I used to go to a Puerto Rican restaurant in Manhattan that had quotes painted on its basement walls. One in particular read, “Don’t let idiots ruin your day.” While the restaurant no longer exists, that message is good advice for living a more joyful life. Too often we let others “ruin” our days. We care too much about what they think of us or what they say to us. Yet we have an opportunity to choose our own reaction. I normally practice this philosophy of choosing how I react to unpleasant situations or people but this week, I was reminded that I’m human. I let someone’s comments to me upset me for days. And now, I appreciate that these comments made me remember to breathe, to remember to choose a better feeling thought and to remember to appreciate the best in the situation.
I appreciate it for the reaction it gave me to remember my own practices, to remember that I am in control of my own well-being and that I need not concern myself with what others think of me. I appreciate that I don’t have to wait for others to like me, or accept what I’m offering. I am enough. I am worthy. I appreciate the reminder that we don’t always know what others may be going through, so instead of judging them, we can just send them love and good intentions for moving forward.
I appreciate the time I’ve known this person. I can appreciate using Abraham-Hick’s List of Positive Aspects about this person, too. I have practiced using that list for years, whenever I was having challenges with people. I appreciate that it helps me to think of them in a more joyful light and helps me to move on.
I can appreciate myself for not responding to this person in a way that would further cause angst between us. I appreciate choosing a reaction that feels good. I can appreciate that this behavior prompted me to write a blog post. I appreciate this unwanted contrast for the value it’s teaching me to let things go. I have the power to choose how I feel about all of this and I am empowered to use this moment to let it all go: and so I did.
Living in Iowa, I know how cold the winter months can get. With harsh winds, even a little bit of snow can create blizzard conditions quickly. We’ve had a lot of snow lately and it seems as soon as we recover from a major snow storm, another one rolls in. That’s how winter goes sometimes.
We had a blizzard here yesterday, but I actually appreciate the beauty of snow, and especially when it’s falling like a snow globe. I filmed this short clip yesterday before the storm turned into a blizzard.
Snow Globe in Iowa City
This morning I woke up super early (before 4 a.m.) to hear a guy outside already shoveling the walkway outside. Shortly thereafter, I heard the street plow go down the street. The sun isn’t up yet as I write this, but these workers are busy clearing the roads and sidewalks for us.
I appreciate people who do this hard work. I appreciate that they get up so early in the dead of winter to brave the frigid temperatures, so that we can all be safe. I really appreciate cleared sidewalks and streets in the winter. I appreciate that we have sidewalks to walk on and roads to ride or drive on, too! I appreciate that these workers are strong and must possess a strong work ethic to be so dedicated to do this job, even in the most frigid of temperatures. I appreciate these workers who start their jobs early, so that people won’t fall on the slick sidewalks or get into accidents on the road. I appreciate our tax dollars being used to keep the public safe.
There’s more snow predicted this week, along with very low temperatures below zero and with wind chills making it hard to be outside for much time. I’ll be appreciating the workers who will be out there again, making our world a safer place. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!
In the 70’s, my family hosted several people from other countries in our home. One of those was from France. She spent a summer with us and I visited her twice in France the next few years later, and then again in the mid-80’s when I attended her wedding. Over time, an occasional note arrived in my mailbox from her but generally, we lost touch for awhile. Thanks to Linked In, I found her again and we communicated with each other. (She’s not on any other social media sites.) I was so happy to connect with her again. We then emailed each other off and on, but nothing has been better than seeing her again a few years ago when I traveled to France for work and we met up again.
Since then, we’ve connected more regularly on WhatsApp and now on the Signal app. (She’s dropping WhatsApp due to their privacy policy.) It has been such a pleasure to communicate and stay in touch with her, sharing photos, videos and lots of stories.
Today I received these images from her, taken by her husband. If you look closely, you’ll see him in the reflection with his mask on taking the photos. These are at a place near where she lives in Paris. I think it’s creative and cute even though the bears are having all the fun!
Parisian bears enjoying it all during the pandemic.
I really appreciate the apps that allow us to connect with previously long-lost friends. Maintaining our friendships with people near and far are a wonderful way to feel connected during this pandemic, when many of us are isolated for long periods of time. I appreciate the technology to keep connecting and even more so, I appreciate the friendships!
