Welcome to Gaia! ::

This is an exercise that a lot of churches, therapists, teachers, etc. seem to suggest people and many say that it really helps them lead a more happy, joyful life.

Every day, think of at least three things that you love about your life and existence. They can be small things, like what you ate for breakfast, or huge things, like getting the job you've always wanted. The idea behind it is fairly obvious: try to focus on the positive things in your life, even if they're small and seemingly insignificant. Even if you're going through a really rough time in your life, make sure to take a little time out of every day to count your blessings rather than just letting yourself wallow in nothing but misery. I thought we could just have an ongoing thread where anyone who wants to can post three things a day (or whenever they sign in) that they're thankful for.

I'll start things off.

1. For being alive. Never a day goes by that I don't think about how close I came to this no longer being true, and I can honestly say right now that I feel so lucky and blessed to be alive, that life is precious, and that it's a gift not to be taken lightly or thrown away, because it can be so beautiful.

2. For having the strength to still be opiate-free. It's still really difficult, and I encounter temptations everywhere, but I've managed to stay clean even though most days there's nothing that I'd like better than a shot of heroin or morphine. I am not powerless over my addiction. I can do this, I can control myself, and I do not have to be an addict forever. I will not be an addict forever.

3. For being able to find faith again. I still have a lot of healing and reflecting to do, spiritually, but my life has felt so much less empty since I decided to start mending my relationship with God. I'm still not sure where I stand with the Church, but...well, I still have a lot fo figure out yet, but I'm working on it, and I feel so much better about everything as a result.

This is a really great idea!!!

1. My friends. In particular, I've noticed recently how much more open and close I can be with my friends, about God and about really important things. I've never had anyone I could just share everything with; I've never even been that close with a best friend, so I'm glad now that I can share things with my friends.

2. My family. My parents work their asses off to provide for 4 kids - 3 of us in/starting college - and I know how hard it is for them to put food on the table or to make sure there's gas in their cars. I feel terrible for some of the things I ask them for sometimes, and I'm glad I have, them, because they've been through a lot over the years and I'm inspired by them.

3. Being raised Catholic. I really don't think if I hadn't been raised Catholic - if I didn't have years of Catechism under my belt - that I wouldn't be as close with God as I am now. When I was in Catechism I never really got how important God was, (and my parents didn't really teach me that either, since they hate church and got about 3 times a year) but after years of Catechism, and a few years after I was confirmed, I really got to thinking about it all, and I think if I wasn't Catholic and didn't have all of those huge, landmark events in my life (first communion, first reconciliation, confirmation) then it would have taken me much longer to get close to God.

Woah, I wrote a lot. hehe. Good idea. I've been having a crap day (week) and this really made me feel better 3nodding

i like this, i needed it today <3
this is a great thing to do and i'll keep coming back.

i'm thankful God is always around and is always interacting with me even when i don't necessarily feel him around. even when i'm not the best person or i'm not communicating with him, he's still around.

i love my friends who support me and are there for me when my family isn't. especially when my family isn't. it really really makes a difference and it kind of completes me in a way. i really really love that.

i love how much potential is in my life, it's scary that any decision i make can mess it up, but i know it won't happen and i see incredible potential in front of me for who i might become. it's really exciting. a little scary, but exciting too.

Definitely needed this today.

1. My dogs. Heh heh. They're so sweet, and have a way of knowing when I'm upset, because they always snuggle with me and make me feel better 3nodding
2. My musical abilities. My band had a festival today, and the judges gave us the highest marks possible in all areas. It was a great day for all of us, and I played really well. I love music <3
3. My school. It's the best in the area, and I'm blessed to go there, and I'm very thankful that I'm part of it's accelerated program that only accepts 30 students in each grade level (with about 1600 kids in each grade). It's so rewarding and I'm glad to be a part of it.

smile

Day three!

1. I woke up from a nightmare this morning after not having slept much at all and couldn't fall back asleep, so I dragged myself to the shower in a terrible mood. My partner came into the bathroom with my rat Byron on his shoulder, and I poked my head out of the shower and Byron started licking the water off my nose and biting on my lip ring. It really cheered me up.

2. I was talking to my friend's girlfriend today about all the changes I'm trying to make in my life, and she said to me, "Change what you need to change to be happier, but don't change who or what you are. You're a beautiful force of nature just as you are. Never be ashamed of that." It made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

3. The resolution problem with my computer screen seems to have magically fixed itself, which is awesome. Now I don't feel like I'm about to have a seizure every time I use my computer.

1. That I am leaving the Junior College level and moving on to a University
2. Through my own reflection and walking my path with the Lord, with some help from my guild that I have began to no longer have night terrors as much.
3. That I have a loving family
Amen

1. For the A- I recieved on my Latin American History exam, lifting my self esteem.
2. My hearing, for music is a piece of heaven for the soul.
3. My brother, for making me laugh when I need it the most.

1. I'm hopping the pond and going to Oregon to visit a very close friend on Monday! He recently moved there due to family-related stuff (his grandfather is in ill health and felt like London was killing him or something) and told me that once he got settled he'd buy me a ticket to come visit him. I didn't really think he'd actually do it, let alone so soon, but he rang me this morning and told me to cancel my obligations for at least a week because he'd bought me a ticket to come see him. I'm so excited. I have no idea what exists in Eugene, Oregon. I assume pine trees and lumberjacks. Whatever. I don't care. I love this kid, and now I get to spend a week with him. He's even talked about driving up to Seattle to see some awesome music shows, and then drive down the coast as far as San Francisco, California and maybe explore Santa Cruz and Berkeley, too. We always have epic adventures together. We'll probably end up dead or arrested. I'll probably get deported. It will be amazing. I don't have a return ticket. He'll probably try to convince me to stay with him in Lumberjack Land forever, but whatever. I'll get home somehow. Eventually. SO EXCITED! I haven't had a holiday in ages.

2. My neighbours gave me an awesome pair of Dr. Martin boots because I helped them out with a favour. This pleases me greatly, as my previous pair of boots was held together with duct tape.

3. ....I don't really have a number three, but number one and number two are amazing enough on their own. I don't need a number three. F*ck number three. Nevermind, I have a number three now. I got to watch my favourite film of all time again today. It hasn't gotten any less good in the year or so since I last watched it. I highly recommend Love in Thoughts to anyone who appreciates really artful, beautiful film making.