Quiet Blessings

Today a friend who i haven't heard from in a while, posted on my FB wall and asked how we were doing. Well i am tired of my own complaints and replied that we are pretty good. But as the day has worn on, i kept thinking about that question. Seems simple enough...."How are you?" What went through my head at the time of reading that question was that I'm overweight, gluten intolerant...broke, going on 4 years of unemployment, bored...the list was long.

A little while later while scrolling FB, another friend of mine posted this pic on her wall...just when i needed it most!

As i kept thinking about that simple little question, along with this image it got me to thinking about all the wonderful things i do have going on!!

• I'm working out again!! And I'm feeling pretty darn good about that! It's been over 5 years since I've graced the doors of a gym, and while it's difficult some days to find the energy or ambition to go, I'm going. Mainly because Brooks is going, and i have the truck...as the reason to make me go!! As much as i don't want to admit it, i kinda let myself go for the last couple years. And I'm tired of feeling sluggish and embarrassed by how i look lately. So I'm doing something about it!! And that feels pretty good!!

• I'm working on something that I've been "thinking" about for a few years. I'm FINALLY starting my food blog. It's not up and live yet, and that'll take several months since i want my blog to have MY recipes on it. Not other peoples. And i want to take pics of all the recipes for it, and there needs to be more than one recipe on there before it goes live. And while it's certainly not an overnight process, I'm finally doing it!! And I'm pretty excited about it!

•  I'm starting a new painting! I've been going back and fourth on it for several weeks but today i decided that i am going for it!! I'll be doing a painting of Janis Joplin, all in grey scale. I've been prepping the canvas for several days, and it still needs another coat of gesso before i can start it, but it's in the works! I'm slightly terrified of how it'll turn out as i don't paint people...for a reason. But then...i paint for me now, so if it's not exact, I'm ok with that. Doing something artistic for no other reason than because i want to. Which is pretty fun!!

• We're getting amped up for our annual camping trip!! I could not be MORE excited about it!! It's something that has become very special to me, and i eagerly look forward to it each year. This year is no exception!! Sun, heat, the outdoors, friends...a perfect mix!!

• Spring is on it's way!! FINALLY!!!  The weather this past week has been GLORIOUS!! I got a sunburn on my nose last Saturday (which is now peeling...ahh....the first signs of spring!!), and this week, while it's been overcast most of the week with the sun peeking out briefly, and some rain, it's been WARM!! Not hot, but warm!! Like a comfortable sweater, or a hug, or a home of someone you dearly love!! It's been awesome!! There have even been moments of HUMIDITY!!!! AHHH!!!! Which makes me SO happy!!

• I'm adjusting better to my gluten free life. And THAT is exciting!! Do i miss bread, and the ability to run through a drive through real quick at Cook Out and grab a burger? Sure. But I'm doing better. I've been researching a lot of different recipes and ways to have what i love, but make it safe for me to eat. Going GF has also hit my appetite in a fabulous way!! I'm just not as hungry anymore. Considering what it was, this feels pretty good. It's a nice "side affect" to being GF. And soon, I'll start SEEING that "side affect", which I'm certainly looking forward to!!

Once i started thinking about what was actually going on in my life with positivity, i started realizing all that I had to be so grateful for, and stopped being so grumpy!! Which is something we all should do more often. I do try, but some days it's hard to keep that positive thought going for the entire day. I can always think of good things i have and reasons i feel blessed each day, but then i move on. I lose that thought and can often get down in the dumps or just not feel as peppy. 

Try this for yourself today. Ask yourself "how are you?" and really give it some though. What do you have going on in your life that you're happy about? Excited about? Thankful for? Make a list. Be descriptive. Put it on the fridge so when you need it, (or share it in the comments below!) you can read that list and it'll bring back that spark in your eye!! Believe me, a spark is a beautiful thing!!