EVERYTHING begins with a good de-pantsing! Sunny, June 20th '08

I wouldn't trust you to run a bath, let alone a fucking restaurant!!Gordon Ramsay, Kitchen Nightmares

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I agree with you Bergie. It took to be so far from everything I knew and loved, to truely appreciate what I had before, and also the kindness that was all around me even in the midst of some very ugly things. I have learned to appreciate opportunities after not having as many. Some days, I look around me and say "I am so lucky to be where I am, and to have these wonderful people to call my friends and family, and to have the opportunities I have daily."

I thought about it today as I stood with my favorite professor, launching rockets in the parking lot of the lab complex today. I thought about how lucky I am to go to Georgia Tech, and to have a professor who inspires me so much, and answers all of my stupid questions, and encourages me in my pursuit of knowledge. I thought of it just a minute ago when my back was hurting so badly from carrying heavy boxes of rocket parts up and down the tower stairs all day long, and Erin was demanding to be picked up, and Thak said "I've got it, baby. I know your back hurts."

I am greatful to have a daughter who wants my attention even though I am sometimes irritable, and a bit of a workaholic. I am greatful to have a husband who loves and cares for me. I am greatful to have the means to drive an hour each way to go to school, and for the fact that I have made it to this level even though all the classes start so early in the day, and I have to get up so early. I am greatful for the homework that keeps me up every night till 1:00 because it means I am learning, and that I have something that I really care about making an effort for.

Sometimes I look around me and it is hard to be greatful on some days. Sometimes the house is a mess, Erin is being too loud, and Thak is sitting on his ass doing nothing. However, I am greatful even for these things since a cluttered house means we have plenty. Dirty dishes mean we have food. A daughter being loud means she is comfortable enough to play however she sees fit, and a husband sitting on the couch doing nothing means he would rather be home with me than out at some bar somewhere or whatever.

It is good to realize that everywhere in our lives are things to be greatful for, even in the least likely places. I have to remind myself of that occasionally, but all in all, I know I am lucky, and for that I am greatful.

He's worth it.

Aw, thank you, Bergie!

Great minds Bergie!!

I swear, I was just thinking about this the other day when that pet peeves thread popped up. It kills me how much people take for granted and are unappreciative about!

Maybe you have to eat a few bites from a shit sandwich before you really appreciate good thing ... I've have quite a few sandwiches myself, so I do kinda appreciate the smaller things. I am grateful for what I have. Sure, it's easy to get caught up in your own little world and throw your own pity party but sometimes you have to smack yourself and realize how good you really do have it.

I may not be in perfect health, be the most gorgeous critter that's walked the planet or having guys fall all over themselves for me. But I'm grateful for having experienced true, deeply reciprocated love and every day surrounded by people who are real and truly good friends.

I am grateful for having a job that I LOVE and the type of income that I only dreamed about ten years ago. I am amazingly grateful that I have the intelligence and spirit to pursue everything I dream about and aim for.

And even though things can and will be pretty fucked up from time to time in everyone's life ... be thankful you live in a free world, especially if you're a woman and that the only thing holding you back is really you.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars. ~ Khalil Gibran

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. ~ Mahatma Ghandi

LOL Yeah, yeah, yeah... LOL I know I deserved that "too much time on her hands" bit. LOL That's what I get for procrastinating on the more productive things I could have been doing when I posted that. LOL

and thank you.

I have seen many so-called "grateful" people who walked by astoundingly amazing, breathtaking view of skies and nature that can move even the hardest of hearts, without batting an eyelid. Never took the time to sit down and listen to absolutely nothing, or the sounds of rustling trees and birds. Sure they're grateful for the things in their lives, but they do not resonate it. Its like people who call themselves enlightened beings, but they still work a 9-5 job and worry about paying the bills (just to be a devil's advocate here).

Anyway its funny that I've grown the opposite way - I used to feel the same way as you all folks did, grateful for all the little things in life, but then as I grew older, I grew more and more pragmatic, ruthless and weary (which I'm not inclined to discuss). I've always been a nice person who always strive for a balanced outlook in life - but for years that has taken a LOT of battering, and hence I've started to re-evaluated a few things. It balances things out though, because frankly if I'm either too grateful or too much of a pessimist, I will never get anywhere in life.