Recalibrating with gratitude

My good friend Katie (who has taught me that blurring the line between blogfriends and IRL friends is possible) published a beautiful post today. And after my woe-is-me whinefest on Monday, I figured now is a fantabulous time to make a list of gratitude. Even though her list was focused on one day, mine is going to focus on this week. Hers was just a list but we all know that I'm too talkative for that.

So...what am I thankful for?

* a feeling of peace and belonging that I experienced on Monday afternoon. Sometimes, walking down the hall to get my next group of kids, I know that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be, and it erases all the stress that I've been feeling as of late.

* my principal, who stopped me in the cafeteria yesterday. She told me that a group of people in the office were talking about my strengths in helping kids communicate, especially when they are in crisis. A little bit of praise goes a long way...am I right?

* all the prayers I got from my online and IRL friends on Monday as B interviewed for a position that could be potentially life-changing for us. It sounds like they worked...although nothing is official yet, we are hearing very positive rumblings!

* my funny, sweet L. Between getting all teary at the loyalty between Lightning and Mater as I read him a book (and of course, saying, "I'm not crying...my eyes are just itchy"), processing aloud when we tell him to go to his room and think about sad choices ("I shouldn't push G....I need to be gentle....I am a good boy...") that kid is constantly making us laugh. More often than not, when I pick him up from school, I get the lowdown of something funny that he said that had several adults at the center giggling together.

* my G. Oh, G. I get hit by him more times than I can count in one day. But? I get hugs and kisses galore as well, complete with an "Awww," or an enthusiastic "Mwah!!" I'm realizing that he is smarter than I used to give him credit for. Yesterday, as I took the lunches out of the refrigerator, he said, "Go bye-bye!" and then pointed to B's hoodie and announced, "Dada!"

* my B. That man puts up with more than he should, particularly regarding my meltdowns this week. And never, not ever, do I worry that he'll leave. Plus, he is right there with me on my faith journey. And he does the laundry. I'm a lucky girl.

* Udi's gluten-free bagels. This discovery this week has rocked.my.world. They aren't crumbly or dense or disgusting. They taste like real bagels and they make me really happy.

* The comments and emails I get from my readers, encouraging me. This is a HUGE one. Just this morning, I got an email from a sweet reader telling me in detail how my posts on cognitive behavioral therapy encouraged her to try it, and ultimately, changed her life as it did mine! And all the comments on Monday's post makes me realize that friends whom I'm never actually met care about me. And lately, I've felt low enough to desperately need that.

* An unexpected break thanks to an absent student, allowing me to write this post and refocus on the positive.

Namaste.