You may have noticed a funny little game going around on Facebook, whereby people nominate each other to share a few things for which they are thankful.  The challenge is to “post three things you’re grateful for each day for seven days.”

I say, PSHAW.  That’s no challenge at all.  I’ve done that, week after week, year after year, since 2007, without repeating anything.*

It gets a little tricky to do that for seven years running, so I’ll modify the challenge for all of you novices out there:  Can you muster up 365 consecutive days of gratitude, and post your list next Thanksgiving?

I did! So here, without further ado, is my (minimally censored) 2014 Gratitude List:

The sun came out and warmed me up

I got an extra hour outside

I made the soup yesterday

Gloria is okay

I made it to the end of this emotionally unsavoury day

And tomorrow will be different

My back yard at night, with stars and wisps of clouds. It gives me cause for deep breaths and solace.

Children who stay home to vomit…

I live in a country where women can drive

My blinds were up when my soup exploded

I didn’t have to reject anyone today

Well, only a few people

Reconnections with piano people

Even though I missed Drumfit, I had a nice visit

I was on time for the staff photo

I FOUND MY TRAVEL MUG

Carol is such a good friend

I was early for everything

Boot season!

Science science science

Only one sink leaks and only one sink clogs, and they are not the same sink

Night worship was good

I got a little bit done despite my commitment to sleep

A new route to work

People who are on board for Remembrance Day

Headaches end

Two workouts in one day

I own the perfect house

Gas prices are going down

I am happy

Furnaces

Lights

Conveniences

The power came back on and I still got to swim

The smartboard fixed the mouse

I’m ready for my recital

Empty sleeping days

Television

Getting stuff done, and sleeping, in the same day

I left the chili out overnight yesterday, not a week ago

Cheerful adrenaline

BB R & R

Photocopy room finds

At least I figured out that GB doesn’t work at home

Teamwork

Freedom to make choices and do what suits me

Moldy beets are still red

Found my phone again, and again

Affection for my students

Beet dye

Poppy help

Freedom to sleep

Boredom

Warm slippers

Warm house

Warlessness

Slap chop!

Got the wireless working

And found my hat and gloves

The wiggler made me laugh, even today

Piano is tuned

Computer is salvageable

Plumber is coming

Today wasn’t yesterday

And tomorrow won’t be today

And I survived painting day

Interesting men

Art

Chai that I like

Independence

Survived another day of paint

iPads on deck

Carol was here Carol was here Carol was here

I have never had to deal with that particular form of conflict

I work with honest people

And keen parents

And keener students

I love my job!

Pizza and sundaes

Bee movies and pest controllers

The Cat

The lost wheel found

The lost earplugs found!

Feather beds and great big sales

Car was done on time and is okay

Warm coat

Pretense

Today sucked, because I suck, but tomorrow will be better

See? Today was better. I told you it would be.

Students to love

Pest Guest

Welcoming Newbies

Sleeping in

My neighbours won’t mind me driving on their lawn

Today’s ending

Easy ice day

Newsletter’s done

Christmas is under control

Mechanical pencils

Such fun jobs

Keys jingle

Cedar

A night out

The luxury of boredom

Safe drive, slow Jack day

A good car

Sugar

I have the sort of life that allows me to sing Handel every year

Warm feet and neck

Art art art

Marianne, stage hand

Humour & adrenaline

Snow tires, warm boots, and a moon that has been walked on

Help

Snow safety, purple pashmina, and declined eggs

A functional back

Palliative amens

And hearty party fare

Warm lights

Interesting conversations with rich people

Warm car, house, coat, hat, boots, school, heart

Electricity

Snow is pretty

Mild temperatures and happy children

Christmas fun

Piano parents with snowblowers and compassion

No need to drive today

Love and gifts

Carpool Karen

A funny “new” neighbour

Safe footsteps

Didn’t have to go anywhere today

Harry did a little

I did a lot

Power stayed on

Treated roads

Beautiful, beautiful ice

Mom is patient

Lee Valley

Good digestion

Relaxation for all

Flute fixed

All the things I’m not (spy, race car driver, talk show host, magician)

