#5 Color

Yep, even something as simple as color makes me grateful!

I usually associate color, especially bright, vibrant, make-me-happy colors, with spring, or warm, rustic colors with fall...but as I begin to slowly put up Christmas decorations, I realize that color always makes me happy.

I just spent entirely too much time putting gel clings on my glass back door and accent windows beside my front door. I also added some colorful gel clings to my powder room mirror and large framed silhouettes of the kids in our "dining" room. I feel kind of childish doing so, but they really make me happy. I wondered why, and realized as the sun shown through and caused a colorful reflection on my arm that it's simply the color that makes me happy. I even have a long-standing vision of stained glass in the window about my front door in our 2-story foyer. I just love adding color, and really love the look of light shining through different colors.

When we moved into our house, I had no intention of painting right away as the previous owner did such a great job creating a classic, neutral color palette. It worked really well with our furniture and our style.

But recently I realized that I need bright in my house. After much debate, consultation, and even a few tears that I'd made a big mistake, we changed our family room from taupe to daffodil yellow. I LOVE IT! The room where we spend the majority of our time together and visiting with family & friends is now a bright open space made warm by comfortable furniture and decorations.

Now I've got my sights on that 2-story foyer. I want to add a splash of brightness which says "welome to our warm & open home!"

But it's not all about brightness. Another favorite Christmas decoration of mine is some oversized ornaments I bought last year to hang in my kitchen window.

 

These obviously aren't bright colors...but they go perfectly with my kitchen decor, adding festivity without clashing.

 
So I'm thankful that we live in a colorful world (but it drives me nuts to see old black & white movies colorized...go figure!) 
 
 

#4 Medical Professionals

I had doctors and dentists as two separate items on my list of 100 things I am grateful for but on a day like today, I can't think of one without the other.

I love all of our doctors as well as their nurses and office support. We have found medical professionals who have never instilled a sense of panic in us. They tell it like it is, they take time to listen, and they deal with my questions without feeding into my worries. All of our doctors have same-day sick appointments. They also have very little staff turnover, which I feel speaks highly of the overall environment these doctors have created.

We are blessed with good health so we actually see our doctors & dentists infrequently*, yet I never feel like just another patient. They all take time to ask about our lives outside of the office and beyond the concern which brought us to them that day.

I sent Kayla to the dentist on her own this morning because I am so comfortable with the staff in Dr. Fratkin's office and because, well, she has her own car and I could sleep in ;-). I called when I thought the appointment might be over. Peggy at the front desk knows me well (I tend to fuss a bit whenever I walk into a dentist's office...hate it!) so I figured she wouldn't mind me checking in. They had already sent Kayla on her way so she wasn't late for school and next thing I knew I was talking with Dr. Fratkin directly who took the time to share all of his observations and recommendations from their appointment.

Colin came home from wrestling practice yesterday with a skin irritation. Since he is wrestling and in close physical contact with others, I knew that we should get it checked right away. I wasn't worried about whether he'd be able to actually see a doctor today, though. Because I knew that if I called this morning, I'd get a set appointment. No waiting in a sick room to see whichever doctor was available. West End Pediatrics got me an appointment this morning with Colins' regular doctor. Love it! And I know that Dr. Dawson will simply state what's going on without causing unnecessary alarm. And, he'll answer any other questions I happen to throw at him ;-). By the way, he studied at St. Lawrence University and you know that northern connection always helps.

I few weeks ago I made my very first appointment with a dermatologist about one spot which was concerning me. Dr. Tran looked at it and immediately and said "oh...that's just a wisdom spot [her nice way of saying an age spot] and it's nothing to be concerned about but I can remove it if you'd like." When I told her I'd wait because it was fine medically, it was a part of me, and I didn't want to spend the money, she did not give me any pressure. And while I was there she decided to do a full examine, found a legitimately concerning spot, and removed it right away. She didn't say that I had to come back for the procedure because she hadn't allotted enough time. She didn't try to convince me to have the wisdom spot removed, botox injections, or anything else which would have given her more billables. And during the 'surgery' to remove the one spot, she, her two nurses, and I carried on a relaxed and funny banter. No stress. No tension. (And the spot was nothing afterall.)

My families' medical team may not be unique, but it is comforting to me. It is built on mutual concern for our medical and dental needs, and relationships with the professionals as well as their teams which insure a sense of comfort for when, God forbid, things aren't quite right.

So as much as I hate going to the doctor or dentist for fear that I'm going to get bad news, I am thankful for the doctors and staff who make the process 'pleasant.'

* I really do mean it when I say we see these folks infrequently...it just seems like when it rains it pours. Days like today it seems we've got a revolving door to medical offices but this is highly unusual.

#3 Enablers

As a "psychologist" (in education only), the word enabler has a negative connotation. It's used to describe someone who enables another to act in a way that is not good or generally acceptable.

Merriam-Webster says that an enabler is "one that enables another to achieve an end" that doesn't sound so bad. It sounds like someone who helps another accomplish something, not necessarily something bad.

But then the definition goes on to say "especially: one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by making it possible to avoid the consequences of such behavior."

Well, for today my definition of enabler ends at "one that enables another to achieve an end."

Throughout life, I have benefited from many enablers. People who saw my potential and enabled me to act on my own accord. Not in a negative way (there are definitely some of those enablers in my life too.) But I am referring to those bosses who gave me autonomy because they trusted my judgment and ability. And the family members who allowed me to become my own person because of that trust. And all of the groups where as a volunteer I have been given responsibility because of trust.

I have learned so much from these opportunities, not only things about myself and what I'm actually capable of, but also skills and resources which spill over into other areas of my life. And I hope that I have enabled others to grow and become more confident as well.

So today, instead of comparing myself to where I am versus another, I look back and thank those who enabled me to get to this point...with aspirations for further enabling.

#2 Flexibility

It's not even 9am on Monday and so far my work schedule has changed, my personal schedule has changed, three of Colin's sports schedules have changed, and there have been two conflicts to Pierce's schedule on Tuesday night alone. And, the only night that Kayla can do something with her dad, he's already got conflicting commitments.

#2 Flexibility

While it's easy to get frustrated, I am working at being thankful for my ability to be flexible. None of these changes has made things impossible. There is enough time in the day and we have reliable transportation as well as helpful friends to make it all happen. I am thankful that my family is so active that a slight change of plans reminds me of this gift.

#1 Health

I'm currently doing a Bible study called She's Got Issues; seriously good news for stressed-out, secretly scared control freaks like us. I mean seriously...the title alone screams my name!

 

This week's lesson was called "Quitting the Comparison Game" and the assignment was to find one hundred things to be grateful for, paying special attention to areas of my life where I am prone to compare.

I figured this was a great inspiration for 100-days of blogging.

#1 Health

Yes, believe it or not if you've seen me recently, I am actually grateful for my health. I may be severely overweight, and I realize that this is not a good condition for me longterm, but so far God has kept be quite healthy. Knock on wood.

Realizing this appreciation for my health opened my eyes to the fact that despite being thankful for my good health (low blood pressure, good cholesterol numbers, stamina, strong eyes and hearing, etc.), I constantly compare myself to others. Because while everyone else is fighting elevated blood pressures and cholesterol levels, these high numbers aren't visible like high weight. So I will thank God for the health he's given me (and continue to look for the healthy answer to my weight loss goals.)

Who knows, maybe this will become a "before" picture in 2013?!?!