attitude for gratitude

i randomly found this great blog where the author states every day what they are grateful for.
What a fantastic idea. It's something I don't do often enough and I need to in order to have a better attitude about life. Especially after yesterday's fiasco and fight with Matt, I was so angry, and i think for once he was kind of frustrated with me (thank goodness!), but he still accepted me for who i am, and was the one trying to comfort ME, causing me to apologize to him (as I should). So with his comforting words and the guidance of this random blog, I am posting what I am thankful for today.

• my sister. Saturday night I called her in tears, barely able to get a word out, but she sat and listened to me cry and rant, and offered me comfort and kind words. she even agreed to bring me home her favorite hawaiian boy for me for christmas, all wrapped up in a red bow, even though he won't fit under our tree. We've gotten so much closer in the last 3 years that I've been out of the house, and for that I am eternally grateful.
• sarah. she tells me things as they are. kind of like how i am. she doesn't sugar coat things to make it easier to handle or accept. she tells me the truth, even if it's gonna hurt. and she ALWAYS knows when i'm sad or upset and knows exactly what to say. and sometimes she doesn't even need to say anything. she'll just listen to me.
• my life. i am healthy. i'm a little wiped out from school and just sheer exhaustion, but i have full function of my body. i can do the things i want to: snowboarding, dancing, singing. i can hear, and see, and talk. i am able to walk up those horrid stairs to campus and not get too winded. i have the ability to eat the foods i want and not feel guilty because i know i am fit enough to be able to exercise when i need to.
• the snow that covers the ground. after saturday's snow shower, i remembered why i live in utah and why i love the snow so much. there's something peaceful about it. it's beautiful and soft and quiet. it's as if nothing could go wrong. like the whole world is just sleeping underneath a blanket of whiteness.
• matthew ekman because no matter how MAD i get at him, he will always be my friend and will always try his best to make me happy, which i am totally undeserving of. he was the one trying to cheer me up yesterday when all i wanted to do was hit him. that is true friendship.
• my mother. for understanding my weaknesses and doing her best to help me overcome them. she loves and supports me unconditionally, even when i act like i don't deserve it.
• the sunshine. i love the snow when the sun is out. everything sparkles and shines like thousands of shimmering diamonds.
• water. it nourishes me and quenches my thirst. it keeps my body healthy.
• seeing friends in the library. especially friends that i haven't seen in ages.
• jordan mcdonnel. for also talking to me yesterday while he was at bishops' interviews. and for kidnapping me friday night from the library, even though i had a ton more homework to do.
  

so this will be a new tradition for me. at least once a week i will post what i am grateful for. if needs be, i will edit and post more than once. this is what i need to do to keep myself positive and not being such a downer all the time.

"never think or feel like your life sucks. smile when you don't feel like smiling... it pisses you off but soon enough you're laughing at yourself. life is good. full of some huge ups and downs... and that's how it's supposed to be, otherwise it would be pointless. just focus on those ups and be thankful for what you have. things will work out. :)"