Funny how things work, sometimes.  I can’t remember if it was Thursday or Friday (2nd or 3rd of January) when I thought to myself: I wonder if Dawn is doing her Attitude of Gratitude thing this year. Not two days later (or three) what do I get in my inbox but Dawn’s post! Serendipity at its best. Let’s just say that if she hadn’t, I would have been sad and maybe, just maybe, I would have done my own anyway. It’s kinda nice to be part of something that already exists, dontcha think?

The rules are really simple.  Set the timer for 15 minutes and start listing – very stream of consciousness, this thing.  I will do exactly that by listing whatever pops into my head and at the end, shall return to my list and clean up typos, remove duplicates or even maybe cheat by adding more deets to the items, because, well, if I stop to write all the whys, then my list will be shorter.  Then again, this isn’t a contest so, does it matter just how many I have? Maybe cheating won’t even be necessary!  Okay, Rogerson, just shut up and write already.

The following are the things for which I am grateful or simply bring me joy and peace:

1. B – for what you give and what you agree to receive;
2. My sisters – no matter what’s what, they will be there
3. Mom – same thing, without you, I’d not be here
4. Dad – no longer here, you still influence some of my decisions
5. Mick – no matter that you’ve been gone five years, you are still a huge presence, not to mention a great muse for my writing
6. Writing – the ability to share what I want to say and have people receive it
7. Reading – we learn so much about life, the world when we open ourselves to reading
8. Friday Fictioneers and Rochelle in particular for being the first challenge that opened me up to writing more
9. Blogosphere – for introducing me to so many fantastic writers
10. Friends made over the blogosphere – it’s amazing how close we can become, like you, Sawsan, now a flesh and blood friend
11. Julie, Giselle, Linda, Cathy – my girlfriends who are there to drink, eat and be merry with
12. My guy friends – who keep me laughing
13. My boys – for keeping me real – whether I like it or not
14. The scent of petrichor in the summer
15. The sound of rain on a window when lying in bed
16. Being able to sit outside on a covered porch when it rains
17. Big fluffy snow in winter, especially on Christmas Day
18. Zeke – for giving me a reason to get out and enjoy the fresh air
19. Standing outside, and realising all is silent and being in the moment
20. Coffee!
21. Wine (and beer or spirits 😉 )!
22. The sound of the wind in the marcescent leaves
23. My house – it keeps me safe from the elements
24. My health – it might have blips from colds but otherwise, I’m healthy
25. DK – for introducing me to soooo many books and for being you, who shares such beautiful things
26. My laptop – which keeps me connected to so many people
27. Hang Outs – which allows me to chat with my bestie face-to-face
28. Warm thick socks in the winter
29. Dresses in the summer
30. My capacity (capability?) to smile through the tough stuff
31. My ability to love freely
32. Photography – a way to capture everything that grabs my attention
33. Sunsets
34. Being by the water – lake, river, ocean
35. Travel – introducing me to cultures and broadening my horizons
36. Cooking – not only to nourish but also to show my creativity
37. Discovering my creativity, which I was so sure I didn’t have till it was pointed out to me
38. Movies – being able to escape into another world for a couple of hours
39. Merril – for introducing me to poetry and inspiring me to keep trying it
40. Frank – because you introduced me to sooo many fabulous bloggers and your concerts were the best that I was honoured to act as your Maître D’ and because I want you to know that I am going to miss you – blogging. I shall hound you elsewhere 😉
41. Light to see
42. Dark to rest
43. Love, in general – amorous or friendly
44. Sex and the joy of sharing intimacy
45. My eyes – so I can appreciate what is out there
46. My ears – listening to the sounds around me, music, my loved ones’ voices
47. My limbs – though they sometimes let me know they need more limbering
48. My sense of humour – which helps keep me out of trouble
49. My ability to connect with people of all stations
50. My intellect – which permits me to have proper conversations on all sorts of things
51. My curiosity – which keeps me learning always
52. My snarkiness, which keeps me from not being taken seriously
53. To you authors who trusted me with your works and allowed me to be a beta reader – I am beyond chuffed

Julie, Giselle and me

Cathy and me

Dad and Mick

Three sisters

Zeke and me

Mom

Linda and me

food

Iain and Aidan

photography