Day 13

Today was a whirlwind; I went to work at 7am today. It was a very peaceful morning and great day overall, I savoured every minute of my walk with Deuce, as it was my last one until I get back from Mexico, I will miss our little walks together.

I had my second Twinrix needle today. Strangely I didn’t have a lot of anxiety about it. I guess my day was much too busy to think about it. I was in the waiting room for about 25 minutes and started to feel nervous but pushed my thoughts aside. I was proud of myself, this was my best needle experience yet. Even Barb my nurse commented how great I did, I am so happy that I am getting over my fear of needles. Two more left when I get back, maybe this trip to Mexico was meant to be, helping me get over my fear :)

I’m grateful for my manager today, she is so wonderful – so lucky to work with her every day. I got her all set up using the Viber app so she can text me for free while in Mexico. I know she probably won’t text me work stuff while I am away, but it is peace of mind that I know she will be able to reach me if she needs anything. So happy she approved me to go to Mexico, as we are very busy and it is just the two of us in our area. I will work extra hard to make up for it when I am back, so grateful for this vacation.

Rachel, Lenka and I set off for our road trip to Halifax tonight, they were fantastic co-navigators. It was a very dark night and it snowed for a while but thankfully we made it to the Hotel safely. Lots of laughs and great conversations on the way over, the time flew by. We are going to have such a fun trip together.

Time for a little nap as we'll be up at 250am to get ready to catch our flight. We will be on the beach by 915am, I am beyond excited :)

The tiny, beautiful, funny, tragic moments in your life - how are you going to remember them? Cesar Kuriyama suggests:film one second of video every day. I may have to try this :)

Day 12

Another super busy day, I’m starting to feel like I am catching up though, I reached inbox zero for about 5 minutes today – felt amazing! Today for "Random Act of Kindness"  week, I tried my best to smile at strangers, it sure is harder than it sounds. If they looked me in the eye I smiled at them, most people look away shyly but then for every five, one would smile back at me. It felt good to share that one moment in time with another human being that I knew nothing about, just hoping I made their day a tiny bit brighter by showing kindness.

It was snowing tonight when I took my pup for a walk - thick fluffy snow, the kind that sticks to the tree branches and makes the city look like a sparkling ice village - absolutely breathtaking.

I had my evening mapped out on what I had to get done before I leave for Mexico - but then my sweet Mom called around 8pm worried about my darling nephew who was at the ER. I called my sister-in-law Kyla to see what was going on and she said Cruz had the croup cough and was having laboured breathing. Poor little sweet boy, they had been there for a few hours so I brought them both supper and stayed with them until Cruz was called in by the doctor. I then saw two friends that were also there for almost 8 hours waiting, so I spent some time with them until they were also called in to the Doctor.

It makes me realize no matter how busy you are you have to make time for the most important things, the little things, the times that people will remember most. I know I had a busy night planned and had to stay up extra late to get everything done, but taking that time out tonight to spend with family and friends at the ER was most important, grateful for those moments. Kyla sent me a really nice text thanking me for supper and saying how lucky she was to have me as her sister. She made my night, glad I was able to be there for them when they needed me. I think it also  made my Mom feel better that I could be there for them tonight when she couldn't be - being so far away in Florida. 

This is a very powerful video that has really impacted me. The part where his father rushes on to the track to help his son overcome his challenge, step by step  - I could not imagine a more grateful feeling for him to have such a supportive Dad on his arm during this heartbreaking moment. His love is overflowing.

Day 11

I barely remember today, it was such a blur. I know I woke up and it was sunny, warm and beautiful out but when I got to work I don’t remember a thing after that. All I know is it was a very productive day, I just got in a zone with my work and all of a sudden it was time to go home. Every day seems to be that way lately…I’ve been working very hard to be caught up on everything before my trip so I can go away and not worry about a thing.

Rachel texted me on my way home from work to say it is "Random Acts of Kindness" Week, so I scrambled to do a few nice things. I bought a homeless man a blanket, he looked cold sitting on the sidewalk. In retrospect, I should have bought him a hot chocolate too. There is always tomorrow.  I love RAOKs, I am planning a 31 days of Kindness blog for May, it is going to be so much fun to do.

I was walking with Deuce after work today and a man was leaving his parking spot. There was so much snow everywhere and he was stuck in the slush. All of a sudden it all sprayed from his tires up in the air and all over Deuce and I. I knew he didn't mean to do it and probably didn't even see us. So we just kept walking. All of a sudden he stopped his car, got out and started apologizing and asking us if he hit us with the flying snow. I didn't want him to feel bad so I said he just missed us and we exchanged kind words. It was very nice of him to take the time to come back to see if we were impacted. Those little kind gestures can make every situation a bit better.