High tea

Flute duo fun

Being beautiful

I am not the Lone Ranger

I don’t live in the wild west

I accomplish things

I am not a hockey player or a rock star

I am not a ref

I control my own TV

I have a home, and a life, of my own

Nathan shovels well

USNL4 is started

I’m me

Pitas

Happy, waiting house

Singing for Joyce

Independence

Discounts

I have thumbs

Safe new bed

Basement fire averted

A day to breathe

And get acquainted with my new teaching partner

A yard duty hat

So safe

So quiet

Found my phone

Taught a good science lesson

Enjoyed playing Tchaikovsky

Will eventually feel better

I found my glove and my science signs

I wasn’t late for anything today

Nor did I get a ticket

I had Star Wars music for [student]

[P] isn’t irate about trolls

KE emailed me a prayer

There is always something for which to give thanks

There have been worse moments

I’m not [there] any more

Long sleeps

Pizza and trios with the Hilts’

If Anwar gets a new car, he might just keep it clean

My employer’s favour is not my highest aim in life

I am not what I do

Being early is over-rated

Brown cows

[Teacher] gets it

Doubling

Creativity is nothing to be ashamed of

Such a good, good class

Rebecca perspective

Good lessons

Good peeps

Success at the music store

Anwar banter

Safe drive to Cavan

Safe friends who love me

I choose my path

Got home before [students]

Got it done

[He] was dull anyway

I drive

I am, if nothing else, fun

I found my singing voice with Alex

Warm, warm winter clothes

Synchro progress

Invention fun

Harry’s snowblower

Warm feelings at CITC, and relief that I’m Anglican

Report card comments in place

I’m not at [place]

Or [place]

Or [place]

I can see my car again

Everyone loves my writing

Everything is okay

Bonding time at Jack’s

On top of report cards

Such good Rhema essays

Unwanted proposals

Happiness at St. John’s

HARRY took my snow away!

Friends who care

Gordon’s fine tenor voice

Sunny, sunny snow

Harry loves me and my driveway

I own a scoop

No one walked in on my crappy science lesson

Children can be so fun

The inventors’ workshop saved the day

I got myself to the gym, library, bank, party, and concert

Tomorrow I will hibernate

A new niche ahead

Texting

A new niche confirmed: St. John’s young adults!

Advil, French onion soup, red wine, hot pad

A headache-free day

A happy V-day

Colleen, fire, hot chocolate, Olympics, dinner, love

RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS

A happy B-day

Frankness

I am a poet

Almond yum

Birthday treats

Successful invention convention

Canadian women

Canadian men

Pre-spring sun

Satisfaction with life as it is

Rick, Barb, and wisdom

Sleep cancels all

Forgiveness

Assemblies and prep time

No yard duty today

I wore pants instead of a dress

On the upswing

Gentle medics, officers, witnesses, tow trucks, mechanics, and car rental people

I am loved at work

Had all my documents up to date

No other vehicles involved

All safe and sound and well

The bricks were in the back

[Person] loves me

And safe at home again

Social satisfaction

Perfectly acceptable matches

P likes to do the talking

I am intelligent enough to decipher an insurance policy

I have a CBC/Church/Olde Stone niche

X-rays clear

Lucinda’s book

Options

Life

Getting my voice back

Melting snow

Red

Tax refunds

Helpful car-shopping

Suzi, Karen & Harry, who helped me through the snow

No driving today

Help on the road

Narrowing things down

Testy road tests

Soft blankets

Another graduation

I am not car-shopping with C.

