While Nathalie, my new friend on the interwebs, is busy encouraging everyone to live their lives authentically, vulnerably and out in the open, I'm busy struggling with not needing to be in the spotlight. This has always been a problem of mine, because I don't seek to be the center of attention for the right reasons. (Does anyone?) Instead, my challenge is to live authentically by stepping back. Writing this blog anonymously was the first step in that process, and not needing to tell you about everything I do or why it matters is the next. Now when I even remotely doubt my motives for telling you something, I don't tell it. I wrestle it on my own and learn to emphasize what is truly important to me in the long-term, not what I'm most agitated by, interested in, etc. in the short-term.
Nevertheless, I'm still in the process of uncovering reminders to take stock and give thanks. So, I need to get better about regularly telling you those things.
#344: Dinner with close friends and their six-month-old baby, who I have claimed as my adopted niece. I love that little girl!
#345: Purchasing a car for the first time in five and a half years. It's 12 years old, but to me it's special.
#346: Managing to purchase said car without having a monthly car payment. It was hard to scrape up the cash, but worth it.
#347: Watching the Saints/49ers game with the same close friends. Too bad the Saints were determined to lose it...
#348: Fun and successful event at my house on Sunday evening. Such a nice feeling.
#349: Getting a three-day weekend that allowed me to rest yesterday.
#350: Mr. Wonderful comes back to town tonight after being home to attend another relative's funeral. Such a sad stretch for him...
I can't believe we've reached 350 of 500 reasons to take stock and give thanks. Can you?
-Me