I recently read through an old gratitude journal and I must tell you…NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE. Generally speaking, the lists all looked a little something like this…

1. I’m thankful for flowers
2. I’m thankful for family
3. I’m thankful for books
4. I’m thankful for my wonderful daughter
5. I’m thankful for….my health… good food…a job…you get the idea

Although every entry on every list was worthy of gratitude, in reading them years later, they seem so superficial and predictable. Maybe it is maturity or life experience that has changed my perspective but I feel like I could have been more authentic and more explicit in what I wrote down. If I were to give my gratitude journal a makeover today, it might look more like this…

1. I’m thankful that I’ve made it this far…staying alive AND staying out of jail
2. I’m thankful that I married someone patient enough to help me find myself and FIX myself
3. I’m thankful for my granddaughters…if you’ve seen them I need to say no more!
4. I’m thankful for the many ways my daughter is similar to me…same taste in music means we’ve never argued over what’s on the radio
5. I’m thankful for alcohol…seriously…some days more than others
6. I’m thankful for the chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries that saved my life
7. I’m thankful for dental implants…because unfortunately chemotherapy and radiation destroyed my real teeth
8. I’m thankful that I have a career and not just a job
9. I’m thankful for some really shitty experiences…they’ve conditioned me  to be more patient and tolerant than I ever imagined I could be
10. I’m thankful for anyone and everyone that is reading my blog…you are inspiring me to test my limits and push my boundaries

This is NO WHERE near a complete list of everything I’m thankful for and you will see additions to this list in future posts BUT…

Now that I’ve shared a few with you,  tell me…what’s on your gratitude list? What things are you authentically thankful for?