school vacations so traffic is lessened.
10. I am thankful for family vacations that keep our economy moving and keep Disney and cruise lines successful.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Road Trip

1. I'm thankful to be planning our next trip to Key West because I need a break from every day responsibilities.
2. I'm thankful for driving with G because he lets me drive and keeps me entertained and informed on the trip.
3. I'm thankful to be less than 8 hours from the Keys so we can drive instead of flying.
4. I'm thankful we are part of MF so we can search for treasures.
5. I'm thankful to have a room booked at the Speakeasy Inn so we can enjoy the Rum Bar downstairs and a quiet room at night.
6. I'm thankful that G likes to pack picnic lunches because I like eating in our room or out at the beach.
7. I'm thankful we'll be there early on Saturday so we can watch the sunset at Mallory Square.
8. I'm thankful to have all day Monday to come home so we can make stops in the Keys if we want to.
9. I'm thankful for satellite radio because it stays with us for the whole trip and gives us lots of music options.
10. I'm thankful to have a beautiful home to come back to after vacation because as much as I love traveling, home is where I feel the most peace and joy.

10 Things To Be Thankful For - Books

1. The Harry Potter Series - JK Rowling
2. On Stranger Tides - Tim Powers
3. Illusions - Richard Bach
4. The Meredith Gentry Series - Laurell K Hamilton
5. The Eve Dallas Series - JD Robb
6. The Sookie Stackhouse Series - Charmaine Harris
7. The Magic - Rhonda Byrne
8. Jitterbug Perfume - Tom Robbins
9. The Firm - John Grisham
10. Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Thank you, thank you, thank you all for allowing me to escape into the realities you have created.

10 Things to be Thankful For - my past

1. I am thankful to have created and directed the Holiday Revue because it proved to me my talents and created lasting friendships.
2. I am thankful to have lived in New York City because I was able to experience so much there that you can't find anywhere else in the world.
3. I am thankful to have lived in Seattle and experienced the mountains, forests and orcas there.
4. I am thankful to have gone to the Educational Center for the Arts and studied theater arts to create a strong foundation on which to build me passion.
5. I am thankful to have travelled to Europe as a teenager because it broadened my perspective at a formative time in my life.
6. I am thankful to have driven across the country twice when moving to be able to see states I might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit.
7. I am thankful to have had the good fortune and ability to appear on nationally televised game shoes and actually win.
8. I am thankful to have appeared in several music videos because it allowed me to meet cultural icons like Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Grace Jones and the Beastie Boys.
9. I am thankful to have lived in New Jersey because doing community theater there allowed me to meet my incredible husband.
10. Finally on this Father's Day, I am incredible thankful to have had my Dad in my life. I miss him always, and I thank him for his love, his friendship, his lessons and his support.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Saturday shopping

1. I'm thankful for Saturday mornings when I can sleep in and relax.
2. I'm thankful to have money to buy our food and clothes.
3. I'm thankful to have stores nearby that provide everything we could possibly want.
4. I'm thankful that Mom lives so close so we can go shopping together.
5. I'm thankful for the discounted bulk prices at BJs.
6. I'm thankful for self service check outs that save time.
7. I'm thankful that gas prices have dropped and keep dropping.
8. I'm thankful our neighbor has chickens and shares the eggs with us.
9. I'm thankful to have plenty of clothing and shoes.
10. I'm thankful to get home after a day of shopping and enjoy the wine I bought today.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Home after Work

1. I'm thankful when my husband has dinner ready when I get home.
2. I'm thankful for weeknight TV to escape for a little while.
3. I'm thankful to be able to change from my work clothes to comfy sweats.
4. I'm thankful to see the sunset from our lanai.
5. I'm thankful for a hot shower to wash away the grime of the day.
6. I'm thankful for social media to catch up and keep in touch with friends.
7. I'm thankful for our chiming fountain that soothes my spirit.
8. I'm thankful for discount shopping on eBay.
9. I'm thankful for my Kindle so I can read books in bed.
10. I'm thankful for my comfortable bed and a good night's sleep.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Nature

1. I am thankful for the warmth of the sun that heats my muscles and bones.
2. I am thankful for the coolness of the rain that makes everything grow.
3. I am thankful for the sweet scent of jasmine, roses and orange blossoms that lift my spirits.
4. I am thankful for the roar of ocean waves that brings me peace and comfort.
5. I am thankful for the quiet of the deep woods that brings me contemplation and reflection.
6. I am thankful for the taste of fresh oranges from our tree that energizes me.
7. I am thankful for the rustle of the breeze through the palm trees that soothes me.
8. I am thankful for the majesty of snow capped mountains that grounds me.
9. I am thankful for the motion of grasses that dance in the wind.
10. I am thankful for the beauty of a tropical sunset that reminds me of the cycle of life.

