"It's like air conditioning for my insides."

Okay, first, I have to say how incredibly awful I feel for completely dropping off the face of the blogosphere these last few days. I made a promise to myself and to you that I'd record my offerings of gratitude every day (because, as I've already discussed, I truly believe it lightens and brightens the spirit) and I've been quite remiss lately. Sorry... things have been crazy, what with moving back to Puyallup and all.

But hey... this is not a place for excuses, right? Right.

These last few days have consisted of packing, packing, cleaning, packing, MOVING (during the hottest day on record, I might add), cleaning, cleaning, unpacking.... helping host a party for my dad in honor of his retirement from his church job (we had 40-something people at our house)... taking care of my puppy.... and etc. Needless to say, I'm a little tired.

It's weeks like these, when I'm spending a good chunk of my time grumbling about the heat or having to haul another box, or when I'm trying to put on a polite face to answer, for the 15th time, that I don't have an immediate job out of college, that it's really important for me to stop and remember all the things I'm grateful for. It's so easy to be ungrateful when you're sweating in places you didn't know you could sweat or when you're constantly being reminded how difficult is it to succeed in your industry. In situations like that, and whenever you catch yourself thinking negatively, I think you have to stop and consider why you're holding on to negativity instead of thinking of the positives. (As Kelli pointed out, that doesn't mean thinking of what "could be worse.")

So tonight I'm grateful for a number of things. Though moving back in with my parents after college isn't what I envisioned myself doing when I graduated, I'm grateful that I have parents who welcomed me home instead of kicking me out at the age of 18 to fend for myself. I'm just grateful to have a roof over my head and modern conveniences when so many people don't.

I'm grateful that my bedroom here is finally starting to feel like a grown up's room and not a child's room.

I'm grateful that the weather has cooled off tonight; I'm grateful for the two oscillating fans moving the warm air around like a tropical breeze.

I'm grateful for popsicles ("air conditioning for my insides.")

I'm grateful for beautiful henna tattoos and being able to show them off.

I'm excited that I discovered a yoga studio in downtown Puyallup, which means I can take classes regularly again (provided my bank account allows for it, of course) and do something about my extremely un-toned midsection.

I'm excited about all of these new ideas for journaling that are milling about in my head. (Oh, and by the way, if I'm going to start a personal journal here, I need a title for it. And I'm stumped. Suggestions?)

Perhaps most of all, I'm grateful for witnessing just how many people genuinely care about my dad and appreciate how he's served that church for such a long time. He works so hard, and he kept that extra job so that paying for my schooling wouldn't bankrupt our family. My dad's one heck of a guy.

So. I'll close with a question: What negativity are you holding onto today? What kinds of things are you forgetting to be grateful for?