A little reflection time.

[Skerri]

Recently, I’ve had a bad turn of events in my life. Short and sweet, I got dumped, therefore making me the only single person I know, my cat got extremely sick and almost died, my job has flip-flopped into a wierd limbo, the whole September 11 thing is creeping around the corner, and all of my friends seem to be fading out of the picture. I’ve decided I am going to try not to dwell on this any more. (If I do, then I’ll have to find a way to post from the confines of the psychiatric hospital where I work.)

I think it’s time to reflect on the good things that are happening in my life. Please feel free to dig up any good stuff that is happening in your life, no matter how little it is. I think occasionally we all need to do something like this, since it’s always better to reflect on the good than dwell on the bad.

1. I have a great place to live. I am the caretaker of a house on a tidal creek. I wake up to the best view just about every day.

2. My cat is better. I’ve had him since he was 3 days old, and it’s good to see him being the fiesty bastard that he is. On September 5, he turned five years old.

3. I got a raise at my job. I can now pay all the bills and the rent out of one check. (This is mostly due to the fact that the house I’m staying in is owned by my best friend’s parents, and they cut me a deal on rent as long as I take care of the place.)

4. I drink a lot less than I used to. This is mostly due to monetary restrictions, but for a while there, I thought I was going to evolve into a raging alcoholic. Now, I live alone, and I have no desire to hit the beer aisle when I’m in the grocery store.

5. I live alone, albeit only during the week. (My best friend comes home from Atlanta just about every weekend.) I can watch whatever I want on tv, play on the 'net all night, or try to beat my high score on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater whenever I want.

6. Today, I’m going to Wal-Mart to buy a hummingbird feeder, since I’ve noticed 4 hummingbirds in my back yard recently. (And this was the first time I’ve ever even seen a hummingbird.)

[Slainte]

Well, you know me & I’m perpetually single! So, there are two of us in the World (And from what I hear at work about some SOs and spouses, I’m grateful about being single quite often).

Great OP!

My List:

1. I am healthy. So many people I have heard about lately aren’t doing too well. Being healthy really is an often overlooked treasure.

2. My birds - they are lively & entertaining - great company and I don’t have to pay a pet deposit for them.

3. My Best Friend - though she lives in another state and I only see her twice a year she has never failed to aid me in time of need (be it a good pep talk or buying me a plane ticket during a family emergency).

4. My job - It isn’t my passion but it pays me well, has a good 401K, Tuition money, and Health & Life Insurance. I’m working on my “escape plan”, in the meantime they are helping me prepare to leave (thought they don’t know it).

5. Next month I turn 26. Oddly enough, I am looking forward to being closer to 30, I think I’ll be more where I want to be in life by that age so turning 26 puts me one step closer.

6. Next month I’m going home to see my family. I haven’t seen them in 10 months. The last time I saw my Mom she was in ICU & not doing so well - this time she’s picking me up at the airport (and doing great health wise!)

Something to consider, skerri - I know it sounds a bit cheesy but start a “Gratitude Journal” (stolen from Oprah & Sarah Ban Branach). You write 5 things everyday that you are grateful for - sometimes just the day being over is something to be grateful for. When you focus on the positive, after a while you see it everywhere.

And you can always e-mail if you want to meet up & drink a Cup of Joe in lieu of beer

[Slainte]

ooh - I butchered that name. It should be Sarah Ban Breathnach. I like her book Simple Abundance but it may be too New Age Feel Good for some people’s tastes.