It’s been quite the year all over the world. It may seem strange to find things to celebrate and appreciate this year, but there are many, if you look for it. I’ve made appreciating my daily habit, and often it’s for the simple things. One thing is for sure: the negative aspects of this year have brought forth huge mountains of desire and intentions for making things better everywhere.
I have often been struck this year by the creativity that’s come out of this year. The year was full of creative ways to bring television, Broadway shows, and opera to us. We could travel to museums virtually and go virtually anywhere without leaving our homes. Many TV shows got creative and still brought us their episodes or broadcasts in creative ways. I even participated in the Zoom audience at The View, a show that I always wanted to attend when I lived in NYC. It was a fun experience and the people with me were awesome. The pandemic forced us to “think outside of the box,” and for that, I’m grateful.
Zoom audience for The View
Even amongst all the political fighting, there’s usually someone with a sense of humor posting funny memes that made me laugh. And there’s always a dog or cat photo to make us feel warm and fuzzy. There were many heart-warming stories of people helping each other. Mr. Rogers always said in times of trouble, to look for the helpers. And that I did. There were so many helpers during the derecho that hit Iowa and my heart wanted to sing! I appreciate all who reaffirmed my belief that most people, (and especially Iowans), are kind and caring.
Speaking of helpers, I appreciate essential workers everywhere! Essential workers in health care, the food industry, the transportation industry, the delivery industry and the mail industry kept things going. Honestly no words can truly express how much I appreciate all that you do.
I appreciate all my family and friends who I met with virtually this year. I laughed so hard at our first annual virtual Clark Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest where I was one of the 5 judges. It felt like we were gathered together for the holidays. If it weren’t for this pandemic, 9 of us girlfriends probably wouldn’t have reconnected after many years of silence. I’ve known most of these women since I was 5 years old and I appreciate and love them all. I really appreciate having successful virtual Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family, too. While my daughters live in the same city and very close to me, they aren’t in my household pod, so we don’t get together. I can’t wait to get together with them again and share a meal and family time!
A special shout out and “thank you” goes to all of my Hawkeye Twitter friends! I’ve enjoyed our interactions over this year so much and cannot wait to see some of you again, and meet those that I’ve yet to meet. I appreciate that we had a football season, albeit shorter than usual, and that fans were able to see our team play on TV. I’m looking forward to a pandemic-free Hawkeye game and gatherings in 2021! And I appreciate how many kept the Iowa Wave going this year! I’m sure the children and their families appreciate you! 🖤💛
Iowa Hawkeyes Football Game
As this year comes to a close, I’m appreciative of all the scientists, researchers and medical personnel involved with the development and distribution of the vaccines. My daughters are getting their first dose today and I really look forward to the day when I’ll get mine and we can get together again. I really appreciate that I live in Iowa City with the wonderful University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. I am grateful for all the resources in my city.
The year 2020 has been so unusual in unpredictable ways. The pandemic with the COVID-19 virus has resulted in disruptions in our normal routines and increased anxiety in many people as a result. The news is filled everyday with new virus numbers, many dead, red alerts around the world, and stories of people debating the efficacy of masks and others protesting it. This, coupled with a contentious presidential election in the U.S., has resulted in a lot of negative news on TV.
Awhile ago, I found myself not feeling very good when I turned on the TV and checked in with the news. It seems as if the stories were all the same, no matter which channel I turned to. So I decided to give myself a distraction and turn the news off for awhile. It’s not the first time I’ve done this and likely won’t be the last.
What a difference that decision made! I decided to find a distraction that would capture my interest and entertain me at the same time. So I began to watch old seasons of the show, Survivor. I was only recently a fan of the show, so I hadn’t seen any but the last season’s episodes in its entirety. The show has been on for 20 years and there are 40 seasons in all. I am now on Season #37! It has really kept my interest and completely distracted me.
This distraction for me is good for my soul. It is a form of self-care in these uncertain times. We all have to take care of ourselves and it is especially important during this pandemic. This is one way I’ve found to be calming and fun. It is not the only thing I’ve done to “escape” from the thoughts of this pandemic and the quarrels of what is now the U.S. presidential post-election, but it is one that has served me very well for my overall well-being.
So when you find that you’re having a hard time with the day’s events, it can be truly good for your soul to take a break and immerse yourself in something that brings you pleasure instead. Turn off the news and enjoy whatever makes you feel good.