A winter walk, with Jacq and bread

OPHEA

I got to go to school today

is negotiating ferociously

And the bank stuff is coming together

Bought a car

Illumination

I made it to bedtime

Less car stress

Reprieve

Frank talk with Bill

A warm hat

Distance

An okay day

Disclosure without drama

Safe snow

The snow is melting, even in the cold

I have a brand new car

My PVC friends, and other friends, too

My brand new car is still intact

And it works in the rain

Sleeping and waking as needed

Unlimited sleep

Got back into my Mazda without being arrested

At least I still have a job probably

And the luxury of dissatisfaction

Mangos

Occasionally, I teach well

I floss

Dry roof, dry basement, dry house

I write

The sun. Jackets. Sweat. Walking. Warmth.

Lots of treats at school this week

I got a good elevator pitch in the shower

Syd didn’t sit next to me at choir

The kids came and went

Tag on a windy day

Blueprints

It’s not about the errors

Thaw

Easter is coming

Syd likes my “essay”

Done the Merton

No pink-eye or lice

Energy, clarity

No tickets

Sader connections

A cleanish house

Interesting Easter music

Worlds uniting

Shiny tire foam

S & C stopped by right on time

Kaes is coming to visit

Goodith, the appreciative

Sun on elbows

No flood here

Mom drove me to work

CAA

It was fun to find a crayfish

I am still a writer

I feel pretty and whole

.4!

Perfect piccolo playing

Venice

B9, and an audience

I made it through the day

Tomorrow is new

Dawn, Patti, people of peace

A, who cares incessantly

Beer and burgers with women who laugh

Energy

Decisiveness, competence, brilliance

A successful show

A dry, empty zoo

Portable work

A day to sleep

I am growing accustomed to being loved

Sun, a dry field, running kids

I have a full and happy life

I can drive, and walk, and do my thing

Finally, I like Durufle

Honesty, reconciliation (even electronically)

Someone came to my concert

Marilyn’s son called

Princesses

No more princesses

I improvise well

Leaves before rain

Wormy ideas

Communication

One can always go for a walk

Tea

Tools

Cancellations

Inspiration and flexibility

Track & Field!

Bracebridge rocked

Sas

I am not the worst driver

I only fell asleep a little

A is recalibrating

I woke up when I did, and was on time

I have a permanent job in a public school

M thinks my story is “beautiful”

Socks

Plans

People

Marriageable men

Synchronization

Bs & Gs

Cell phones, fun friends

Unexpected hammock time

The good ones

I am fun

I am curious

I am alive

I am intact

PA days

Professional judgement

Juggling

Progress

A back-up yard sale

Freedom

My students love to learn

I spoke at a board meeting

Radish-planting, while annoying, is also pretty cute

No more Hudak

Warm feelings about Rhema

Plenty of happiness

Rest and productivity

I am pretty

I am at least partly employed

A beautiful world, post-storm

A scant, but growing list of pathetic, but tolerable jubs

Three men, zero commitment

New associations

Kiting

Lawn mowing options

Perfect temps

Loppers

Bicycle!

Not needing him or him or him

My anklet broke after I got out of the pool

I’m not homeless, jobless, or hungry

I double-bagged the dressing

I remembered to take off my Sponge-Bob band-aid

Jacq, wine, frankness, perspective

Michael Morse, a person of peace

A funny walk in the woods

Sidewalks

The princess unit

Julie

“yet”

A good, good math textbook

Math is fun

I am excited about learning

And teaching

Breezes

At least my faucet and drain aren’t malfunctioning at the same time

Ideas

It’s still summer

PSingers fun washed the math away

“Wow. Just wow.” Why aren’t I a writer?