Repairing relationships - 10 things about L- I appreciate

1. She's quiet
2. She has a good work ethic
3. She likes dogs
4. She asks questions
5. She takes notes
6. She is punctual, but will call if she's going to be late
7. She is learning new things
8. She is very knowledgeable about defects
9. She is willing to handle returned items
10. She is very knowledgeable about shipping

10 Things to be Thankful For - Favorite Places

1. I am thankful for the romantic streets and architecture of Paris.
2. I am thankful for the soothing rush of the ocean waves on Cape Cod.
3. I am thankful for the powdery sands of Clearwater Beach.
4. I am thankful for the rolling green hills and warm people of Ireland.
5. I am thankful for the dramatic mountains, formidable glaciers and teeming wildlife of Alaska.
6. I am thankful for the eternal fun and joy of Walt Disney World.
7. I am thankful for the relaxed and funky vibe of Key West.
8. I am thankful for the ancient monuments and sacred sites of Greece.
9. I am thankful for the electric energy and worldly atmosphere of New York City.
10. I am thankful for the warmth of the Florida sun at home, especially when the rest of the country is blanketed in snow and ice.

Making Dreams Come True

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the $10,000.00 to reinvest in MF before June 28th!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the amazing success of our website and the $1,000.00 per week it brings in!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the $40,000.00 windfall that let me leave my job and start working from home full time!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the trip to Paris for G-s birthday!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the 80 pound weight loss and healthy life!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the complete renovation of our kitchen!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for our newly painted and completely fixed house!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for our beautiful professionally landscaped yard!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the amazing emeralds we found on the Magruder in July!

10 Things to be Thankful For - about me

1. I am thankful for my good health because I appreciate feeling well after knowing what it's like to be in pain.
2. I am thankful for my strong and able body because it takes me through life every day.
3. I am thankful for my sense of humor because it keeps my day in perspective and entertains others.
4. I am thankful for my work ethic because it allows me to finish my tasks quickly.
5. I am thankful for my creativity because it brings new opportunities in to my life and lets me express myself freely.
6. I am thankful for my desire to improve myself because it is helping me to achieve my dreams and transform my attitude.
7. I am thankful for my patience because I see rewards as it grows.
8. I am thankful for my intelligence because it allows me to learn new things to help me grow.
9. I am thankful for my curiosity because it allows me to find new ideas and perspectives to apply to my life.
10. I am thankful for my love for travel because it has allowed my to experience other places and cultures and gives me a broader perspective on the world.

10 Things to be Thankful For - People in my Life

1. I am thankful for G - my husband, my rock, my joy, my life.
2. I am thankful for Mom - my never ending support and unconditional love.
3. I am thankful for W - G's oldest friend and a constant source of comfort and companionship
4. I am thankful for A - our deepest well of compassion, grace and generosity
5. I am thankful for E - our smartest ally, competitive and friendly challenger to our beliefs
6. I am thankful for Mi - gifted, kind, fair and warm
7. I am thankful for P - thoughtful, sweet, generous and talented
8. I am thankful for Ma - funny, complimentary, giving and energetic
9. I am thankful for Ad - calm, nurturing, compassionate and hospitable
10. I am thankful for J - joyous, innocent, trusting and loving

10 Things to be Thankful For - Little Luxuries

1. I am thankful for our Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee maker because it makes coffee and tea so quickly.
2. I am thankful for my electric toothbrush because it makes my teeth so clean and white.
3. I am thankful for my Kindle because it gives me instant access to thousands of books, the internet, music and movies.
4. I am thankful for our garage door opener because it keeps us dry when we come home in a pouring rain.
5. I am thankful for restaurant drive through windows because every once in a while you need to eat on the run.
6. I am thankful for my iPhone because it lets me talk to people from anywhere, as well as giving my instant maps, weather and information.
7. I am thankful for my Kenkohs sandals because they helped heal my foot pain.
8. I am thankful for our Sodastream because it gives us sweet treats without corn syrup.
9. I am thankful for my digital camera because it takes such amazing pictures of our travels and adventures.
10. I am thankful for Twitter because it lets me follow favorite people whether I know them or not, and gives a voice to @CaptJSparrow.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Saturday Chores

