Gratitude--A Challenge For Hubbers In 2011

I am a firm believer in the power of many things, but I find other than prayer, gratitude is the greater producer of results in my life.

I have decided that I am going to post daily or at least each day that I have internet access (I do occasionally escape the techno work for a week or so) my own gratitude list.

I am doing this in hopes to challenge not only myself for also all of you to take a few moments each day and look around. What do you have to be grateful for in your life?

This challenge and yes, I am posting it as a challenge, can serve two purposes.

First, you will start to feel darned good and the more we are grateful it seems the more are given to be grateful for in our lives.

Second, this is still Hubpages and let’s face it; some of us are somewhat addicted to this thing calling hubbing. Set a goal to once a day finding five things in your life to feel gratitude toward and then share it with the world. In the end, you can have an additional three hundred sixty five hubs by January 1, 2012.

If you decide to join me in this challenge please leave a note in my comments and I will make a point of following you.

Join me, if you really put your heart into this, I have no doubt that even if your life is at rock bottom today, in a month, you will see a difference in your attitude, your life and yourself.

At the end of each day in my hubs, I will add a suggestion in the event you are having trouble finding your gratitude that day. Feel free to use those or just go with whatever you are feeling in that day.

Here is my list:

Today I am grateful because:

I have made .21 cents in two days here on Hubpages. Why is this such a big deal? Because the first two weeks, I didn’t make even a penny and overall, I have been lucky to hit .02 cents in a day. I am seeing an increase and this gives me hope for more.

I am grateful for the awesome Hubpages community. The people that I have had the pleasure of meeting here has been one of the most positive experiences I have had online in a very long time. The support, encouragement and heart of this community is one of the best.

I am grateful to be sitting here and listening to my brother play “Battlefield” in the next room. This has a couple of point. I am finally at a point in my life that the war re-enactment no longer makes me sick to my stomach or start to shake, as I remember fears for a loved one in the recent past. I know this sounds dumb, but while I was the one left at home, the sound of gunfire has caused me some real terror since then. I can only imagine what it is like for those who have been on the receiving end of such fear.

In addition, just a few years ago, I barely knew my brother. Being here, has given me a chance to get to know all of my siblings and really like them. As compare cooking ideas (he is a great cook), pick on our other siblings because it’s fun, pick on one another, discuss our kids, etc… I am reminded that I have been given such a wonderful gift in this relationship and being able to screen the girlfriends before they get through the door.

OK, this next one, you can’t make fun of me or call me the crazy cat lady. I am grateful for my cat. She used to be my brothers cat, but she has adopted me and when I move, she is going with me. I am pretty sure she is part dog, because she is more affectionate than any cat I have ever known, she follows me like a dog, runs to meet visitors like a dog would but she doesn’t beg for food. Each night, as I send a text message of good night to someone I love before I go to sleep, she curls up with me and purrs to beat the band in my face, before nestling against my neck or head to fall asleep. This cat is the epitome of unconditional love and she sure has been a comfort during some tough moments lately. Fine, I am the crazy cat lady.

I am grateful for today, a day that often marks the hope of a new beginning for many. I love the feeling of hope that is felt at the beginning of a New Year. I am always grateful for hope.

So, this is what my gratitude list looks like for today. See it doesn’t have to be anything big or profound because often the greatest desserts in life are often made even better by the small and sometimes un-noticed ingredients.

*Join in at anytime, this is not about when you start this but just that you give it a shot.  If you run across this sometime in 2014, feel free to jump in and start the challenge for yourself.  It's not about who does it first or most, but about who wants to change their own life and maybe even those around them.

I am grateful for cold weather because......