Exploring my choices: Gratitude or....?

.... or what? What could I possibly choose instead of gratitude, what in the world could possibly be better than this wonderful action? Why is it easier to intentionally choose to think about all the hardships in life, bills to pay, health problems?

So how about intentionally diving into gratitude head-first,  despite it all.

Should you accept the challenge - mention 5 things you are grateful for today. I decided to go one step further, and record a video, everyday for 40 days. This is huge for me, as I am camera-shy, and I don't really like speaking publicly... watch my first ever personal video, excuse the quality, I'll work on it once I get the hang of it all.

I hope I did well, keep your fingers crossed. Oh my, I'm already thinking about tomorrow's list.
Any feedback? Feel free to comment or respond to my video. Thank you!

A-Z Aprill challenge 2011 post-April entry

Reached for the Sky with the challenge!!

Yeeeeey!! I'm just going to make this short and sweet!!! I'm happy!

post-challenge stats (as of 2 May) * before / after
Followers: 24 / 85
Daily visits max: 26 / 31 (last 30days)
Total pageviews: 420 / 981 Most-read post: (28 views all time) My Sister


Thank you for supporting me even though sometimes I let go... and you kept coming, and commenting, just letting me know that you are there for me.

Thank you!

Gratitude A - Z: Z

Zone - There are a couple of important 'zones' for me... First and foremost, the idea - that one day out of the blue - showed up in my mind, and after careful consideration was called English Speaking Zone...
You can find it on: 

Blogger - English Speaking Zone

Website - English Speaking Zone

Facebook - English Speaking Zone

also available on Skype and twitter!

And on top of that, I am just thankful that I have the will to leave my own comfort zone and create a new one when possible.

Zest - as one of the 24 strengths possessed by humanity - is sometimes overflowing in my life, and sometimes seems like it's just enough.... excitement, energy, challenge, motivation.... thank you for all of that and more.... It's all just where it should be! Thank you!

Thank you!

Gratitude A - Z: X

X-mas - Thank you for the wonderful time that Christmas is. Although I have a 'thing' about expecting too much (yep, material girl type), nevertheless it is very fulfilling, full of love, family and foooood! Thank you for that time, we can sit together, talk, and remember past xmas'es. My favourite part - unwrapping gifts!!

X-factor - and other shows like that (e.g Idol, So you think you can dance, ....'s got talent) for the chance that these talented people get, and for the fact that I can watch them, see them be happy, reach their goals, reach the stars!!!

Thank you!

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Gratitude A - Z: W

Walk - Thank you for the ability to walk, I have thanked for my legs earlier, but it's not something to take for granted, so once again... and again.... and again, I will keep on being grateful for walking :) I hope to do something more with walking soon. I'm also thankful for learning different 'ways' to walk :)

Water - Thank you for this lovely liquid that is the life of everthing! There was a time when I didn't like drinking water, there must've been something wrong with me ;) Thank you for lovely, clean, thirst-quenching water :)

Wealth - Thank you for the wealth that I have acquired within me. All my experiences, my life, memories, lessons.... and the wealth that I have visualised - I'm watching it come true now :) Thank you

Weather - Thank you for the beautiful weather!! Oh my... how I love Spring and Summer! :) Thank you for the sunlight, blue skies, light breeze, the fresh green colours.... I enjoy this so much.

Woman - I'm a woman - and thank heavens for that!! Not that there is anything wrong with being a man - but, I'm just happy that I AM a woman, I embrace that, I love it, and I would not change it! Thank you!

Thank you!

LONG WEEKEND....

Long-weekend disruption.... sorry, couldn't get all the posts out, I didn't have them pre-scheduled :)

Of course they will be out when I come back....Stay tuned! :)

Gratitude A - Z: V

Vanilla - Thank you for this wonderful smell, I love vanilla candles, vanilla ice-cream.... mmmm yummy :) I'm so happy that this smell is present out there for me :)

Veins - Thank you for all the blood rushing through my veins, keeping me alive, working hard for my body to function. I wouldn't be here otherwise.

