What are You Thankful For?

You may or may not have noticed that several people on facebook have been listing off something that they are grateful for each day since the 1st of November.  It’s a great idea to count and really focus on the many blessings we all have…but I’m not on facebook every single day, or even most days, to be honest.  Still, I wanted to make sure I took the opportunity to list a few of the blessings I have in my life.  Doing this always seems to really make it hit home, not to mention this will give me the opportunity to publicly thank God as well.  🙂

First and foremost, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father, His Son and for their influence and unceasing love and direction in my life. I know without a doubt that I would not be where I am today, nor who I am today, were it not for their extreme patience with me and all my imperfections and their continuing forgiveness and encouragement.

Secondly, I am grateful for my precious, precious children. I live for them, rising each and every day to a list of “to do’s” that in one way or another, is for them. Whether it  be going to work, meetings with teachers, a trip to the store to buy a  poster board  for a  procrastinated  report due the next day or to drop them off at school or a friend’s house…and I don’t mind it one single bit.  I live through them, each day bringing a smile to my face and warmth to my heart through the funny little things they say, endearing notes of love and support, precious memories of time spent together and  activities  we’ve done as a family. I’m also thankful for the rest of my family who have supported me in each decision I’ve made to better my life.  I’m thankful for their love, their support and their patience with all of my stumbles along the way.  My kids, as well as my other family members, never stopped believing in me and never once doubted my ability to get to where I am today. Likewise, I know they support me in continuing to follow my dreams of reaching out to help others succeed in their fitness goals and I am extremely grateful.

I’m thankful too for the  privilege  and opportunity I have to help and assist others in changing their lives for the better.  Because of the path that I have walked, I understand just how low the valley’s feel as well as how high the peaks can take you. I feel honored to ride this roller coaster with so many wonderful people and be allowed to share with them some thoughts and personal experiences that help them get through the low times just as I am thrilled to jump up and down with them when they experience a victory.  I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.

There are many people who attend the Fitness Center I work out of who are not clients but whom I am just as grateful for. I have made so many friends throughout the last two and half years of working there that it overwhelms me to think about it.  You may have heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” well, it’s true. Obviously, I am not a village.  Like I tell my kids all the time, I have been diagnosed with single person syndrome, I can only be in one place at one time and sadly, there is no cure…I’ll die this way. 🙂  Since I can not possibly be in all the places that my children need me to be, every single time they need me to be there, I am grateful for friends that I’ve made at the gym who step in and help me raise these amazing children I am so blessed to have. You all know who you are, now please know that you are loved and appreciated more  than  words could ever properly express.

As Thanksgiving comes and goes this week, I hope and pray that each and every one of us will have a great week, and that we will all have an especially wonderful Thanksgiving Day, spent in the company of neighbors, friends and loved ones gathered around.  🙂