1. I am thankful for the living room floor we need to sweep and mop because it reminds me of the work we have put into the house and makes me very proud.
2. I am thankful for the window blinds we need to clean because they diffuse the bright sunshine and make the house more comfortable while letting us look out.
3. I am thankful for the kitchen we need to clean because I love being able to cook at home and having an organized clean kitchen to do it in.
4. I am thankful for the office we need to clean because it's wonderful to have a room designated for all of my business needs.
5. I am thankful for the extra clothes that need to go to Goodwill because it demonstrates how fortunate we are to have more than we need and it feels good to give them to charity.
6. I am thankful for our pantry closet we need to clean because we are so fortunate to be able to store food and have a place to do it.
7. I am thankful for the sliding glass doors we need to clean because they give us a wide view of our beautiful yard and lake.
8. I am thankful for the lanai we need to vacuum because it's such a cozy, comfortable space to be outdoors.
9. I am thankful for the rugs we need to vacuum because they keep the bedrooms comfortable for bare feet.
10. I am thankful for the garage we need to clean and organize because we are so lucky to be able to keep both our cars inside and still have room to do laundry and store seasonal things.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Music

1. I am thankful for Duran Duran because their synth pop epitomizes the 80s for me, and because I will always have a crush on Simon LeBon.
2. I am thankful for The Beatles because their timeless songs span generations and are just as powerful today as they were 45 years ago.
3. I am thankful for The Rolling Stones because I have grown to love their raunchy rock and roll, and they are Greg's favorite band.
4. I am thankful for Andrew Lloyd Webber because The Phantom of The Opera gives me absolute chills.
5. I am thankful for David Cook because his genuine heart and soul come out in his music and he's simply the greatest guy you could ever hope to meet.
6. I am thankful for John Williams because his soundtracks are a complete character in so many of my favorite movies.
7. I am thankful for Katy Perry because her modern bubble gum dance music makes me smile.
8. I am thankful for Sting because he wrote and performed my wedding song, Fields of Gold.
9. I am thankful for Vince Guaraldi because his simple piano-bass-drum trio instantly makes me feel like a child again with A Charlie Brown Christmas.
10. I am thankful for Django Reinhardt because his guitar brings me back to rainy nights in a Paris apartment.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Rainy Day

1. I am thankful for the sound of rain on the roof because it lulls me to sleep.
2. I am thankful for the water flowing into the lake because it makes it fill up again.
3. I am thankful for lightning because it charges the atmosphere.
4. I am thankful for our view on to the lake because I can watch the storm.
5. I am thankful for naps because they recharge me.
6. I am thankful for the scent of G's cooking because it makes me feel protected and taken care of.
7. I am thankful for the clouds over the sun because they soften the light and cool the air.
8. I am thankful for the warmth of my blanket because it makes me feel cocooned.
9. I am thankful for the taste of hot tea because it comforts me.
10. I am thankful when it rains on my day off so I can enjoy all of these things fully.

Being thankful for a situation I wish to change - money

1. I am glad to have all the experiences and items that we have purchased.
2. I am glad we had credit available when we didn't have cash at the moment.
3. I am thankful for our house and all the improvements we have been able to make to it.
4. I am glad to have our cars.
5. I'm glad that our credit score is good and getting better.
6. I'm glad we are current with all of our payments.
7. I'm glad we can still enjoy leisure activities.
8. I'm glad G likes his job and the wonderful benefits he receives.
9. I'm glad my job pays me very well.
10. I'm glad I have my own business for more income.

10 Things to be Thankful For - things I love

1.I am thankful for music because it lifts me spirits and energizes me.
2. I am thankful for roller coasters and other theme park rides because they thrill and excite me.
3. I am thankful for movies and TV because they let me escape and be entertained.
4. I am thankful for travel because I love seeing new people and places around the world.
5. I am thankful for the Disney theme parks because they make me feel like a child again.
6. I am thankful for reading because it brings me knowledge and relaxation.
7. I am thankful for improvisation because it tests my mind and lets me perform and make people laugh.
8. I am thankful for singing because it makes me feel strong and joyful.
9. I am thankful for the seashore because it connects me with nature and makes me feel at peace.
10. I am thankful for playing games with friends because I enjoy competition with people who like my company.

Pleasing my ethereal manager - I'm thankful for my job because...

