Thankful Thursday

It seems as though I have spent far too much time complaining/discussing things I do not like and not appreciating/endorsing things I do like. So, without further ado, I introduce the first Thankful Thursday! ("A month before Thanksgiving? She's crazy." you say? BA HUMBUG.) I will simply write a list of little things that I am especially thankful for.

• sleeping in a whopping 25 minutes
• finding/playing the fishing game on the rowing machine at the gym
• taking a 20 minute nap
• having a nice, warm cup of coffee
• seeing the gorgeous weather and colors of nature outside
• getting my prescription refilled within less than 10 minutes
• being complimented for my shirt
• running late without causing any trouble
• eating a fresh carrot and tomato spinach salad with a slice of bread and an apple for dinner
• figuring out why my resident was anxious around me
• (subsequently) putting my resident to bed
• receiving support from the CNAs and LPN at clinical
• finding out an assignment is due later than I thought

Some of them are not very exciting, but each event made me happy today and I thought I would share some of my happiness. That is all.

In Honor of Guello's Birthday: an Appreciation Post

Today is my grandfather's 80th birthday. Now, I don't have many photos of solely him, and the ones I do have are not very good. I think it is kind of a metaphor for his life though... He has always worked for others, whether that be his family, his friends, or the Church. My grandpa, Guello, is who I think of when I think of hard-work, service, and humility.

Guello used to regale me with stories of his youth, particularly of jobs that he worked, conversations that he had, and people he met. He has worked most of his life and has met so many people it is hard to believe he also spent much of his time with his family. Guello is my inspiration for when I do not think I can handle the long, sleepless nights or the rushing days. He never seems to complain about anything, especially working so much. He is always finding ways to help out in some way at church or in the family. Guello's involvement in his parish makes me want to be more involved in mine.

In honor of Guello's birthday, I want to recognize those that humbly serve the community in which they live and/or reach out to other communities in need. Thank you. There are few others like you and I, along with many others that cannot verbalize it enough, appreciate that. Your actions not only physically aid others, they emphasize the inherent goodness in people and give hope to a struggling society and world in constant turmoil. Service truly does make the world go round!

My family celebrating my grandparents' birthdays this past weekend.
As you can probably tell, it was a full house!

In Honor of Guella's Birthday: An Appreciation Post

I would like to try something new... An appreciation post. I want to appreciate all the people that foster the good in someone of a younger generation, whether it be a parent, mentor, sibling, or friend. It is people like you that make such an impact on the youngin's life. You do not necessarily have to put extra effort into taking them to all their sports matches or make them dinner or anything, but that too is appreciated. Simply showing that you are listening to them and taking them seriously or willing to spend some time with them is enough to show them that you care.

My grandmother's birthday is today. She was a huge part of my life growing up and taught me many things, especially things about myself. My grandmother made me feel worthy of being loved and believed in me when I felt no one did. She taught me compassion and how to rely on God, not just through words, but through action. Guella (pronounced Way-ah) continues to be a huge part of my life and helps me be a better person and live a better life. Guella has done so much for me in my lifetime and I don't think I will ever tire of telling everyone.

I know there are people similar to her in the world and I hope they realize they are extremely appreciated, whether the person they have affected is able to tell them that or not. These are the people in society that deserve to be recognized but most often are not because of their humility.

Time has become precious and relationships, complicated. With multi-tasking being "all the rage" and pure relationships like a unicorn, simply showing an interest in what a person has to say and spending quality time with them can foster goodness inside them, goodness that might otherwise be suppressed or neglected.

With that being said, thank you. If you are a person who has ever spent time with a younger person or offered positive advice, thank you. If you have ever put someone younger before yourself, thank you. If you have ever thought about being a mentor, it is never too late.