Cognosco

Jeanette tagged me on FB to participate in a little "30 days of gratitude" challenge. I’m taking the bait. I’ve wanted to do something like a gratitude diary or journal for some time, but it’s hard to be motivated to actually do it. There’s actually quite a bit of literature on the role of gratitude in one’s outlook, and there have even been interventions designed around the simple concept of writing down what you’re grateful for. Every day. It has been shown to reduce depression, increase positive emotions, and generally make you happier. So, why not now?

So, what am I grateful for today? I’m grateful that last night, I ate not one, not two, but THREE perfect oranges. I had purchased them from the Farmer’s Market that morning, so not only were they delicious, but they were chemical-free. These were those perfect oranges where the segments separate from the peel easily, there were no seeds, and they were so sweet that I almost forgot they were a citrus fruit. I stood over the kitchen sink with the juice running down my face and my hands, and I just couldn’t stop at one. It’s a miracle I didn’t eat the whole bag, but thought it would be a shame if no one else got to taste them to agree with me. I am also grateful for organic farmers. There is something deeply satisfying about acquiring your food from the people who grew it.

I am also grateful that I have a wonderful MIL, with whom I can trust to leave Dude for two whole nights. Hubby and I had originally planned to get away for the weekend and stay in a cabin up north to celebrate our anniversary. We ended up postponing the get-away until after I am done defending my dissertation, so that I can spend a chunk of this weekend working on it. So, since we already have a sitter, we’re going to hit Pizzeria Bianco tonight. We have never been, but have heard it is phenomenal. I predict that I will be grateful that Chris Bianco lives in Phoenix, AZ.

I am grateful that yesterday I was able to spend my day with two fantastic women and their children. I am grateful that all of our children are healthy, and that my son has a body so strong that he does things on a playground that 3 year-old children are just mastering. I am grateful that he is now having a verbal language explosion, and that I have one less thing to fret about…for now.

I am grateful that my husband has been letting me get extra sleep this week as I try to kick this cold. Mornings are so hard for my anyway, and I get way more than my share sleeping-in days. I owe him big time…oh, wait. I birthed his son. We might be even .

I am grateful for many other things, but I’ll hold on to some of them just in case I have to pull them out later.