I can play the music I like.
I can dress casually.
Chuck is cool.
I am self directed.
I can go online when I want to.
Free coffee!
There's a store next door for snacks and drinks.
It pays very well.
I get discounts on shoes and insoles.
I can share opinions with Chuck and Dave.
I am free to customize live chat responses.
I make the vast majority of people happy.
I get to see the bay on my commute.
Our computers and telephones work well.
It's air conditioned.
It's not too much physical labor.
The mailman and UPS delivery guy are nice.
I can set my own work pace.
I get to enjoy creative writing on Facebook and Twitter.
I am getting great ideas for running my own business.
I have a window at my desk.
I have a nice green plant.
I have a comfortable chair.
I have a clean desk.
I can check my email at work.
I can and do act in others best interests.
I am adding new skills and experiences to my resume.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Gratitude works!

1. I am thankful to have been notified that I passed the test to join Mensa! Because independent validation always makes me feel good!
2. I am thankful for unexpected financial windfalls like the check from Citizens because it's proof that gratitude works!
3. I am thankful to live in Florida because we are so close to so much to do - Disney, Universal, The Keys, the beach and so much more.
4. I am thankful that A told me about her gratitude journal because it started me on the path to gratitude.
5. I am thankful that R told me to see 'The Secret' because it solidified my commitment to improving my life through gratitude.
6. I am thankful for 'The Magic' because it has given us a specific set of exercises to help us increase gratitude in our lives.
7. I am thankful that G is as excited about our path as I am because together we are unstoppable and will achieve all our dreams.
8. I am thankful that Mom is coming to dinner tomorrow so I can tell her about Mensa.
9. I am thankful for today's gratitude exercise because it focuses on my career and being thankful for work.
10. I am thankful for the joy I feel this morning because I know it is because of my gratitude and there will be much more to come!

10 Things to be Thankful For - workday mornings

1. I am thankful to have a job to go to so I can meet my financial responsibilities.
2. I am thankful for all my clothes because they give me many choices for comfortable things to wear.
3. I am thankful for Facebook because it lets me see what is happening with friends and family.
4. I am thankful that my husband makes me lunch because it saves me time and money and makes me feel loved.
5. I am thankful for my cellphone because it lets me stay in touch with G and others while at work.
6. I am thankful for my cosmetics because they make me feel better about my daily appearance.
7. I am thankful for the air conditioning because it makes the house cool and pleasant to live in.
8. I am thankful for the little hook that holds my car keys so I know where they are each day.
9. I am thankful I remembered to get gas over the weekend so I don't have to stop on the way to work.
10. I am thankful to leave on time so I am at work on time.

10 Things to be Thankful For - Lazy Sundays

1. I am thankful to sleep in late because I feel fully refreshed and relaxed.
2. I am thankful for relaxed morning breakfast time because G makes yummy pancakes.
3. I am thankful for coffee because it tastes good and lifts my energy.
4. I am thankful for time off of work because I can spend time with G enjoying our leisure activities.
5. I am thankful for HGTV home improvement shows because they give us ideas on how to renovate and decorate the home we love so much.
6. I am thankful for HBO On Demand because it lets us watch movies and our favorite shows like Game of Thrones and True Blood whenever we want.
7. I am thankful for stretchy pants and worn out T-shirts because they are so soft and comfortable.
8. I am thankful for long hot showers because they make me feel energized and rejuvenated.
9. I am thankful for improv practice because it lets me be creative and test my brain.
10. I am thankful for my Kindle because I can access the Internet and read in bed before I go to sleep every night.

Relationships - 3 people I am thankful for, 5 reasons

1. G
Thank you, G, for supporting me in every endeavor and believing in my talents and skills.
Thank you, G, for making me laugh, especially when I feel like crying.
Thank you, G, for always being honest with me.
Thank you, G, for being willing to take chances and go on adventures with me.
Thank you, G, for loving me and making me feel like the most important person in the world.

2. M
Thank you, M, for believing in my talent.
Thank you, M, for entertaining me.
Thank you, M, for sharing my love for Star Wars and Disney.
Thank you, M, for giving me good direction.
Thank you, M, for sharing your daughter with me.

3. P
Thank you, P, for always listening to me.
Thank you, P, for respecting my opinions.
Thank you, P, for encouraging me to use my talents.
Thank you, P, for your competitive spirit and fun loving nature.
Thank you, P, for sharing my love of the theater.

