Been Thinkin'

I was reminded of something recently that has been percolating in my mind for a few days.  It's a theory that goes something like this:  if you want to change how you approach the world, your life, your stresses, your good days & bad, you first & foremost have to change how you think.  I've heard something to this effect in many different scenarios:

• If you're discontent or unsatisfied with your life, make a list of what you are thankful for.
• If you're restless, focus on what makes you content.
• If you're sad or angry, take a moment to reflect on the happy moments in your life.
• If you're experiencing stress, focus on the (likely) positive outcome rather than the stressful uncertainty.
• If you're feeling as though your faith is weak and unsustaining, note times where God has blatantly and obviously made his presence known, cared for your needs, and protected you from harm.

The point of the exercise above - whether it is a physical list or a mental note - is to refocus your mind and heart on what is good, and let the bad things take a back seat.  This is not only good common sense, it is actually a biblical imperative.  Just check out Philippians 4:8, which says  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

One of my Facebook friends (also a friend from high school) is approaching this concept in a clever way.  She decided to do a 30-Day Thankfulness Project, the goal being to write a Facebook status every day for 30 days with three things for which she was thankful.  She has inspired me to do something along those lines, with the specific requirement of writing (and publishing) my daily thoughts, not for affirmation or feedback (though feedback is always good), but to purposefully take time to not only think through "whatsoever things are lovely," but also to write them down in a permanent and visible place.  Talk about a unique and ingenious way to create a habit of dwelling on the pure, virtuous and praiseworthy parts of life...not to be a Pollyanna (Gawd no), but rather to make a serious and deliberate effort to let go of anger, pain and corrosive bitterness, and replace those things with contentment and joy.  So I'm going to do this...to see if it really will work.

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Happy Memories and a Thankful Heart

1. Wedding day
2. Honeymoon
3. Being well taken care of by my darling husband
4. My job (the best one on earth) - wife to my husband and mom to my sweet boy
5. Birth of my sweet boy
6. Purchasing my first home ever
7. Purchasing our first home together
8. Graduations - grad school, college, high school
9. Christmas at the grandparents when everyone was there
10. Sea World w/ my sweet boy on his 5th birthday
11. Vacation (twice) in Destin FL with great friends
12. Trip to Quantico VA to see a good friend graduate from the FBI Academy
13. Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds concert with my husband
14. Completing a 5K
15. Skydiving with a friend
16. Scuba diving vacation to Grand Cayman with a good friend
17. Scuba diving vacation to Aruba with a good friend
18. Vacation to Denver CO with my boyfriend (now husband)
19. Road trips with my husband
20. Scuba diving trips to Jupiter FL
21. Cowboy shooting with my husband
22. Target practice
23. Anytime I read for pleasure
24. Anytime I am writing
25. Anytime I am playing the piano
26. Dinner parties with great friends
27. Listening to audiobooks in my car
28. A house free of clutter
29. Garage sales
30. Thrift store shopping
31. Shopping days with my best shopping buddy
32. Reconnecting with old friends
33. Quiet time
34. Finding the perfect gift for someone
35. Great conversations with my husband
36. Library trips
37. Reaching a weight loss goal
38. Pets in the house
39. Moving to Phoenix AZ
40. Seeing my sweet little boy happy in school
41. Hugs & kisses from my sweet boy
42. Being told "You're my best girl" from my sweet little boy
43. Being told "You're my favorite" from my hubby
44. Anytime my hubby calls me "Mrs. Wife"
45. Great massages
46. Feeling completely & utterly exhausted after a hard workout
47. Cutting my hair OFF
48. Pedicures
49. Good conversations with great friends
50. A clean car
51. Driving fast
52. Riding roller coasters
53. Eating ice cream
54. First movie outing with my husband (when he whacked is head & got a goose egg)
55. The dinner party where we both burned our left hands
56. The dinner party where we stayed up until 4am playing London Gin
57. Coffee, a cinnamon roll and my laptop for breakfast
58. Having funny made-up jokes with my family (What does Mommy start with?  M!  No, coffee!)
59. Happy giggles from my little boy
60. Listening to my little boy pray at night
61. Reading a book that I love so much I don't want it to end
62. Sneaking books out of the library when I was a kid (because I was determined to read everything)
63. Attending Wine Over Water every year with friends
64. Attending the Daytona 500 every year with friends
65. Peanut butter, banana & honey sandwiches on white bread
66. Standing up for myself
67. Road trip to the Grand Canyon with my good friend
68. Anniversary mini-vacations
69. Finding cool turquoise jewelry
70. Watching my sweet little boy happy dance when something pleases him
71. Waking up rested
72. Great friends
73. Watching TV with my husband
74.