Tonight I dropped over to see my friend Shanna, I brought her an orchid, two pizzas, and some toys for Cole and Simon. It was nice to see her and her family smiling. I know how much they miss Lila, but she would be happy to know they are being strong for her after she is gone. Glad to spend some time with Shan. We are planning a breakfast date when I am back from Mexico.

Tonight the piercing alarms started around 845pm at our building, my dog was so terrified. Sadly there have been so many alarms over this past year that now only a handful of people leave the building. There were three fire trucks that came and it turned out to be a broken sprinkler. Grateful it wasn't anything serious. The story “The little boy who cried wolf” really impacted me as a child. I think if there were fire alarms every hour I still would go outside. Thankful my Mom spent so many hours reading to me as a kid, as many of life’s lessons are hidden in the pages of Children’s books, always with a moral to the story.

This short video talks about a Gratitude Challenge, very inspirational. 30 bloggers that chose to “live on the brighter side of life”.

Day 10

Another beautiful stormy day today. I was all out of my favourite keurig coffee and none of the stores were open, grateful for Jerry who ventured out in the storm and surprised me with coffee. He went to every coffee shop in Charlottetown and thankfully the dedicated staff at Starbucks were open bright and early. He also got Emily and Devin coffees which was very kind of him, they really appreciated it. I don’t really enjoy plain coffee, but yesterday I tried baileys for the very first time, definitely my new favourite. What a great way to make plain coffee taste flavoured ;)  

I thought I would have cabin fever today but I didn't really mind being indoors, I had lots to keep me busy…and the day flew by so fast. Thankful for another peaceful yet productive day.

The underground parking is not yet completed so we park in the lot behind the building. We went outside to clean off the truck and car after the storm had stopped, and there was about 4 feet of snow on all sides including the tops. My little white car could hardly be seen with all the snow. Luckily working together we were able to get the cars cleaned off fairly quickly and when we were done the sun was just setting. It was nice to get some fresh air and physical exercise for the day too. Deuce loved the new fluffy snow, he would run through it until it was up to his neck, then he would run back, almost like he was swimming in the ocean. He will sleep well tonight :)

I received another kind note today from a good friend that says she has been reading my blog every night and it has inspired her. That means so much to me, love you Marsha!

Jerry got me Urban Beatz Verse headphones when he was in Florida, they are noise cancelling. They definitely will come in handy when I write articles or have to focus on challenging projects at work, where I need to get lost in my thoughts and block everything else out. I used them a lot today.

My Sunday morning Yin class was cancelled, so instead I did some meditation and yoga on my own. I also listened to some really beautiful music, some of which Airlie plays at Yin each week. This song in particular I really love, it is also on the soundtrack of one of my favourite movies “Love Actually”. This video is captivating, I love to watch the pianist’s fingers move delicately as he plays each note so carefully. 2.13 minutes of pure bliss. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Grateful for this wonderful storm weekend :) Going to spend the rest of the evening relaxing in a Himalayan salt crystal bath, and then a mani and pedi – only three more days until my yoga spa adventure. A week on the beach, I can hardly wait :) 

Day 9

Another stormy day…so cozy! I went for a walk outside first thing this morning all bundled up. Yoga was cancelled so I had a great workout of hiking through drifts and fighting against the strong wind and falling snow. It was beautiful, not a car in sight, not even a car parked on the city streets. I took some great storm shots that I tweeted to @weathernetwork :)

Grateful for good friends that live so close by, we spent the afternoon at Emily and Devin’s cooking dinner and watching the Sens. Tonight Lenka, Ryan and Max came for a visit and we had wine, lots of laughs and great conversation. Max and Deuce had a fun time too – they are best buddies.

I really notice such a difference living downtown, especially on stormy days like these. I rarely ever drive my car anymore. It is so amazing to walk everywhere and not have to worry about white knuckle driving through snow drifts and on icy roads with poor visibility during stormy weather. I don’t miss that at all.

I am also grateful today to not have a driveway that I have to shovel, or a heat bill to pay. Apartment living has been wonderful, 1800 square feet of modern living, without the extra responsibilities that come with a house, and the convenience of everything – that is the best part. Selling our suburb home with 2 acres of land last June was the best decision ever, in so many ways.

I received a really sweet note today from a good friend, she really made my day. She thanked me for inspiring her to start a gratitude journal, she started one on January 1^st when she saw my tweet about my new gratitude journal that I had purchased for 2013. She said that thanks to her daily entries, the feeling of gratitude is something she now experiences every day. It was so nice to receive her note, and I am thrilled that I was able to inspire one person to feel the way I do every day, because of the gratitude journal I have kept the last couple of years. The act of sending a little note of thanks can really brighten another’s day, I was grateful to her for that :)

This video is short but sweet, it is called the power of words. The words you choose to express are very powerful, even if the different expressions mean the exact same thing. Your words can result in either a negative or positive outcome. This holds true for your thoughts as well.