10 Things to be Thankful for - Entertainment

Because it's Saturday and I'm going to Walt Disney World, here are 10 things I am thankful for because they entertain me, bringing me joy and laughter -

1. Pirates of the Caribbean - and specifically Captain Jack Sparrow
2. Star Wars
3. The Little Mermaid
4. Game of Thrones
5. True Blood
6. Modern Family
7. The Big Bang Theory
8. Two Broke Girls
9. Satellite comedy radio
10. Harry Potter

10 Things to be Thankful For - Day Two - what I can see from the couch

I can sit on my couch and count at least ten things I am thankful for without moving! I am so blessed!
1. The beautiful view of the lake from our home because it brings me peace and happiness.
2. The wildlife that shares our backyard because they make me feel connected to nature.
3. The rain that's falling right now because its filling the lake and making everything green.
4. The morning news because it lets me know where accidents are so I can avoid them.
5. Our fireplace because it makes me so proud to look at it and know that we placed those stones ourselves.
6. Our Millionaire pins because they bring me happy memories.
7. My Nancy Award because it makes me proud and happy to remember directing It's A Wonderful Life.
8. Our floor because it makes me proud to look at it and know that we leveled that concrete and placed those boards ourselves.
9. Our TV and stereo system because it brings us so much entertainment and information.
10. Our lanai because it lets us experience the outdoors without being exposed to rain and bugs.

Ten Things to be Thankful For - Day One

Starting with my Top Ten!
1. My incredible husband, always first and foremost, because of his constant love, support, understanding and awareness. He helps me to grow and allows me to help him in the same way. And he can always make me laugh at exactly the right moment.
2. My mom, because she has always been there for me and makes sure I know how much she loves me and supports me always.
3. Our beautiful home because it makes us feel safe, strong, peaceful and energized.
4. Our pretty kitty, because of her unconditional love, devoted companionship and healing energy.
5. My car because it is comfortable, dependable, safe and fun.
6. My soft, warm bed because it provides me restorative sleep each night.
7. My sharp mind because I enjoy finding answers to problems and the feeling when others look to me for information and solutions.
8. My strong body because it allows me to move freely and easily through this world.
9. Our friends because they support us, enjoy us, entertain us and share their lives and energy with us.
10. The gods because they guide us in our lives, inspire us to reach our full potential and make their presence known to us each day, filling us with joy, laughter, awe and love.

The Secret, The Magic and more on gratitude

While I have continued with my daily gratitude on my Facebook page, I'm now going to use my blog to chronicle our work with the Law of Attraction. We watched the movie 'The Secret' a few weeks ago, and we are focusing our energy on bringing good things into our lives, using gratitude for what we already have and visualizing the happiness we will feel when we achieve our goals. I downloaded the book 'The Magic' to my Kindle, and we are starting a 28 day exercise in gratitude, specifically designed to attract more of what we want in our lives. I'll be posting 10 things each day that I am grateful for, as well as my observations of how our lives change as we move forward with this philosophy. I'm excited to see what the future brings!

Day Fifty One

Thankful for such a great cast and support crew for Dearly Beloved. And that I know MOST of my lines.

Day Fifty

Full of plans and dreams, and thankful to have the opportunity to plan a celebration!

Day Forty Nine

Thankful to be able to share the stage with my hubby once again! Greg has stepped into the role of Wiley in Dearly Beloved!

Day Forty Eight

Thankful to have been able to experience "The Rainmaker" at Carrollwood Players tonight. Simply an amazing show. Jim Russell, brilliant directing, and stellar performances from everyone in the cast. Go see it!

Day Forty Seven

So thankful to see the Lightning tonight! And it's Star Wars night to boot!

Day Forty Six

Thankful for freedom of speech, and the freedom to choose not to participate in debate if I don't want to.

Day Forty Five

Dinner, wine, chocolate and The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary concert on DVD. So much to be thankful for on this Valentines Day!

Day Forty Four

Thankful for successful culinary experiments - tonight's entry, curried spinach with tempeh.

Day Forty Three

So thankful to be warm in my home on a cold night. So many don't have this simple privilege.

Day Forty Two

Did you know you can make lasagna in your slow cooker? I didn't, but now I am very thankful I do! YUM!!!!!!

Day Forty One

Thankful for the restful sound of rain on the roof. And really for the roof itself.

Day Forty

Thankful to have had the opportunity today to see awards given to some truly deserving people for their charitable works. There is so much caring and generosity in the world. I wish it got higher TV ratings.

Day Thirty Nine

Thankful to be sharing the stage with amazing actresses. Kathryn and Jen, it's an honor to be your sister.

