Things I've Been Grateful For This Week

The last week has been full of gifts, large and small, and some realizations about all that I have to be thankful for:

Blog: After writing about my experience with FuelClinic.com, Doc Miles wrote a very nice bit about my blog. You can see it here.* "Fighting Foreclosure" has been such a wonderful resource for me, from just giving me a place to vent to getting great ideas from other bloggers, I have to say that it has been a huge component in keeping me on track and inspired. People's comments and mentions like Doc's never fail to brighten my day.

Family: Earlier this week my sister joined me at a Christmas program on the icons of a local Eastern Orthodox Church. It was a nice program, but even better was the chance to spend some time one on one with my sister. We both braved some pretty nasty roads to get there, but the evening made it worth it. I really have a wonderful family, and lately I've been thinking a lot about how I need to spend more time with them.

Friends: Last night my best gals came over for a few holiday cocktails and some social time. It was a low key affair - everyone brought something to nosh and we just sat around catching up. It great night! Life has been so busy lately, (for me and them,) that I haven't seen some of them for months. Other than the fact it took place in December and I put out holiday M&Ms, I can't even say last night was a "Christmas" gathering - it was more just a quiet night of friends and food. (Lots of food - I am munching on leftover grapes as I write this.) They are such wonderful people, I am so lucky to have them in my life.

Work: I'm working four jobs today and two tomorrow! I am working my full time 40 hour a week, doing a Mystery Shopping gig at lunch, heading to Part Time Temp (PTT) Job #1 after work. Once I get home I need to package up some items I sold on Amazon. Yay! Tomorrow I have another Mystery Shopping Assignment and another PTT job. That should make this weekend pretty profitable. Boy, I would love to see that sidebar hit $900 this month! Even if it doesn't, I am so grateful for these opportunities, especially the PTT jobs given to me by friends!

There's more...

More Friends: On Sunday I am getting together with different, but also wonderful friends. One of them is sponsoring a dinner for some of us who are having tough times right now, which brings me to -

More on Work: I have two friends who are out of work right now. They are both brilliant and would be such good employees. I find myself being more and more grateful for the chance to just come to work every day. I am really glad that my company is working on some exciting products that has been making my job interesting (if a touch stressful) the last few weeks and that we are striving to bring in more income so our company can continue to employ everyone we have here. When I hear of all the unethical and borderline ethics that companies are engaging in right now, I am so grateful to be part of a good place.

Health: My friend Catie's godfather is suffering from cancer right now. I've known him for years. Talking about it with her reminds me of my own father's struggles with lung cancer. I realized recently what a gift it is to simply be healthy. I had a spate of about 4 years where I suffered from chronic pain, so I know what it is to be unhealthy. Just the fact I can get out of bed each morning and feel good is a huge blessing.

This year has been a real lesson for me in how to value the things you have. I don't want to say that I took things for granted in the past, because I have always been aware of them, but I certainly didn't have the appreciation that I do now. Perhaps that is my silver lining.




* EDIT: Doc.'s blog seems to be down right now. You may have to check back later.

Silver lining photo by: Paul J. Thompson