I may not be a contestant on the show, but I am a survivor in these chaotic times of 2020!
Appreciating what’s going right is really like a celebration. If you want to amp up your vibe and mood everyday, look for things to celebrate. No matter how small, celebrations are good for you! Don’t spend too much time looking at what’s going wrong or you’ll get stuck there, leaving you in a negative mood or even depressed.
This week, I’ve seen some things worth celebrating that I’ll share with you here.
1. More than 150 labs are working worldwide to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. While still far from a solution, 23 of them are using human trials, including the news from Moderna involving a small human trial. I appreciate all these researchers working on a solution for this worldwide pandemic and the people who are participating in the human trials for the greater good of mankind!
2. I appreciate hearing about Phase 3 of a study on a new drug called REGN-COV2 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. This new drug blocks the COVID-19 virus from infecting a person’s cells, which can slow the disease and protect its severity. I appreciate all these researchers around the world working on various solutions to lessen the effect of this public health crisis and the volunteers who are testing everything! They’re heroes in my book!
3. Ruth Bader Ginsberg was released from the hospital. She’s a strong, resilient and inspiring woman and I’m so happy she’s out of the hospital. My country needs her!
4. The Trump administration dropped its restriction for international students and online learning, allowing them to take online courses for the fall, and saving them from having to leave the country or transfer to someplace where there’ll be face-to-face learning. I so appreciate MIT and Harvard for bringing the lawsuit forward and the international education community who expressed outrage to the proposed new policy, as well as various states and cities who joined in. The backlash forced the administration to drop the policy altogether! International students bring so much enrichment to US campuses and I appreciate that they can stay.
5. Some people have been fortunate enough to see Comet NEOWISE across the skies. I personally haven’t seen it but I’ve always loved looking at the sky and seeing the marvels of space. There’s so much beauty up there!
6. Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger, Kohl’s, Best Buy, Apple, Costco, Starbucks and others require customers to wear masks in their stores. The number of businesses growing with this trend is good for everyone. While I’d prefer to see people voluntarily wear masks in public and more leadership to require it, I applaud the businesses who are trying to help make our society healthier.
7. Speaking of wearing masks, did you see this display of 300 drones in South Korea to thank frontline workers and remind people of the importance of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing? What a beautiful display!
8. I bought my cats a new toy yesterday and it is providing hours of entertainment. This one is an interactive one, so I play with them. I appreciate it when I can get something they like and actually use (unlike the several “beds” I’ve bought that they don’t use. They prefer boxes!) Ha!
9. I saw this morning a report that Rice University will conduct some classes outside, using tents and social distancing with students bringing their own chairs. I do appreciate the creativity that’s coming forth from these times and wish them all the best. Let’s hope it doesn’t storm much!
10. Today is “Iowa Day” on the Big Ten Network. That’s always something I celebrate! Go Hawkeyes!
We’re in a midst of a global pandemic and the news can really get a person down. Between the deaths, rising cases in the U.S., fighting over wearing a mask, loss of jobs and crowds not social distancing, it can be a challenge for us to see any positives in today’s situation.
Yet with any challenging situation, there’s an opportunity for growth. There’s an opportunity to see what’s wrong and create change to make things better. It may not seem so these days, but I have faith that we’ll all learn some lessons from this experience in the long run.
Learning to find what’s going right each day is an exercise in creating more appreciation and joy in your life: even during this pandemic. So, I thought I’d give a short list of some things I see and feel these days and invite you to consider making the practice of truly appreciating what is going right in your world daily. My list is by no means exhaustive. Here’s a taste of appreciation for you!
I appreciate getting up everyday. I appreciate the sun shining and the birds singing. I am so appreciative of the food in abundance in my kitchen. I appreciate the summer so I can take walks during this time. I appreciate the variety of masks I’ve gathered for my time outside my home. I appreciate the advice of the medical community during this pandemic. I also appreciate all the people who are working to keep things moving: in the hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants. I appreciate the creativity of places to come up with alternative ways of doing business. I appreciate Zoom and WhatsApp that help me stay connected with people near and far. I appreciate all the books available for me to read or listen to!
I appreciate my two cats who provide a lot of entertainment during this time. I also appreciate some of the movies I’ve seen on TV. I really loved seeing Hamilton recently and appreciate that it was made available for us to see. I appreciate all my Hawkeye Twitter friends, who provide an endless supply of fun and I love their cooking pictures! I can’t wait until the day when we can all get together for a tailgate and share some of them! And in this extremely hot, humid weather, I appreciate having air conditioning!