Day Thirty Eight

I am thankful that some of you get some pleasure from my posts of gratitude. It's a very interesting experiment, and if I can make someone else happy while doing it, bonus! I appreciate friends and family so much!

Day Thirty Seven

Thankful for the rain. Not especially thankful for the traffic nightmare it caused.

Day Thirty Six

Happy Super Bowl! Thankful for nailbiting championship games! (Not the world championship of nailbiting)

Day Thirty Five

Thankful for Disney naps. Like disco naps, but more magical.

Day Thirty Four

Thankful to be leaving for a weekend at Disney tomorrow. Pirates and pizza at Via Napoli!

Day Thirty Three

So thankful that I have a new relaxed and positive attitude on life these days, because otherwise I might have choked the crap out of a couple of people this morning. Also thankful I saw a dolphin this afternoon. Hoping those two entries cancel each other out karmically.

Day Thirty Two

Thankful that occasionally I can make inappropriate dietary choices and have frozen yogurt with hot fudge and Captain Crunch topping for dinner. Occasionally.

Day Thirty One

Thankful for a husband who can get rid of my back pain

Day Thirty

 I am thankful for my bed - and the fact that I can go ahead and get into it at 8:30 PM if I want to.

Day Twenty Nine

 Thankful for the chance to share the stage with incredibly talented friends. Missing Jennifer Martin tonight!

Day Twenty Eight

Thankful to be a day late because we were having so much fun with friends! Game night at the Sanders villa is such a blast!

Day Twenty Seven

Thankful for Friday night, turkey burgers and grilled zucchini. Sometimes simple is best.

Day Twenty Six

Thankful for a quiet night at home with hubby, The Big Bang Theory and tempeh stir fry.

Day Twenty Five

 Thankful for a life that is full of good things like work and rehearsal for 'Dearly Beloved'. Full enough that occasionally I may not get on Facebook for more than 24 hours!

Day Twenty Four

Thankful to be halfway home. Vacation is nice, but home is better!

Third Week

The week started out fairly normal but has wound up as one of the most memorable of my life. I'm writing this from my upgraded suite at Beaches Turks & Caicos, glass of complimentary merlot on hand and aloe vera on my nose from just a touch too much sun. I feel as if I have had my first experience with 'more to be grateful for' on this trip. My flight from Tampa on Saturday morning was scheduled to leave at 9:00 AM with a one hour layover in MIami, but when I got to the gate, it was delayed by almost an hour, meaning I was most likely going to miss my connection to Providenciales. In the past, I would have gotten angry, maybe not showing it, but certainly seething inside. This time I took a deep breath and decided to go with the flow.

The gate agent seated me in the bulkhead row, as far forward as possible to try and make the connection, and as fate would have it I was seated next to another travel agent, Andrea, who was trying to make the same connection. We had no luck once we landed in Miami, the connecting flight left 3 minutes before we got there, but Andrea had access to the Admirals Club so our unexpected 6 hour layover was actually pleasant, with complimentary drinks and vouchers for lunch and dinner. Andrea has been an agent for almost 3 years, and I was able to get good advice and encouragement from her about continuing my business, so it was a worthwhile delay. Once we finally got to the resort at about 9:00 PM, I found out I had been upgraded to a one bedroom suite with a fully stocked mini bar and concierge services. I took full advantage of the bottle of merlot that was there and was able to get to sleep fairly easily.

The next morning was an early start with a 4 hour seminar on the Sandals/Beaches resorts all over the Caribbean, but then lunch was at our leisure and I was finally able to start exploring the resort. The grounds are amazing, if a little spread out, and the food so far has been tremendous. I indulged in the lunch buffet at Giuseppis in the French Village section of the resort and it was definitely a step above your regular buffet, with choices including lamb in couscous with cumin and cilantro, farfalle pasta with garlic cream sauce and a wide array of French pastries for dessert.

After lunch I changed into my swimsuit for the chosen excursion, a boat trip out to snorkel on the coral reef in the marine sanctuary. The water was cool, but not cold, and clear as glass. We anchored at a depth of about 12 feet and spent an hour snorkeling amongst hundreds of fish, which I hopefully captured on film with the underwater camera that I decided to purchase. Some of the other swimmers said they saw a shark, which was my signal to get out of the water and instead enjoy the fruit and pastries that were offered onboard the boat.

Dinner was a group event at Schooners, the al fresco seafood restaurant near the water, and I enjoyed the lemon grilled snapper, but I was more interested in getting to Cricketers Pub to see the Giants/49ers playoff game. I made it for the 4th quarter to watch the Giants win in OT, then sand a couple of songs at karaoke before heading to bed just in time to miss a prolonged rainstorm. The rain on the roof lulled me right to sleep.

