Veteran's Day 2013 - A GREAT day to start!

It all started with the morning news. Typhoon Haiyan has left devastation beyond belief in the Philippines. Two teens were shot to death at a birthday party that went wrong over the weekend. I wasn't looking forward to going to work wishing for a little longer weekend. However, I realized things just aren't all that bad and I have a lot to be grateful for in my life.

After arriving to work, my co-workers and I decided to attend the Veteran's Day celebration at Spring Forest Middle School. WOW! It really hit me there.Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan as well as a few enlisted men proceeded into the gym accompanied by thunderous applause smiling, waving flags, some with tears in their eyes. Standing there amid the swell of gratitude for our armed services I realized truly how fortunate I am. I still have my father and my brothers and sister, two wonderful sons, a roof over my head and food on the table. Actually, the list is really endless.

Somewhere recently I had read a blog post, a tweet, or ? about November being a month of gratitude and to be grateful for something each day. (If I come across it again, I will share.) Of course, today is already the 11th, so I missed that challenge. Then, I thought, "Wait though, I could start with the new year - that's a plan!" But we all know how those goals go. So, as I stood there in the gym with tears rolling down my cheeks applauding our veterans, I decided, "Why wait? Why not start today?" So, here I am with a self-imposed challenge to share something for which I am grateful everyday for a year. 

I have already listed several "biggies" above, but I really want to focus on smaller specific encounters, realizations, events, etc (at least I think I do). Who knows how this will go. It is an exploration. I have never kept a journal, and don't consider myself much of a writer. I guess I'm hoping that through this blog I can help myself (and possibly others) find the something positive each and every day. 

#1: I'm grateful for my friend Trish, who not only shares herself with me, but also shares an occasional Starbuck's card. Waiting for my son during his therapy, I sipped a half black, half passion iced tea (shaken, not stirred) on the patio on a beautiful fall early afternoon.