So that’s my short list for today. If the news is bringing you down, it helps to just turn it off and give yourself a rest until you can get yourself into a better state of mind. Appreciating routinely will help you do that. What and who are you appreciating today?
It’s been 4 years since I’ve written on this blog so today I decided it’s time to appreciate here again. We need more joy in our lives, so my hope and intention is that I’ll post more regularly for the rest of this 2020 year. Appreciation is a very powerful tool to leading a more joyful life! So with that said, here’s an old post from 4 years ago on my appreciation for my freedom of choice! Happy Independence Day to everyone in the U.S.!
Today is Independence Day in my country and I’m reminded that “freedom” means so many things to many people. I do appreciate that I live in a country where the ideals of freedom are engrained in our constitution. The Bill of Rights contains 10 amendments, some of which protect our freedom of religion, speech, and the press.
But this post isn’t about our constitutional freedoms, but rather an appreciation of how I always have freedom in my choices of how I react to any given situation. Observing social media outlets, I see some strong opinions expressed and sometimes hateful remarks towards others who disagree with these opinions. I’m reminded that we all have freedom to express what we believe, but we don’t have to agree with everyone. We get to choose. That’s freedom right there.
I appreciate that when I read or see hateful messages on social media, I can choose to ignore them. Things I don’t want or that cause me to feel negative feelings are called “unwanted contrast” in law of attraction circles. I appreciate the feelings that sometimes result from reading hate-filled comments as opportunities for me to focus in on what I truly want. I appreciate that I have learned the value of unwanted contrast in creating a more happy life.
Anytime we’re faced with something or a situation that causes us to have strong emotions of dislike, anger or other negative feelings, it’s an opportunity for us to exercise our freedom of choice: you can either simmer in those emotions and let them get stronger or practice focusing in on the opposite end of refining what you want. I’ve found that when I find myself getting heated up with passion about unwanted contrast, it’s a good time to jot down the opposite of what I don’t want, which is what I’d rather see and feel.
Once I’ve clarified what I want, I can exercise my freedom of choice in taking softer steps in getting there. It might mean that I stop looking at social media for awhile, or that I don’t talk or associate with a certain people for awhile (until I can clean up my energy about them), or that I turn off the TV, or that I just distract myself with something else. I might meditate, go take a nap, do something that’s fun, pet my cat, talk to friends and family, or any number of things. I use Abraham-Hicks’ tip of reaching for that feeling of relief to move myself up the emotional scale into a better feeling place. I appreciate these tools for the happiness that I enjoy from using them!
I always have the freedom of choice in my relief from unwanted situations, and you do, too. Some people may interpret my reactions to people, things and situations sometimes as uncaring when I don’t engage in augmenting the negativity of the situation. But I do care – I care how I feel, I care about others and intend for their happiness, too, and I know how my happiness is dependent on me, just as yours is dependent upon you. I care enough to not let outside events destroy my well-being.
We always have a freedom of choice in how we react to anything, even in the most horrific situations. Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl expressed this beautifully in these statements:
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
I appreciate my freedom of choice. I appreciate it so much as it’s contributed greatly to my personal growth and made me a much happier person. I appreciate that you don’t have to agree with me, and that’s just fine. We travel our own journeys in life and I appreciate all the people who have contributed to mine in all ways: the good, the bad and the ugly. For all these situations have served me well in learning how to appreciate any person or situation. I’m happy and looking forward to more freedom of choices in my life for the growth that they foster in me.
Inspired by Jeannette Maw’s post on 99 Ways 2016 Rocked It, and from my first ebook written years ago, 101 Ways to Uplift Your Spirit and of Those Around You, plus the fact that I’ve been quite silent here for months, I decided it was time for me to sit down, reflect on this past year and give it a huge dose of appreciation! So here goes:
1. I appreciate having a healthy 2016. It feels good!
2. I appreciate starting the year in California and ending it in NYC. Coast to coast, baby!
3. I appreciate having traveled to my loving home state of Iowa in between.
4. Speaking of travel, I loved spending time at Christmas with my kids in Iowa!
5. I loved their visit here in April, too!
6. I can’t forget the summer visit I made to Iowa, plus the September weekend visit.
7. I got to see my Iowa Hawkeye football beat Iowa State in September. Go Hawkeyes!
8. I loved having my daughter and her friend here in September and going to the Rutgers vs. Iowa football game, too! Go Hawkeyes!