Today started with breakfast at Barefoot on the Beach, with an omelet made to order served outdoors on the sand beneath a thatched roof pavilion with the ocean waves in the distance. Just gorgeous. After a quick guided tour of the resort to see a number of different room types, we had the rest of the day at leisure and I spent a delightful few hours at the beach. Sand like silk powder, a lounge chair under a shady umbrella, a couple of pina coladas and I was in absolute heaven. I'm ready to head out for our last dinner now, and I know I'll have even more to be thankful for, but I'm starting to look forward to heading home tomorrow and being back with my husband. His presence is the only thing that would have made this trip absolutely perfect. I'm thankful I'll be back with him tomorrow!

Day Twenty Three

Pictures will better convey my unbelievable gratitude at being able to have an experience like this. More to come...

Day Twenty One - Part Two

 Thankful to finally be at my resort, AND upgraded to a suite with a complimentary mini bar and fruit plate! Gratitude works! Time for merlot!

Day Twenty One

Hoped I would be thankful for a seamless trip to the Caribbean, but instead I am very thankful to have found a fellow travel agent who has given me access to the Miami Admiral's Club during my unexpected 6 hour layover. Yay for complimentary wine! Thank you Andrea!

Day Twenty

Thankful to have a love that is still so strong after 22 years that I am sad that we'll be apart for 4 days.

Day Nineteen

So thankful to be working, but REALLY excited that I leave on Saturday for an all inclusive trip to Beaches Resort in Turks & Caicos! Expect to see thankfulness for beach umbrellas, breakfast buffets and lots 'o rum!

Day Eighteen

I am thankful to live in a country where we may openly protest censorship. There are countries where people are imprisoned and tortured for trying to protect their liberties. Cherish our freedom!

End Piracy, Not Liberty – Google

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Day Seventeen

 So incredibly thankful to be part of a great new show with some of my very favorite people!

Day Sixteen

 Thankful for spa pedicures! Even if I can only get them every six months.

Day Fifteen

Day Fifteen - so thankful to be able to audition with talented people for a great director, AD and producer! Thanks for making it fun, y'all! 

Second Week

Week Two of A Year of Gratitude is complete, and I feel really good. I find myself looking for the good in each day so I can have something to post, and I feel more calm, centered and balanced than I have in a long time. Granted, it could just be the relief of a steady paycheck after so many months out of work. And I haven't had any really big challenges to face so far. Not that I'm asking for any! But it's easy to think that I have a new and improved outlook on life when I can now pay my bills and I haven't had any personal meltdowns.

We went to Carrollwood Players community theater last night and saw the female version of 'The Odd Couple'. I did that show back in the late 1980s when it was still on Broadway, and I can't decide if it's held up or not. Neil Simon is always classic, and we laughed, but it's strange to think that in attempt to highlight women's empowerment, Simon chose to copy an existing male play rather than write something new. I may be overthinking it, it's probably just better to sit back and enjoy the entertainment. But I'd like to see a true female buddy comedy. Maybe I should write one.

Plans for this weekend - the Live Chat from home experiment begins! As part of my new responsibilities as eCommerce manager, I volunteered to log into Live Chat for our website tonight and see if we can increase weekend sales by having chat available. I'm hoping for a busy night, it would be the first step towards a true 'work at home' option which is my dream. In our perfect world, G. will retire from Disney in a few years with full benefits, then work at home doing Live Chat, if not for this company, then for someone else. Hopefully tonight will help make that perfect world a reality.

Of course, while monitoring live chat I'll also be monitoring football. G. has only had the slightest interest in football, mostly watching the games to keep me company. But he is now fascinated by the phenomenon that is Tim Tebow. Last week's game winning touchdown pass in the first 10 seconds of OT against the Steelers was simply astounding, and now we're both really looking forward to seeing how this story continues...or ends. Regardless of how you feel about his religious beliefs or his abilities as a quarterback, Tebow is fascinating, and I'm thinking it's going to be an amazing game.

Next weekend I'll be blogging from Beaches Resort inTurks & Caicos! A WHOLE lot of gratitude is expected, accompanied by frothy drinks!

Day Fourteen

I am thankful for the love and company of our beautiful kitty, Visa. She was a rescue and I want to help more cats and dogs like her! So I'm joining Team Tonka to raise funds and awareness for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Please donate if you can!

