There’s always some “sharing” and “tagging” topic running around social media.  From Ice Bucket challenges, to quizzes and book lists, you can learn a lot about your online friends by interacting and participating.  I, for one, enjoy some of these random asks, and have come to understand my connections on a deeper level and appreciate them all the more.  These participating posts are not for everyone, but they are intriguing to many, and have made the platforms that much more interesting.

My cousin Laura, who I am happy to have reconnected with all because of Facebook, challenged me not only to the Ice Bucket Challenge, but also the 5-Day Gratitude Challenge, where you list 5 things per day that you are grateful for.  Initially, I thought it would be quick and easy, but then when I started to type, I realized that I wanted to really make this count so I paused, and then entered my Day 1.

My cousin Laura D’Eustachio Maron challenged me to focus on 5 positive thoughts each day for 5 days. Day 1:
1. I’m grateful for my loving husband who supports me and loves me unconditionally. 
2. I’m grateful for my family, those gone too soon & those remaining, who taught me all I know & offer support & love. 
3. I’m grateful for my true friends. They know who they are. Just thanks. 

Friends forever!

4. I’m grateful that I’m able to be a mommy to all my pets, so many over the years, who are just simply awesome companions & who complete me.
5. And today, I’m grateful for being healthy and happy.

Each day, I find myself spending a few moments before I start the post, mulling over my life and those in it, past and present, and trying to really set down those 5 things that make me smile and make me grateful.

What else does a girl need?

Gratitude project Day 2:
1. Grateful for all the techie advances in my lifetime… Pretty cool stuff. 
2. Brunch with 2 really remarkable women who encourage me, support me, and call shenanigans on me when it’s appropriate. You know who you are. 
3. Shoes. And not the functional ones. 
4. Vodka martinis… Sometimes earned, always yummy. 
5. Cute hubby. All day, everyday. Dennis Dennis Greene.

My decision to make this a blog was really more for me… now I can review this whenever I want to remind myself, when times are tough or challenging, that overall, I have it pretty good.

Gratitude challenge day 3: grateful for 
1. My parents & all they did to give me an amazing childhood & life. 

We sure had fun as a family…

2. Classic Rock: and having been alive to see Queen, Led Zeplin and other bands live, on their first tours!!
3. Being the last of the Baby Boomers, and having the Greatest Generation as my mentors, my family and my inspiration.
4. My love of animals… All kinds. 
5. The love of a good man.

Another fun aspect of this challenge, was reflecting back over the last half-century… changes to the world, changes in my life, the good/the bad/the amazing.

Day 4: Woke up to thunder & lightning & now the rain… Ahhhhhh! Happy Monday, fb peeps. Here is day 4 of what I’m grateful for:
1. The desert smells after a good rainstorm. Nothing like it. 
2. A hot cup of coffee in the early gray light of dawn, and the time to sit for a minute & breathe. 

The night before the big day… 27 years ago.

3. Animal rescuers who give so much for our furry friends. All of our pets are rescues, thanks to a variety of organizations & the sole efforts of Dennis Greene. Amazing.
4. Living in a nation with all the good & the bad, but free to be a citizen with rights. Thx to all who fought for this freedom.
5. For 27 years of incredible memories with the man of my dreams. And we have the photos to prove it!! Here’s to many many more.

I also had the chance to read other daily lists from my friends, and learn just a little more about what makes them tick.  Too much information?  Nah, it was fun and retrospective for me.

Gratitude Challenge Day 5:
1. Grateful for all of the opportunities, failures, good decisions, bad decisions, awesome people & the not-so-awesome people that I’ve experienced so far in this life. Good or bad, it’s made me, me. 
2. Purring cats. The coolest sound ever. 

Happy Charli!

3. Photos. They help memories stay real. I’m glad I put books together that I can pull out to enjoy whenever. 
4. My health. 
5. Future plans & the great people to enjoy the rest of this ride with. Dennis Greene, thank you. Bring it on!!

I’ve enjoyed this little challenge… A nice reminder to reflect & be grateful more often. Thx, Laura D’Eustachio Maron, for including me. Oh, and your list has made me smile each day…hugs!!

And as I reread my daily lists, I see the recurring theme of animals, the love and support of my husband, and a little whimsy.  If you don’t want to play, then don’t.  If you don’t want to share personal info, that’s OK too.  But if you like interacting and the experiential aspect of social media, these fun challenges are just that… FUN.  Of course, I have many more things to be grateful for… my team at FG Creative, my mentors and oh, so much more.  But in a way, they are all listed in some format somehow, in the thoughts above.  If I’ve overlooked anyone or anything, oh well.  There will be another challenge issued soon!

And now for the whimsical!

You know what?  Life is just pretty damn awesome overall.