9. While we didn’t win, I had an awesome time at the beginning of the year with my friend Sue and her hubby Tom in California! Go Hawkeyes!
10. I really love my alumni club people here in NYC. We have so much fun at game watches and I’ve made some amazing friends. Go Hawkeyes!
Are you noticing a trend? I love my friends and family and my Iowa Hawkeyes! 🙂
11. I appreciate the two trips to Vietnam I made in 2016.
12. I love the colleagues that have become my friends in Vietnam. They are very special people.
13. I got to experience Emirates airlines for the first time in 2016 and liked it so much, I traveled on it again.
14. I loved my desert safari I did in Dubai! Who cares if it was tourist-y? It was a ton of fun and the desert was absolutely beautiful.
The Arabian desert
15. I appreciate my friend Deborah and her daughter, Becca, for catsitting for me on my trips. It is so kind and helpful, and saves me money, too.
16. I appreciate having Jessica house and cat sit for me when Deborah, Becca and I went to Ann Arbor to get away, too! That was a win-win for all! And I got to see two friends I haven’t seen in a long while! 🙂
17. I love Vietnamese food. It’s so fresh and healthy.
18. I appreciate having fresh coconut water straight out of the coconut when I’m in Vietnam, too.
19. I appreciate that we finally figured out how to get a credit card for my office! It has generally made things much easier when buying things for our programs and traveling.
20. I also love Vietnamese coffee! How delicious!
Another trend? Let’s see, I love Vietnam, the people, the food, the hospitality, the travels I’ve done in 2016 there from my work (and the credit card I can now use) and the cat and house sitters who help support me while I’m gone. And my stopover in Dubai was awesome as well as my little get-away to Ann Arbor with my friend and meeting up with old friends!
21. I appreciate the 4 seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. I love the change and when I’m tired of one season, it’s really not long before another one comes along.
22. While it fell on a weekend time when I didn’t have to work, the big snow storm at the beginning of 2016 was gorgeous. I appreciate being warm inside, until it was time to be out in the elements again.
Someone else did all this work!
23. I appreciate not having to shovel sidewalks – one of the many benefits of renting!
24. I appreciate people who come around to help dig out our cars, too. It’s definitely worth the price and my back thanks me for it.
25. I really loved the hot weather this summer, too!
26. I appreciate the longer days of summer for the sounds and sights and fun one can have outside.
27. The spring flowers were so fragrant this year!
28. And the fall colors seemed to last a long time this fall. It was so beautiful, and especially on the campus where I work.
29. The ferrel cats in my neighborhood were well fed throughout all seasons, thanks to the former tenants and neighbors around.
30. I enjoyed my first year through all 4 seasons at my newest apartment.
Trending? 4 seasons, new apartment and feral cats, but more importantly, I’d say #appreciation is trending! 🙂
31. I appreciate warm showers.
32. I appreciate special soaps – especially the handmade ones.
33. I appreciate organic food.
34. I love that I can grow some food indoors in my apartment.
35. I appreciate hot water.
36. I appreciate clean water!
37. I love the walks on the boardwalk here I did in 2016. It’s a beautiful walk and feels great to hear and see the waves wash in and out while getting some exercise.
Staten Island Boardwalk (at the fishing pier)
38. I appreciate the inspiration from my friend Judi this summer in buying myself a FitBit for my birthday.
39. I appreciate having another birthday in 2016!
40. I appreciate growing older but having people think I’m younger. hee hee
Trends? Water! Good food! Walks along the beach! Being youthful!
41. The presidential political race brought out extreme varieties of opinions from people all over the U.S. and abroad. I appreciate the often unwanted contrast for the clarity it gave me on who and what I wanted.
42. I appreciate Bernie Sanders for inspiring a younger generation during that process. He also inspired me. And wasn’t it fun when that bird sat on the podium while he was giving a speech and the campaign created a Birdie sticker? I got one!