Click here to help!

Visa for Tonka!

www.firstgiving.com

The Mission of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay: Dedicated to ending animal homelessness and providing care and comfort for companion animals in need.

Day Thirteen

Day Thirteen - lucky to have talented friends and looking forward to supporting them tonight. Break a leg, ladies! Carrollwood Players - The Odd Couple

Day Twelve

I am so grateful for days like today - sunny, 75 degree days with no humidity. Sorry Northern friends and family. But, hey, just think, you'll be able to use this status in June when I'm working on being thankful while being drenched in sweat.

Day Eleven

I am thankful to be able to support friends in good causes!

Donate to Team Tonka and the Tampa Bay Humane Society

Day Ten

 thankful for this view on the evening commute!

Day Nine

I am thankful for a husband who makes me laugh every day. Well, almost every day. :)

Day Eight

I don't want too much of my gratitude to focus on food,  but man, I am loving the awesome cherry bread I made today! So, thankful for sweet treats and a lazy Sunday watching football with my hubby.

First Week

I have completed my first seven days of my year of gratitude online journal, and it's feeling good so far. No major changes in my life or attitudes, but I didn't really expect any. My hope is that by expressing gratitude every day I can accomplish a couple of things. First, when things happen that make me angry or upset, I can more quickly move past them and get back to being glad for the many things that work well in my life. And second, by being thankful for what I have, I believe it will bring even more things into my life to be thankful for.

This was a reasonably calm week. I just started a new job on December 20 as the e-Commerce supervisor for an online footwear company, so I'm still settling into that role and figuring out the office dynamics. It's a very laid back company, and the people are all extremely nice, but I'm just starting to get an idea of personalities and work habits. I'm sure there will be challenges ahead,and the 75 minute drive each way is definitely tiring,  but I'm EXTREMELY thankful to have a job after looking for 6 long months.

This weekend is focused on friends and football, with a great 40th birthday party for a friend last night, and the wild card games on TV today. I'm looking forward to a lazy Sunday. Not that there isn't a ton to do around the house, but we've been in renovation mode for 8 months, getting the house foundation shored up from a sinkhole. That struggle, combined with lack of employment and low finances, has been a big part of why I've been so angry for the last year. A two year fight with the insurance company to save our house finally culminated in a settlement in May, with major foundation work done in June, then months of cosmetic work including taking up all the flooring, leveling the interior concrete, refacing the fireplace and replacing all the laminate flooring. To save money, we did all the interior work ourselves, which has been time consuming but ultimately highly satisfying. We've got almost everything done now, just the finishing touches on the floors and painting to do, but we're going to take a break for a few weeks while I get back into work mode and G. adjusts to a new (better) schedule at work. We are so lucky now to have a home we love that is safe from collapse.

Here comes week two! I'm ready!

Day Seven

thankful for quality time with family and friends - lunch with Mom, and now headed for Jim-a-palooza. Happy Birthday Jim Johnson! Oh, and thankful for disco naps. :)

Day Six

Very thankful for my good health, brought into sharp focus when co-workers are ill and injured. Oh, and TGIF! :)

Day Five

 I am so thankful for a husband that has dinner ready when I get home from a 75 minute commute.

Day Four

 thank the gods for pizza and red wine. Whoo hoo!

Day Three

thankful for warm socks, fuzzy blankets and our fireplace. And that we only need them a few nights each year.

Day Two

 thankful for mornings when the alarm does not need to go off!

A Year Of Gratitude - Day One - January 1, 2012

The new year has begun, and depending on your point of view we are either spiraling towards the end of life as we know it, as heralded by the Mayan civilization, or simply starting another 365 day cycle on the endless bike path of the universe. Either way, I want this year to be different. 2011 was a terrible year all around for me, marked by failure and frustration in business and personal ventures, and I desperately need to wipe that slate clean. Today, my friend Amy turned me on to the concept of a Gratitude Journal, focusing on the things you are thankful for each day. My idea is that as you give thanks for what you have, you are brought more and more to be thankful for. So I have decided to focus on the positive in my life by giving thanks each day. I'm  posting Facebook for family and friends but I decided to also post in this blog so people I don't know may find it. As the year progresses, I'll post thoughts on how this exercise is affecting my life and outlook. So -

A year of gratitude - Day 1 - I am thankful to have friends who will debate with me one moment and introduce me to the concept of The Gratitude Journal the next. And will still love me whether I make it to Day 365 or just Day 3. :)