Thanks to Dawn Landau for making Gratitude a New Year’s Tradition. I’m happy to be taking part once more.
“For the fourth year in a row, this is an opportunity to hit pause and focus on all the good things that each of us has in our lives. The holiday season has a way of rushing in, every year, and making it hard to remember that throughout the year, there are blessings. There are so many things that bring joy, so many happy things; yet it’s easy to find to lose sight of this fact, as we manage busy lives.”
To take part, set your timer for ten minutes and write 50 things you are grateful for. Once I started it was hard to stop.
- My home – just celebrated our tenth year in our dream home.
- My husband – 46 years of marriage.
- My 3 sons who have all grown to be men I’m proud of.
- My granddaughter Olive
- Her new sister Elsie born on my dad’s birthday, 12 November 2017
- Olive’s adorable dog, Poppy
- Friday Fictioneers – I’ve made so many friends through sharing stories, learning how similar we are in our hopes and dreams no matter where we’re from.
- What Pegman Saw…I took part in it this past year. Nice to have a different prompt and 50 extra words to play with.
- My health
- A nearby place to swim
- The joy of swimming a mile, flip turning at each end of the pool
- Counting backwards in Hebrew and Spanish to keep track of my pool lengths
- My elliptical trainer for those times it’s too cold to get out of the house
- A good hot shower after a hearty workout
- A warm cozy room that serves as office and studio
- Strong, hot black coffee in the wee morning hours when it’s still dark outside
- My G-d who speaks in a still small voice during those quiet times
- Abundance of healthy foods
- A sense of humor, the ability to laugh at myself
- My friends and family who’ll laugh at me if I don’t.
- My synagogue
- My dancing friends on our synagogue dance team
- My rabbi, who knows the value of a good pun
- My blogging friends
- The internet and Skype friends around the globe
- The ability to make people happy with my writing and art – I say this with gratitude for the feedback from others
- My 6-speed Chevy Cruz that’s paid for
- No longer having to punch a clock and the privilege of doing what I dreamed of doing as a child, ie being a professional artist
- Some successful book signings and art fairs.
- A growing number of art commissions.
- Books to read and lose myself in
- Music, all kinds (I won’t deny it, I love classical…particularly Chopin).
- Being able to read and write Hebrew (more or less)
- Taking time to enjoy the quiet
- Good paintbrushes
- My computers: desktop and laptop
- Legs that still work
- Smelling fragrances and odors, it means my olfactories works
- The color PURPLE
- Other colors beside purple 😉
- The fresh smell after a rainstorm
- Flowers, Daffodils being my favorite
- My muse who tells me stories when I least expect it
- My spinning mind that decides to go into overdrive when I want to sleep.
- A good Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
- Gluten free pasta so I don’t feel deprived
- Ozarks Writers League – OWL
- All of my Wisoff cousins I never knew I had until we discovered each other online
- Friends I’ve known since early childhood. It’s a rare blessing to share pictures of grandchildren with the same ‘kids’ I used to play hopscotch with
- I can still turn a cartwheel.
Rochelle, so glad you joined in and contributed again this year! Woot, woot! I say it every year: I read all of these and it makes me smile to think of all the things we are each grateful for individually and collectively. I wish I’d added my computer and wine… or vodka, having read your list! All the best in 2018, and here’s hoping we all feel happy and grateful.
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Dear Dawn,
This has become a tradition I look forward to. When I was in treatment, one of the tools for fighting depression was to develop “an attitude of gratitude.” How easy it is to forget and focus on the negative things when the positives are there if we choose to look. I applaud you for leading this exercise every year. There, another thing I’m grateful for. 😀
Shalom in 2018,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle! I couldn’t agree more, and love reading all the wonderful lists!
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Wonderful list, my friend! I’m off to do mine very shortly!
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Dear Dale,
I’m so grateful that you are among those blogging friends and Skypers on my list. I look forward to our daily chats on FB and appreciate your being my beta ff reader. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I love what the Universe has “thrown” my way. I should have added Sarah to my list because without her, you and I would not have “met”
I feel honoured to be your beta reader for anything!
Lotsa love,
Dale xoxo
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What a wonderful list, but I must say, # 50 blew me away. @sheilamgood at Cow Pasture Chronicles
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Dear Sheila,
I’m so happy to see you here. 😀 At my age (64), that’s not too shabby is it. 😉
Thank you and shalom in 2018,
Rochelle
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No it is not. I’m the same age and I couldn’t do a cartwheel if my life depended on it. Lol
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Then I had to go make sure this morning…Turned three in a row. Not sure how straight my legs were but I landed on my feet. 😉
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God, I’m jealous. Way to go Rochelle!
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I love these gratitude posts. It’s come around so quick again!
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Time goes by so quickly, doesn’t it, Louise? Thank you for stopping by. 😀
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A cartwheel! Perfect ending to an inspiring list of grateful.
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Dear Jen,
I confess that it had been a while since I did one so I had to go make sure I was telling the truth. 😀 Yep. I still can. Thanks for coming by.
Happy New Year and shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a fantastic list – the last one has me smiling and clapping. I could never cartwheel or do handstands.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
Handstands are in a different category. 😉 Never could do those either. Thanks for stopping by and sharing my gratitude.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Deeply impressed by number 50. There is no big enough safe space in the house, so I will have to resist trying this out until the lawn is free next summer.
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Dear Hilary,
Fortunately, my living room is pretty large. So I was able to put my claim to the test. 😉 Yep, the old girl’s still got it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You can turn a cartwheel? Hats off to you!
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Yes. I put it to the test just a couple of weeks ago. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very nice!
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Amazing list and love the importance you gave the color purple, I love purple too !
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Thank you, Sakeena. You know purple is the color of the year. We’re in glad company. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Really glad to know 🙂
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I haven’t been able to do a cartwheel in forever! I’m impressed. 🙂 I’m doubly impressed that you’ve even tried to do a cartwheel, ha! 🙂
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Cartwheels? Really? I couldn’t do them when I was young either. This is great – Rochelle, you are so entertaining!
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