Birdie sticker
43. I appreciate my right to vote and appreciate that I voted. I always do and it is a right that I do not take lightly.
44. I appreciate the role of social media for the ease in contributing to causes and in gaining awareness about issues.
45. I also appreciate the resources out there online in which to verify the real news vs. the fake news.
46. I appreciate knowing that I usually feel a whole lot better when I don’t tune into the news everyday. I appreciate that I exercised that often during 2016 and turned it off.
47. I appreciate my ability to be quiet, sit still and meditate. It was often needed during 2016 and I appreciate using those skills to stay sane! lol
48. I’ve had a lot of fun watching the comic skits on this year’s election!
49. I’ve really enjoyed many conversations on Twitter as well.
50. I appreciate having hands and fingers that work perfectly to use a remote, to type on a keyboard, to grab a utensil, to handwrite in a journal and for many other reasons. I love when I remember to appreciate the little things like that.
Politics trending?! Who would have thought that? lol
51. I love conveniences in this modern world of ours.
52. I love Amazon Prime for the delivery of items quickly and with free shipping.
53. I love delivery of good food from Fresh Direct.
54. I’ve loved trying out the food boxes where you cook the meals and I’ve tried quite a few. My favorite is SunBasket because I can order Paleo meals that are all organic and non-GMO.
55. I love that I still have more food box services to try! New businesses keep popping up!
56. I love this city that never sleeps! There are many conveniences to living in this city.
57. I appreciate the Staten Island ferry for its 24/7 service and for the half-hour increments late at night. No more waiting an hour when I’ve just missed that 12:30 a.m. boat!
On the Staten Island ferry
58. I appreciate my NYCID card and the cultural benefits it has. I appreciated become a member of the Brooklyn Public Library this year.
59. I really am enjoying my Theatermania Gold Club membership, too! I’m getting to see many events and performances for the small fee of $4 or $4.50. It’s a deal!
60. I appreciate the shows on Broadway I saw this year. There were quite a few and I’m blessed to be here to enjoy them.
61. I love how quickly Zelda adapted to my new place this year. What cat wouldn’t love the bountiful of windows up high, with eagle-eye views of treetops, birds and squirrels? She’s got her CAT-TV on all day! 😉
62. I love how Zelda talks with me and all the cute noises she makes.
63. I love taking photos of Zelda, and appreciate how she seems to really love the camera/phone!
64. I love Zelda and her boxes, too.
65. I appreciate finding an easy way to make a little hide-out for her that I saw on Facebook, using a t-shirt and a box. She climbs in there sometimes and thinks I can’t see her. hee hee
66. I love Zelda’s personality and how she tries to escape to the ground floor of my building, knowing perfectly well that it’s against “the rules.” She meows and eventually comes back up the stairs, talking all the way. It reminds me of a little kid whose has cookie crumbs over his/her face and says “Who, me?” when asked if s/he took a cookie! Ha! She’s like a little kid some times and makes me laugh.
67. I love snuggling with Zelda. She particularly loves laying over my leg and stretching out her paw.
68. I appreciate how much Zelda loves to be brushed, too. It helps control the fur and makes her coat shiny and bright.
69. I appreciate the love that pets give so generously and how they bring out the love within us.
70. I appreciate having a cat again after many years without a pet. I also appreciate cat videos on Facebook! They’re the best!
Yes, she’s trending! #Zelda.
Zelda claiming the pillows as hers!
71. I appreciate the “firsts” I had this year.
72. I rode a camel.
72. I drank camel milk.
73. I toured the Arabian desert.
74. I rode down the Mekong Delta and through narrow passages in a small boat.
75. I met Cindy from my appreciation group.
Cindy and me at NY harbor
76. I met up with a family member and met his spouse here when they were in NYC.
77. I ate at several restaurants in Iowa City I’d never eaten at before.
78. I optimistically bought tickets to the Big10 championship game early, thinking Iowa would be there.
79. I easily sold those tickets once I knew Iowa wasn’t going! lol
80. I tried a couple of veggies I’d never eaten before from my purchase of a winter “stock-up” veggie sale through a local co-op.
Trending #firsts
81. I appreciate the friends and coaches I have in my life.
82. I appreciate Jeannette Maw and everyone at GVU!
83. I love Ming and her Reiki Fur Babies, and her and Amina’s Being Present to Serve.
84. I love being a part of Andy Dooley’s Vibe Tribe.
85. I love that my Facebook group “41 Days of Appreciating Rampages.” While it’s not always very active, I appreciate the energy of the group and when some of us get inspired to post our appreciations more regularly. It’s a great group of people in there!
