The problem is that they also brought the dog home. To their house. Where I’m visiting soon. And, I’m afraid of dogs.

I never had pets growing up. Well, that’s not entirely true. We had goldfish, but I’m not sure that counts. Most of my friends had dogs or cats. My husband’s family had a dog. Pepper was very well-behaved and friendly. None of these animals really bothered me too much.

Today I am thankful that, even as a “seasoned” adult, there are still opportunities to overcome fear.

Over thirty years ago, when I was pregnant with our firstborn, one of our friends had a “crazy” German Shepherd. This dog was HUGE and very jumpy. Several times, during thunderstorms, the dog even jumped through a porch window! During one of our visits to their home when I was nearly nine months pregnant, the monster dog jumped up on me, knocked me off balance, pulled a hole in my shirt, and scared me half to death.

I haven’t gotten over that experience.

A lot of people just don’t get it. I hear things like, “It’s just a puppy.” “That was thirty years ago.” “Get over it.” “Why won’t you try?”

.

Sigh.

We’ll see what happens. I know I want to see my grandson much more than I want to avoid the puppy. Maybe I’ll have a breakthrough. Or, maybe I’ll just manage my fear. Either way, I won’t let it get the best of the grandma in me.

It has been a very trying few weeks.  I’ve been working extraordinarily long days, six and seven days a week, feeling a lot of pressure on a couple of projects I’m on, and consistently finding myself behind the eight ball at the end of the day.  I’m not sleeping well.  OK, I’m exhausted.  And, if that’s not enough, I’m putting a little bit of weight on, because that’s what I do when I’m stressed. 

I struggled to focus on gratitude.

My husband, perhaps trying to give me an “out” from my writers’ cramp (gratitude cramp?), told me to stop trying.  “You don’t have to write something every single Thursday!  Maybe there just isn’t something to be thankful for today.”

Wha-a-a-a-at?

Today, I am thankful that every day there is something to be thankful for.

I started to compile a list of the usual – family, health, home, food, comforts.  But really, every day, it comes down to just one thing:

Simply being alive.  

I like to collect sayings on different topics.  You never know when a little extra inspiration might be needed!  Below are a few of the items I’ve pinned to my “Positivity” board.  Enjoy!  (Then, go set up your own Pinterest account and start pinning!)

Tuesday Tidbits are weekly messages I send to my leadership team. They are generally short & sweet, often focused on leadership or teamwork, always positive and, hopefully, motivational. I hope you also find some meaning in them.

This past weekend, thanks to a great last minute airfare deal, my husband and I traveled to spend New Year’s with our families.  Included in our weekend was a visit with Mom. 

Today, I am thankful that for nearly our entire visit, Mom sang a happy song!

One of these days, I know that my last visit with Mom will truly end up being my last visit ever with her.

Each time is difficult, and this one was no different.  She does not recognize me.  She doesn’t recognize my husband.  She occasionally mutters something in her native German, but any realistic communication is long past.  She spends her time in  her own world, lost to the rest of us; sitting in a wheelchair or laying in bed.  In several of our more recent visits, she didn’t even seem to see us.  This time though, she clearly made eye contact with my husband and I.  She did not know who we were, but she at least knew we were there.

And, how she sang!

My husband thought she was singing “hallelujah, hallelujah.”  It did sound a lot like that.  Perhaps influenced by recent Christmas carolers?  Maybe she was recalling the carols that she sang so joyously years ago?  I do not know.

What I do know, however, is that whatever prompted it, she was definitely singing a happy song!  I left with tears rolling down my cheeks, but grateful that somewhere deep inside, she still has a song in her heart and was sharing it with those around her.

That’s actually a lot like the Mom I remember.

Time for New Beginnings - by Taylor Addison

This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.

As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life,

Remember each experience for the good that has come of it and for the knowledge you have gained.

Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.

Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought.

Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.

And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.

Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life.

I have the great gifts of an amazing family and a small, but mighty, circle of friends.  I have a network of professionals I respect and admire and an unending network of fabulous people I’ve only met in cyberspace.  I’ve been blessed with overall good health, as have my husband and children.  I have a job I enjoy, co-workers I adore, and a hobby I love. 

I seem to have a gift for helping people find peace in the most trying situations, and for that I am humbly filled with gratitude.  I’ve been told on more than one occasion that my willingness to simply listen, my compassion for the suffering, and my sometimes peculiar way of looking at the world has helped another through a dark time.

I love learning and have been blessed with many opportnites to do so.  I’ve had wonderful teachers, coaches and informal mentors.  I am thankful for the lessons taught to me by the words and example of the people I work with.  I love, love, love books and am fortunate to own many of them supporting my learning; my leadership library is one of my prized possessions.