Laura wanted to move the car

Walmart makes me happy

I got to come home in the quiet vehicle

I AM MORE THAN MY WORK

I am equal or greater than

I am not alone

I have faithful people in my life

Resilience

Boredom is a luxury

Dry rollerblading trails

I can bike on gravel

Celebratory events and people

Optimal optimism

Soccer hilarity

Being loved

Progress

Stoves work when BBQs don’t

The guy at Canadian Tire didn’t even look at the dates on my tanks

Blue shoes

Marilyn got me out of the house

Plumbing is done

I am a part of his system

I am still so loved

Hammock naps

The instruments are done

Packing help

Fun

Cottage girls

Confidantes

Fresh air

Soap

The best days of summer

Running water

I live alone

Blue cords

Denim

Possibilities

Outings with mom

Candidness

Welcome

Amusement

Time off

A quiet day

A choice

A healthy mom

A peaceful state

The corn maze

The corn cobs

The luxury of dreams

Noodle races

I don’t have to have it all figured out today

Trent posting

Space

Congeniality

Cosmicprose.com

Bifocals are nothing serious

Peach pie

OHIP

Murder is far away

I own a home, affordably

I live in it alone

I have a week of solitude and freedom ahead

I’m in charge

Massage flexibility

I’d already showered

Piano money

A floral office

Someone invented springs

No sunscreen in winter

Big carrots

Healthy back

No sunscreen in August

I endured the festival (again)

The blog is progressing, sort of

Storytelling

Pimm’s

Pants

A bike that works!

I can pump

The blog is live

I am loved too much

I have a guide

Jackson Park

Beautiful traits

Safe Toronto driving

Not hitting taxis or cyclists

Being depressed with Jacqueline, and laughing

Finding friends at Math Camp

My villa with 11 pillows

Decadence

Animated conversation

Free pens

Wipes

Privacy

Wireless access

A friendly cemetery

SCREENS

Helping Jacqueline

Being at ease

FRANK CONVERSATION

Being loved more than necessary

The luxury of conflictedness

At least tidy is not messy

Colleagues who believe in me

Laughter, and lots of it

I blog

I garden

I make shish-ka-bobs

I am content

Barbara’s funny

I have space

Perfectly acceptable temperatures

More perfectly acceptable temperatures

Screenshots

Too many clothes

Too much house

Cute redheads, and all the others, too

Fixed the website sort of easily
The car eventually stopped

Someone thinks of me

I have a place where everyone knows my name

Confidence, humour, poise, patience

Choices ahead and behind

Going back for my water bottle

A dry enough day

Someone who listens, when it occurs to him

Clear, pretty, perfect Saskia, and two dinners

I don’t have to go to any more gigs

I got the last CBC bag

Church picnics are much nicer than after-parties

Finishing the day

Cookies and conversation

Postings

Yummies

Money

Free burgers

The kids were okay

Yet another pep talk

Cheap gas

I found a mechanical pencil

Sleep helps

The article’s done

Succour

Not wanting that job anyway

A great new audiobook

Happy supply teaching

Somehow I functioned

Anwar is coming

Anwar loves me

And always will

Yard walks

Hatha yoga

That pork chop in the freezer

Good ears for rain

Independence

Looking skyward from a melodious courtyard

And thinking I am meant for this

NEGLECT can be a choice

Flute improvements

Extra-curriculars knocking at my door, because I needed a bell

Hula hoop science

Theory love

Friends who pray, love, call, assist. Friends who care.

Fall summer sun

Politics, hope

Honesty

Drama (the good kind)

Pay at the pump

Putting interviews behind me

Putting days, weeks, years behind me

Indian summer

A new mindset: no more groveling

The water guy on the way to Omemee

Father Brown

Owning a bicycle

Extra time between events, for eating and going to the library

An interview to balance the rejection

A resilient spirit

A smart Young Adults’ group, that draws and talks and is honest

Toothpaste

Orange

Confidence, a new mind

Teamwork

One less worry

Remembering that I hate supply teaching

Repentance

Rain delayed

Liberation

Perseverance

5

Choices

9

Hardware, pockets, pleasantness

Unlayering in the autumn sun

Perfect placemats

Fancy crystal for a friendly feast

 

*Okay, so maybe I repeated a few things accidentally.  But you’d never know that without valiantly reading through the  entire list… and I’m thankful you did!