41 Days of Appreciating Rampages Facebook group
86. I love, love, love the women in the special secret Facebook group of appreciators. You know who you are!
87. I appreciate the new Facebook groups I’ve been part of this year, too.
88. I appreciate the Sunday #SpiritChat community on Twitter. It’s a great community of beautiful people.
89. I love the Laughter Yoga community! hee hee
90. While he transitioned in 2015, I’m still inspired by Dr. Wayne Dyer’s works. He lives on in so many ways through his work and through Hay House and his family members.
And last, but not least, are 11 more “little things” I appreciate. If I sit and savor just the thought of these things and moments, appreciation flows very easily.
91. The sound of the birds chirping and singing.
92. A cat’s purr and especially when it’s right up against my ear.
93. That swaying movement cats make right before they’re going to pounce on their “prey.”
94. The sun peeping through the clouds after a rainy or cloudy day.
95. The warmth of the sun through my bedroom window, heating up my bedroom with its rays.
96. A teapot whistling as I know my cup of tea will soon be ready for sipping!
97. The morning smell of freshly brewed coffee.
98. The sweet touch of a loving partner.
99. A hand-written card in the mail from a loved one.
100. Drawings and art projects I have from my kids that they made.
101. The excitement of a new season of Iowa Hawkeye football! Go Hawkeyes! 🙂
University of Iowa Hawkeye football – Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
Today is Independence Day in my country and I’m reminded that “freedom” means so many things to many people. I do appreciate that I live in a country where the ideals of freedom are engrained in our constitution. The Bill of Rights contains 10 amendments, some of which protect our freedom of religion, speech, and the press.
But this post isn’t about our constitutional freedoms, but rather an appreciation of how I always have freedom in my choices of how I react to any given situation. Observing social media outlets, I see some strong opinions expressed and sometimes hateful remarks towards others who disagree with these opinions. I’m reminded that we all have freedom to express what we believe, but we don’t have to agree with everyone. We get to choose. That’s freedom right there.
I appreciate that when I read or see hateful messages on social media, I can choose to ignore them. Things I don’t want or that cause me to feel negative feelings are called “unwanted contrast” in law of attraction circles. I appreciate the feelings that sometimes result from reading hate-filled comments as opportunities for me to focus in on what I truly want. I appreciate that I have learned the value of unwanted contrast in creating a more happy life.
Anytime we’re faced with something or a situation that causes us to have strong emotions of dislike, anger or other negative feelings, it’s an opportunity for us to exercise our freedom of choice: you can either simmer in those emotions and let them get stronger or practice focusing in on the opposite end of refining what you want. I’ve found that when I find myself getting heated up with passion about unwanted contrast, it’s a good time to jot down the opposite of what I don’t want, which is what I’d rather see and feel.
Once I’ve clarified what I want, I can exercise my freedom of choice in taking softer steps in getting there. It might mean that I stop looking at social media for awhile, or that I don’t talk or associate with a certain people for awhile (until I can clean up my energy about them), or that I turn off the TV, or that I just distract myself with something else. I might meditate, go take a nap, do something that’s fun, pet my cat, talk to friends and family, or any number of things. I use Abraham-Hicks’ tip of reaching for that feeling of relief to move myself up the emotional scale into a better feeling place. I appreciate these tools for the happiness that I enjoy from using them!
I always have the freedom of choice in my relief from unwanted situations, and you do, too. Some people may interpret my reactions to people, things and situations sometimes as uncaring when I don’t engage in augmenting the negativity of the situation. But I do care – I care how I feel, I care about others and intend for their happiness, too, and I know how my happiness is dependent on me, just as yours is dependent upon you. I care enough to not let outside events destroy my well-being.
We always have a freedom of choice in how we react to anything, even in the most horrific situations. Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl expressed this beautifully in these statements:
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
I appreciate my freedom of choice. I appreciate it so much as it’s contributed greatly to my personal growth and made me a much happier person. I appreciate that you don’t have to agree with me, and that’s just fine. We travel our own journeys in life and I appreciate all the people who have contributed to mine in all ways: the good, the bad and the ugly. For all these situations have served me well in learning how to appreciate any person or situation. I’m happy and looking forward to more freedom of choices in my life for the growth that they foster in me.
Appreciation Magic 