Gratitude

I hate to admit it, but, recently, I've fallen into the time-waster that is Pinterest. Yes, it wastes my time. Yes, it's pretty much pointless, other than the fact that it makes me happy--so I'm desperately holding onto the idea that it is not completely worthy of all the eye-rolls it gets, since it does bring a smile to my face.

BUT

Combined with the fact that I received an AWESOME new camera from my wonderful mother for Christmas/my birthday, I am embarking upon something of an adventure--a photo challenge.  I may be attempting the impossible here, requiring a post everyday for an entire month; I don't have the best track record. But, I really think I can do this one.

It's a photo challenge focusing (ha!) on gratitude.  I realize that I missed the month of thanksgiving by about 2 months, but there is never an inopportune time to be grateful, right?  And what better way to kick off the new year than by reminding yourself of all the myriad reasons to be thankful in this crazy life?  Maybe then gratitude can weave itself into the fabric of my 2012 right from the very beginning.

There is so much to be thankful for, which sounds quite trite, I understand, but it is a truth that applies to all, everyday, everywhere.  Gratitude is a perspective, an outlook, an attitude; it's not what is in your life, but how you choose to view what is in your life--I hope this mini-endeavor will help open my eyes to all the small--or colossal--aspects of my life that I often gaze over as I catapult headlong towards more trivial things.

January 2012 is fast approaching, so before this year ends and next year begins, I thought I'd make a short list of the things I'm most grateful in 2011:


MY FAMILY--we aren't your typical Mormon family, and I've finally come to appreciate that fact. I like    being different, I like the perspective it gives me, and I love the members of my family, and I wouldn't have them if my family was what I once thought I wanted it to be.
MY FRIENDS--These wonderful people make my everyday something more than I could make it myself.  They help me to catch a glimpse of my own worth by loving, and sometimes even participating, in my insanity.
MY ROOMMATES--They fall under my 'friends' category, however, I believe they deserve their own special thanks. These girls have provided me with an uplifting, happy, and fun place to call home.  Without them, it would simply be an empty shell.
MY HAIR- I know, it sounds odd, but since my (somewhat misguided) decision to chop it all off, I've realized how much I love it.  It drives me nuts, and it's hard to take care of, but I miss it, and am grateful to have thick locks.
BYU--Cliche. But I'm thankful for school not because of my education (though I am thankful for that, too), but because of the person it's allowed me to become, and the amount of growing into my own skin that I've done this past year there.