Giving Thanks... to Life!

Well, this is my first blog and my first online, public gratitude journal entry. I decided that after many years of following so many blogs I wanted to create a blog of my very own, yep all mine. But about what? Well, for the life of me I could not decide What On Earth to blog about. I mean, I love so many things! for crying out loud.. how can I choose one? Lately I've been reading lots of blogs on exercise - particularly running since I'm currently training and approaching my very first marathon on March 4, 2012... eek! -  nutrition, cooking, and spiritual/self-help blogs. But like I said, I have many passions.

My Passions List includes but is not confined to: 

• Food
• Healthy eating and nutrition
• Exercise: Favorite is running! and pretty much anything that makes me sweat. Spinning and swimming are great also.
• Strength training - very new to this but I am loving it.. and very suprised by this
• Traveling
• Painting/art
• Adventure 
• Wine/adult beverages
• Ethnic cuisine (more food)
• Cooking (and more food)
• Gluten free stuff (yep, food again)
• Finding a good work-life balance where ideally I work less and enjoy my hobbies more, running!
• Reading... blogs and more, teehee
• Challenging myself physically
• Spirituality/worship
• Overcoming challenges, whether it be physical, emotional, mental or romantical (I jest, but not really!)
• Staying positive and finding a way to see the good side in life, always
• LAUGHING!!!! Belly laughs are the best but any are good, even a good giggle or heehaw or random chuckle

Sooooooooo my point to all that jazz was that I wanted to find a way to express myself via blog, but wasn't sure what to focus on until it dawned on me: I don't have to pick one thing, I can just start off by giving thanks! daily or regularly, and just go from there... Rome was not built in a day, and my blogging journey will be a baby-steps process, just like everything else good in life.

This brings me to the main or current point of this blog: gratitude. I have personally recovered from many challenges... physical, mental, professional, and emotional challenges, all that that nearly brought me to my knees at multiple times, making me want to throw up the white flag and just yell, "I surrender!" and after each storm I somehow survived, I finally realized maybe I'm not being punished or doomed for disaster, and maybe just maybe life can be great if I just think about changing my own thinking! So what I'm saying is that things did not get better until I took the time to recognize what I do have, rather than what I didn't. Basically, no matter how challenging things get, if you just take a moment to give thanks to something, anything! than things will get better... this I know for certain. So today at this moment, I am giving thanks to Life. Well, to my life and everything about it. All the trials and tribulations, all the challenges, all the broken hearts and wounded knees and failed attempts at ______ (fill in the blank) I am grateful for everything that has brought me here, to right now. I believe in God but am very open minded and respectful... I just believe in giving thanks and sharing thanks. Yes, I am thankful for today and for now. Amen!

In summary...  

Just kidding! This was on my FB wall and it cracked me up... hope ya'll get it :-) 

This is one of my father and moi, back in May of 2010... he passed away last September and in many ways, this blog is for you, Dad. I'm thankful for you, wherever you are and I know that you are smiling down on me.  

This is a pic of my two sisters, Ting on the far left, Riki in the middle, and yours truly on the right... This was taken at my sister Katherine's wedding, just this last Labor Day weekend. What a great time and memory!

Speaking of Katherine's wedding, here is a photo of all of us, with my dear Father, my three brothers, and three sisters. Just missing in this photo are Babs and Elizabeth... may she rest in peace.

And from my mom's side, here is my lovely mother and me at Thanksgiving! She and my stepfather and youngest brother Nicholas all live here in Houston, so in other words they are my roots and my heart, and make Houston my home for now.

Speaking of Nicholas.... yeah, he's a total character. He makes me proud!

And this is the awesome Christmas Coffee Cup he made me this last holiday - it says #1 Sis... so sweet and heck yeah! smile 

Okay, well that's all for now and once again... Thank you, for everything!