Day 8

I know I said at the start of this 28 days of gratitude, that I would be journaling about the little things I am grateful for, the things that people may sometimes take for granted, but today I can't help but express in words my gratitude for one of the biggest things I am thankful for in my life. I woke up this morning to this lovely email from my darling Mom:

Hi Jo Jo. Just read your blog. I have quite a daughter!!! It's a wonderful blog. Today I am thankful for you. I am so blessed to have brought such a joy into the world.

Love you, Mom xxoo

I could not stop smiling after I read it. I have been missing my Mom even more than usual these days, especially after the loss of my best friend’s Mom. My parents are down south for the winter so I try to get to Florida a couple of times over the winter to visit. I went to visit for 2 weeks over Christmas but it is a very long winter to have to wait until they are back in April. Hopefully I’ll get back to Florida in March to see her.

My Mom is the kindest, sincerest, most empathetic, genuine person I know. It's funny when I run into someone I haven’t seen in a while, whether it be a childhood friend, my soccer coach, an old boyfriend, they always ask how my Mom is doing. She is definitely one of a kind. She genuinely loves everyone she meets and brings the best out in them, always making them feel uplifted after they talk to her. She has accomplished so much in her life and has always encouraged me to give my best to everything I do. I am beyond grateful for her; I don’t know how I got to be so lucky to be the one who gets to be her daughter. I can’t imagine my life without her in it, my heart would never recover.  

And for the little things I am grateful for today… chocolate kisses & hugs that got me through a very challenging project, a caring stranger that held the door extra long for me when I was 10 steps behind him, a serene trail walk at Victoria Park with Lenka and the pups, so peaceful at dusk. And tonight I am grateful to have Jerry back home, he was away on a golf trip in Florida and just got back late last night. Deuce and I missed him.

To end off I’m sharing a video that I really love, it makes me cry every time. It is not about gratitude but it is about giving kindness and love regardless of differences. Without judgement, just pure kindness. You have no idea how grateful someone receiving your kindness will feel. A helping hand, a friendly gesture, a kind word. The little things all add up and make a difference. 

Day 7

This morning I had my annual eye doctor check-up. I love going to see Dr. Canfield, she is the most cheerful doctor I've met, she has been my doctor for about 12 years and every time I visit her she is always so joyful and friendly. No matter how busy she is she never shows it; she takes extra time for small talk and walks you through everything, even your results when you "pass with flying colours". The Optomap photo is neat, she shows you all the healthy parts of your eyes and makes you really appreciate how precious your eyes are and how necessary it is to take good care of them. Just her positive attitude alone makes me feel like I won the lottery for having such healthy eyes ;) It is funny when you are exposed to such positive people, especially first thing in the morning, they can make your day that much brighter.  

As an aside, I have had glasses for 12 years, but every year my vision either stays the same or improves. I always remember my physics professor telling the class one day that glasses are like crutches. When you wear them your eyes don’t have to work as hard and they become weaker - so many times people who wear glasses have to get stronger prescriptions each year. This is not the case for all eyes I am sure, but it worked for me. I wear my glasses about 1% of the time  - if I am in the nose bleed section at a sporting event and want to see the details of the players' faces, or if I am driving on a dark rainy night in an unfamiliar city, I wear them to make the signage just a little bit sharper. A girl I know who also was in his class was considered “legally blind” without glasses and she wore thick glasses for many years. One day she just got tired of her glasses and stopped wearing them. She said it was tough at first but her eyes got better and better and now she doesn't even need them at all and has great vision. Miraculous recovery!

Today was our first ever Big Wig Lunch Time (BLT) through the Chamber of Commerce - Business Under 40. It was a very successful event and we sold out. Kevin Murphy came to speak to us today and although he claims he is not a “Big Wig” (very modest) he was happy to share with us his story. He was fascinating, I had no idea this prominent business man started so young, and had his fair share of challenges along the way. A few things he said that resonated with me was you have to know how to fail in order to succeed, and you have to learn to crawl and walk before you can run. He also said his people are his number one asset and he does everything he can to attract the right people to his establishments. He practices gratitude with his staff, when someone does a good job he makes sure he goes out of his way to thank them for their efforts and ensures they feel like a valuable member of his team. He shared tons of great tips and stories but since this is a gratitude journal I wanted to share with you his mention of how important gratitude is for his business operations. It was nice to see how grateful he is of his success, all the people that work for his many businesses and how much he cherishes work life balance.

I found this video fitting for today when talking about gratitude in the service industry. My friend shared it with me a few weeks ago, it was very inspiring. The sound is a bit choppy so you may want to turn the volume down a bit.