Vet - Thank you to the vet that I visit with my dog, and before that with my cat and the little family he created. I'm really grateful that I know him, and so far nothing happened to make me change my mind. There is a team there, and I love both the guys who work there, for their knowledge and expertise. Thank you for being there!

Vocabulary- Thank you for all the words I have managed to adopt so far, and all the words out there waiting for me :) It's so much fun learning, and then using that knowledge :)


Thank you!

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Gratitude A - Z: U

Understand - Thank you for the ability to understand, not only languages, but other people, events, lessons, generally life. I am happy and humbled that I have the ability to at least use a bit of my brain to serve some kind of a purpose. I like to watch what happens around me, and although I might not understand everything, I am aware of that, and I make a point to find out. Thank you.

Unforgetable - Thank you for all the unforgetable experiences given to me in my life, all the places I have visited, seen, felt, and remembered. All the unforgetable songs and singers that have come about in my time. Thank you for all that has ever made its mark in my life. It is what makes a person, thank you for making these events - good or bad - unforgetable... :)

Unique - I am unique, thank heavens there is noone else like me out there! Thank you for that, I am me, and I don't have to be anyone or anything else :) I have ideas, ambition, an open mind, ability to search for information and learn a lot if I really want to! :) That's me, I'm complicated and extremely happy that I will never fit into one paragraph, there's always something new about me that will surface when the time is right.

Universe - Thank you for all the discoveries made, and everything that is now a fact. There is so much more to explore, and that's is a lesson that is to be taken home... Nothing is ever fully discovered, there is always something or someone out there who will surprise me, bring out the best in me, so many more people to meet, and experiences to gather.... I like to stand with my arms lifted high above my head, eyes closed, and thinking about me and my place in the world. I have yet to make my mark :) but I am positive about what is to come, and I'm glad to embrace life. Thank you for letting me know where I am, and helping me find my own road.

Thank you!

Source

Gratitude A - Z: T

Transport - Thank you for all the means of transport that are available to me, our car, the public transportation, aeroplanes, ships and ferries, and all that I have ever been able to experience thanks to it. I go to work by tram or bus, after work we travel by car or bus, it depends.... maybe the roads aren't always the best, but I really want to send out my thank you to transport!

Trust - Thank you for the ability to trust and be trustworthy! I like people whom I can trust, and I am blessed that I have these kind of wonderful individuals around me. Thank you for being there.

Television - Thank you for the world that is out there, all the fun and educational channels, and all the great movies I get to see on TV. There are far too many commercials I must say, but all is good. TV is something good for a few hours, but not all day of course. Thank you for the age of colour, LCD, internet, and any other kind of television out there.


Telephone - another important device to thank for. It usually is glued to my hand, and I'm texting and calling people all day :) so much fun! and before that, back in the pre-internet ages it was 'just' a stationary home phone, and long distance (South Africa - Poland) calls timed by stop-watch because they were so expensive. I'm grateful to see it evolve, and become so much fun, and so much part of my life :) Thank you!

Target - I'm glad to be able to set goals, and getting myself to set targets. Thank you for the right mind-set, a good, positive attitude that gets me there :)

Thank you!

Source

Gratitude A - Z: S

Sister - I love my Sister, we had our ups and downs in childhood, but I cant imagine not seeing or knowing about her. Life has scattered us in different places, but in our global village, we are as close to each other as can be.
I send my love over to you, wish you and your family nothing but the best! I wasn't aware of this before, I'm even thankful for this enlightment,  but I really don't know who would I be without her. I would probably be a totally different person... Thank you for your love, your patience, the world you have shown me, the real and skype-hugs :) I miss you so much, and I love you! Don't ever doubt that, although you know best that I can be a pain in the.... ehem.... :) Thank you for being there!

Sight - Thank you for the wonderful gift of sight! I cannot imagine not seeing all that is around me at the moment, all the wonderful colours, people, places. I do wear glasses, and I have worn them for so long I don't consider them an obstacle. Thank you for this wonderful ability to see anything and everything :) I am eternally grateful!