Of course, not all is perfect.  But, by standing firmly in gratitude I am able to embrace challenges and see opportunity ahead, accept pain as temporary and seek possibility through healing.  Sadness comes and goes, but I always strive to get through it to the joy that I know waits on the other side.

I can’t possibly quantify all that I have to be thankful for.  I just hope that I honored those blessings enough in the past year, and that I never, ever take them for granted.

I hope all of us have a happy 2012; even, perhaps, a year filled with nothing less than joy and gratitude.  Happy New Year!

I took this photo last night after midnight mass at St. Mary Church, Columbus, Ohio. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Why wait until a gift is given to be thankful? In the spirit of “Thanks-living,” I am filled with gratitude for gifts already present in my life. These gifts don’t come with ribbons and bows, are not wrapped in silver and gold, silver and gold, and they are not shared only on December 25.

Stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but I don’t have to wait for friends to be there. I encounter them everyday at work, online, or at various gatherings throughout the year.

It’s not the reindeer up on the housetop that I need to wait for, it’s being thankful that I even have a roof over my head. I have a wonderful home in a very nice house in a great neighborhood and know that many others do not have even the most basic shelter.

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh, but it is also fun to drive to my daughter’s nearby home or hop on a plane to visit our son farther away. It’s wonderful to spend time with our daughter and son-in-law; we are lucky they are close by. We are fortunate that we can afford to travel to see our son and his family. Many others can’t – either due to finances or poor health – leave home.

We may sing praises of a long ago baby away in a manger, but technology helps me enjoy the new baby in our lives; our first grandson, just born last month. There is nothing like getting a quick snapshop in a text from my son. Our daughter-in-law sent a video last week of the baby cooing and smiling. We can skype or facetime with the entire family.

If we are lucky enough to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, I am blessed with a great husband who will go walkin’ in the winter wonderland with me. He may not be quite as excited about some of the small wonders and joys of life as I am, but he indulges me! I think, in his own secret way, he has learned to appreciate them, too.

There are many reasons to be a jolly, happy soul – every day of the year. Don’t wait to find the presents underneath the Christmas tree; look around you for the gifts you already have.

What gifts do you have today? What are you thanks-living for? Please add a comment and share your joy!

First, there is the natural curiosity and innocence of the very young.  Then, boundaries are stretched as independence is tested.  And, at some point, before you know it, your little one has grown up.  As parents, we have to shift from being involved in nearly every move they make to watching from afar hoping they stand strong on their own.

I think I’m on target when I say that all of us hope that our precious little children evolve into joy-filled, productive and caring adults.

Most parents work tirelessly to give their little children strong roots.  Things like personal values, integrity, and compassion; an appreciation of what is right in the world, the intolerance of what is not, and the courage to try and change it.  We hope our children will work hard and then be rewarded.  We want nothing less than happiness and peace for our children, though we know that sadness and unrest are sure to come along.

In the spirit of Thanks-living, today and every day, I am thankful for the woman that my little girl has turned out to be.

My daughter, Heather (aka @prTini), is a successful entrepreneur, president of Geben Communication.  She has a heart for those who have all kind of disadvantages; for example, she has served on the board of an organization helping battered women and last year she journeyed to Haiti to learn how the people are overcoming the tragic earthquake of a couple years ago.  Heather generously shares her knowledge and experiences with public relations students at local colleges and industry peers across the country. She inspires many with the courage of her convictions, the passion she brings to her work, and the kindness of her heart.

Heather is also  a lot of fun to be around.  She loves sports – especially her New York Yankees!  She loves politics – Election Day is her favorite day of the year.  She is a spark in a crowd; a great conversationalist and a kind listener.  Sit down and share a glass of red wine with her and you’ll instantly want to spend more time getting to know her better.  Heather is also married to a man who couldn’t be a better match for her, nor a better son-in-law and member of our family.

Tuesday night, I had the privilege of attending her first company holiday open house.  The theme was fun, the atmosphere was light, the food and decor festive.  As my husband and I stood across the room and observed her happily interacting with her employees, her clients, and her vendor contacts, we couldn’t help but smile with happiness and gratitude.

Our  precious little daughter has grown to up to be that joy-filled, productive and caring adult we prayed, hoped and dreamed she would be.

In the spirit of Thanks-living, today and every day, I am thankful for the wonderful birthday gift I was given 29 years ago; a son.

When he was a young child, we always celebrated my birthday the day before (which is also my husband’s birthday!), so that our son could have “his own special day.”  Then, at some point, it got to be kind of cool that we were “birthday buddies.”  Now, it’s just plain fun.

Many people I know don’t celebrate birthdays, or don’t think that birthdays are a big deal.  Who wants to acknowledge getting older, right?

For me, it’s not about getting older, it’s about celebrating life – mine and my son’s!  Happy birthday, Matt!

Image from http://dydara.wordpress.com