Day 55. Don't Wait To Count Your Blessings

Day 55

It is time to count your blessings! Many of us possess a bad habit. We forget to count our blessings until a horrific tragedy occurs or we lose a loved one. That is when we take the time to appreciate the wonderful things, people and situations that we have in our lives. Why wait? Each and every day it is important to appreciate what you have and to be grateful for the people in your life and for the wonders that you are able to experience daily. Even if you are stuggling or suffering, there is good to be found. Even on the hard days, even when we are ill and even if money is tight we can still find little morsels of goodness to focus on.


Each morning before you climb out of bed, take a moment to count your blessings. Close your eyes and go down the list of wonderful people in your life, the amazing opportunities you have and the beautiful things that you have earned. Take a deep breath and be truly thankful and grateful. Pat yourself on the back, love everything around you and know that if you are in a moment of struggle, it will surely pass.

Don't wait for times of mourning and tragedy to remember all of the beauty in your life. Do it everyday!

Day 54. Slowwww It Down

Day 54

I am about as fast paced as they come. I talk fast, move fast, decide fast etc. Just the other day at school pickup, the Grandma I wait said "you always look like you're rushing from somewhere to somewhere." Most of us are on a mission each day and we keep our heads down and go, go, go. Today I am challenging you to slow.it.down.

Close your eyes and soak in the sun for a minute, take a deep breath when the wind blows or smell the flowers as you pass a garden. These seem like simple tasks but when we are keeping  up with our day to day tasks we often just pass by the beautiful things the world has to offer. Chew your food slower today and enjoy the flavors of your meal. Look at your kids when they talk to you and bask in their stories and imagination.

Life moves fast and before we know it, it can pass right by. Today is the day to focus on the little details and revel in all of the wonders of the world around you. From dawn until dusk today, take it slow and enjoy the morsels that surround
you. Breathe it in and make the day really count.

Day 53. Clean Out Your "Friendship Box"

Day 53

I have always referred to reassesssing friendships as "cleaning out your friendship box." I like to think of it as an actual act where you physically have to remove the negative from your life. If you find yourself constantly carrying the weight of a friend of yours and their burden has started to impact your life in a negative way, it's time to make a change. If you feel that you are being used and you do not have a give and take relationship with your friend, it is likely time to move on. Trust your gut. If you feel anxious or you dread the phone call or email from a particular person, start distancing yourself and change the course of that friendship. Good friends are there for each other in good times and bad and there will always be times when you are giving more of yourself to a friend in need. It's when the friend is starting to drain you and becomes a constant taker, that it is time to cut the ties.

Don't beat yourself up for cutting toxic relationships out of your life. Friendships are definitely about quality over quantity and this applies more and more as we get older. Put yourself and your needs first for a change. Go through your friendship box and weed out anyone who is taking more from you than you can afford to give. Honor your friends who lift you and enhance your life and simply let the others go.

Day 52. Buy A Gift For Your Future

Years ago I lived in an apartment that was barely big enough to have a few visitors over let alone to entertain in. I had dreamed of hosting holidays and occasions and even though I knew I would have to wait until I had more space, I started collecting accessories to use when the time was right.

This past weekend I hosted a large family brunch and decided to put pre-made basic coffee out in addition to the flavored Keurig option. I found two perfect coffee urns in my cupboard and I was excited to use them for the first time. During the brunch my Gram asked where I got such perfect carafes and I told her that I had bought them more than 12 years ago in hopes of someday having a use for them.

Sometimes you have to believe in your future dreams so much that you start making them reality before they are actually ready to come true. Buy yourself a small token for your future. A little something that symbolizes a goal. When it does become reality you will be excited both because you get to use your trinket and because you will get to reflect on just how far you have come.