Smile - Thank you for the ability to smile, to acknowledge what good happens around me and share a smile with the world! How lovely is it to have a free, happy soul :) Thank you for making my life relatively easy, all the lessons learned, all the hardships.... I can look back with gratitude and smile toward the future :) Thank you! A sincere smile shared with a stranger is just priceless :)

There are many more "S" words, the list is endless, I just picked a few. Thank you for the time YOU spend here, and I hope you can relate, and feel my gratitude :)

Thank you!

Source

Gratitude A - Z: R

Reading - I Love reading, and I'm thankful for this love installed in me by my mom, who would tell me about the books she read :) and it would inspire me to go ahead and read those books! Thank you!

Receive - I am deeply grateful for all that I have ever received :) I appreciate anything and everything that was ever given to me... although my expectations tend to rise nearer to my birthday, haha, whose doesn't? Anyway, I am grateful for anything that was given to me as a gift in the form of a precious object or an experience :) Thank you!

Relationship - I am highly grateful for my treasured relationship with my Man :) I love it just the way it is, already it is way beyond any of my dreams :) I happy, I feel loved, my soul is fed ;)

Responsible - Thank you for helping me turn into the person that I am, responsible... of course with many other positive qualities (I hope), I'm not perfect or anything, I just know, that I am responsible enough to know the choices I have and the consequences of my actions. I, myself, am responsible for my life :)

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Gratitude A - Z: Q

Quality of life - Thank you for the quality of life I have right now, I feel good in my place in society, I enjoy my environment, I'm happy :) There are a lot of factors that make up a satisfactory quality of life, in my case, most of these factors are met, and I'm happy/ content/ grateful :)

Questions - Thank you for an inquisitive mind, asking questions, not always settling for what I'm given, learning, open minded :) I'm happy that I'm not just going blindly forward, but also look around, observe, enquire, experience.

Thank you!

Source

Gratitude A - Z: O

October - Thank you for that wonderful month - I was born in October, and I'm happy to be a Scorpio :) it is a beautiful month, I really do enjoy it, it doesn't even matter in which hemisphere I'm in, it's lovely nonetheless :)

Opportunity - Thank you for all these great opportunities coming my way. Sometimes I don't see them straight away, there are times when I'm sure I missed something, but it always turns out just fine.

Outdoors - Thank you for the times that I spent outside of the house where the air is fresh, warm and breezy :) I love it!

Only three this time, and a little late, I'm kind of having a hard time right now... with myself .... maybe I'll go into it later...

Thank you

Gratitude A - Z: N

Navigation - Thank you for all the possibilities, all the inventions of this world. Getting from A to B has never been easier. Something as "simple" as stars, and as modern as sat-nav or GPS. But also for that 'gut' feeling that helps me find the right way :)

going from one extreme to another... from the outer space, to myself...

Nervous system - cells, neurons, glial cells etc. all work for me inside me, basically without any recognition, because I don't have any issues. Of course, I'm grateful for that! Thank you for letting me know when something is too painful, too cold or hot, or just unbearable... Thank you for my body's reactions. A round of applause for every single cell vibrating within my body :)

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Gratitude A - Z: M

May - a lovely month, I enjoy it so much! This year I have a whole week off in May! I love how nature is turning out to be after April. It's just so beautiful everywhere :)

Music - helps so much with my mood, helps to kick off after work :) partners me when I go for a walk. I like 80s - 90s hits, and a lot of the new stuff too! Thank you for music!

Memories - all these memories that I have, help me make better choices for the future. I embrace my past, my experiences, my youth, but I try not to let my past define my future! Thank you, who would I be without memories....

Mother - Thank you to my dear Mom, who was there for me even if I refused to see it, who taught me, and continues to teach me so much about life! I love you, Mom!!

Mind - I'm grateful for my mind, it is what it is :) I could list all the things it's not, but here I wish to thank for all the positive things - for it's creativity, goal-setting, openness and all the common sense within it!

Thank you!

Source

Gratitude A - Z: K

Knowledge - although I know it's never complete, I am thankful for the bit of knowledge that I acquired at school, and throughout life, and I know that there is still so much to learn. I can't wait to learn whatever I set my mind to or whatever comes my way! It's impossible to capture it all, but all that I need, will be stored, won't it....?

Kaleidoscope - of thoughts, ideas, dreams, hopes, opportunity, galaxies, and me in the middle of it all.. this little device is a dream in itself. Thank you!

Kiss - oh, I love kisses, ones blown into the air, and the ones shared during those wonderful intimate moments! Those precious times will be treasured forever! I am grateful that I, in fact, had and continue to have those moments. It's truly a great way to express my love, and how enjoyable ;)

Thank you!

Source

 

Gratitude A - Z: J

Jacuzzi - I don't own one at home (yet), but I enjoy myself to bits at a local swimming pool, and OMG, I love it! :) Thank you that things like that exist, and on top of that, it also helps me tune in with the inner me - especially when I close my eyes and imagine I'm there all alone.... one day :)

Jigsaws - about 10-15 years ago I was an avid puzzler, I had my favourites, which I would redo about 100 times or more until the pieces were all worn out! ahhh, Thank you for those lovely memories - I consider those times the best ever!

Job - I'm happy that I have a job at the moment, it's a 9-5, I have learned a lot already. I don't know if I will be here in 5 years time, but I know that I already made friends, and enriched my life with great experiences :) and I now know what to expect of myself in the future!

July - my favourite Summer month here! Thank you - I love the warmth, the Sun, the water, and the sweat - I've been waiting for it since November :) It's never too hot for me, come on - I grew up in South Africa :)

Thank you!

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Gratitude A - Z: I

Imagination - Thank you for the very busy imagination that I have :) It really gets me going. I love that I can see a lot of things on my mind's eye! I love all the positive things that are created in my mind! :)

Ideas - I love that I can come up with so many things, and have the will to follow up on them! Thank you that all these things come to me so often!

Individuality - Thank you for the fact that I am ME! I am different than most of the people I know, and that is what makes me great! I love being an individual!


Inspiration - I am grateful for all the inspiration that I find all around me! I'm happy that I can feel inspired by so many things, events and words.

Intuition - Thank you for my intuition, my sixth sense, and that it helps me be who I am, helps me move in the right direction! Thank you for the inside me (my soul?) that shows me what to watch for, and looks after me when I need it!

Thank you!

Source

Gratitude A - Z: H

Holidays - Thank you for something so special like holidays... they used to be longer in school, now they did shrink a little, but it still helps to unwind and remember who I am outside of the everyday rat race!

Hair - I love my hair, I love its' smell after a shower! I love them long, curly or straight! Thank you that they are so manageable, and I can do anything with it :)

Health - Thank you for the health that I enjoy, I can do anything I want, I am not limited by any disabilities, all I need is to appreciate it more, sit down and think about it! Thank you for a healthy body!


Happiness -I love being happy! I love doing things that make me happy :) I love just being happy! Being happy just makes me happier! Hah! I really appreciate those times when a bit of happiness avalanches into so much more happiness! Thank you!

Honesty - I value honesty, and I appreciate whenever my friends or others for that matter, are completely honest with me. Thank you to those people!

Thank you!

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Gratitude A - Z: G

Gratitude - thank you for the opportunity to look around my environment and be able to acknowledge all that I have, and all that I am. I am really thank ful that I have learned this powerful exercise. It brings me a lot of joy!

Google - this is the search engine that I use the most, and I'm really thankful that such a thing exists! All the information that I ever need always comes up, I've rarely been disappointed :) Thanks Google!

Garden - thank you for the Summer-garden that we have not to far from our flat! It's a lovely way to get away from city life, yet it's still in the middle of the city :)

Gifts - whoever invented gifts deserves a..... gift! I love giving, choosing, wrapping, watching people unwrap etc... and of course I also love receiving! Thank you for everything that I was ever given! I'm forever grateful!

Goals - Thank you for the ability to draw a target that I wish to reach. It is a challenge sometimes, because I draw goals that are not within reach - but then with a bit of adjustment within me I am able to believe!

Thank you!

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