Gratitude Challenge
In this month's Ensign (an LDS church magazine) I read an article about gratitude. At the end of the article there was a "gratitude challenge" to write a list of 100 things you are grateful for. And to make it easier they gave a list of 10 categories in which to write 10 things you are grateful for. I have decided to take this challenge.
-100 things for which I am grateful-Physical Abilites:
1. I can see the beautiful mountains around my home.
2. I can smell tasty food.
3. I can say "I love you" to my husband.
4. I can listen to music.
5. I can feel the soft fur of my dog and two cats.
6. I can walk more than a mile.
7. I can taste chocolate and other yummy food.
8. I can touch my toes and scratch the middle of my back.
9. I can sing reasonably well.
10. I can type.
Material Possessions
1. My home.
2. Our two cars (they may be older but they work fine).
3. My soft bed.
4. My clothes - to be cool in summer and warm in winter and always modest.
5. My many fuzzy blankets.
6. Books - both mine and the ones I can borrow from the public library.
7. My computer with which I'm typing this.
8. My iPod and iPad - both gifts from my husband.
9. Our TV
10. Our treadmill and elliptical (which I should use more).
Living People
1. My husband.
2. Jesus Christ - because I know my Savior lives.
3. My parents.
4. My parents in-law.
5. My siblings.
6. Long time friends: the Taylers, and the Benedicts (who we don't get to talk to very often).
7. Medium time friends: the other Taylers and the Zemps.
8. New friends: our neighbors the Geists,
9. My other cub scout leaders.
10. Our prophet - President Thomas S. Monson
Deceased People
1. The prophet Joseph Smith.
2. The Founding Fathers of the United States.
3. All my grandparents.
4. The prophets and apostles of ancient and modern times.
5. Adam & Eve for realizing they couldn't stay in the Garden of Eden forever
6. Leonardo da Vinci - he made some wonderful art and some cool contraptions.
7. Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin.
8. Martin Luther King for improving equality among Americans.
9. The 19th century gentlemen who developed the means to turn cocoa beans into tasty chocolate bars.
10. A few of my favorite fantasy authors - Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey
Things About Nature
1. Fall leaves on the mountain.
2. Blue skies.
3. Golden red sunsets.
4. The smell of the air after a good rain.
5. Bird song.
6. That spiders eat mosquitoes.
7. Pretty flowers.
8. The smell of pine needles and dirt.
9. Fruit trees.
10. Vegetable gardens.
Things About Today
1. I got my Christmas cards to the Post Office (I hope they reach people before Christmas).
2. I got to sleep in.
3. I bought Molasses cookies from Paradise Bakery, accidentally dropped them on the floor and the cashier gave me fresh ones at no charge.
4. I have clementines in the house to eat.
5. I got to listen to Christmas carols.
6. I got to visit with one of the sisters I'm assigned to Visit Teach (church calling).
7. I found two beautiful bedspreads, but decided we have enough blankets and didn't buy them.
8. I didn't have to rake leaves or shovel snow.
9. I found some inexpensive holiday cups, plates and bowls to help Christmas be more festive.
10. I read the article on being grateful.
Places On Earth
1. My home.
2. My parents home.
3. My in-laws home.
4. The temple.
5. Utah (I love the mountains and the no smoking in public buildings).
6. The U.S.A. - it's a good country to live in.
7. Cascade Springs - on the Alpine Loop between American Fork and Provo canyons.
8. The Alpine Loop.
9. My living room recliner (especially when I have a good book to read).
10. My husbands arms (best place ever).
Modern Inventions
1. The computer.
2. Television.
3. Flush toilets.
4. Automobiles.
5. Electric lights.
6. Air Conditioning.
7. Forced air gas furnaces and gas water heaters.
8. Airplanes.
9. Microwaves.
10. Sensored traffic lights.
Foods (this is the easiest one)
1. Chocolate.
2. Cheese cake with blueberry pie filling on top.
3. Pretty much any dessert (cake, pie, cookies).
4. Bread.
5. Spinach tortalini with alfredo and marinara sauces.
6. Vegetable Tikka Masala with Naan.
7. Clementines.
8. Grilled cheese sandwiches with creamy tomato soup.
9. Rainbow trout.
10. Clean drinking water
Things About the Gospel of Jesus Christ
1. I can be sealed to my family for time and all eternity in the holy temple.
2. "...that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." 2 Nephi 25:23.
3. Each of us can receive personal revelation.
4. The blessings of tithing.
5. We have a modern day prophet to guide us.
6. We have the scriptures to use as a guide.
7. I know the plan of salvation from the premortal existance to life after death.
8. My husband holds the priesthood.
9. The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
10. God loves each of his children and know us individually.
-100 things for which I am grateful-Physical Abilites:
1. I can see the beautiful mountains around my home.
2. I can smell tasty food.
3. I can say "I love you" to my husband.
4. I can listen to music.
5. I can feel the soft fur of my dog and two cats.
6. I can walk more than a mile.
7. I can taste chocolate and other yummy food.
8. I can touch my toes and scratch the middle of my back.
9. I can sing reasonably well.
10. I can type.
Material Possessions
1. My home.
2. Our two cars (they may be older but they work fine).
3. My soft bed.
4. My clothes - to be cool in summer and warm in winter and always modest.
5. My many fuzzy blankets.
6. Books - both mine and the ones I can borrow from the public library.
7. My computer with which I'm typing this.
8. My iPod and iPad - both gifts from my husband.
9. Our TV
10. Our treadmill and elliptical (which I should use more).
Living People
1. My husband.
2. Jesus Christ - because I know my Savior lives.
3. My parents.
4. My parents in-law.
5. My siblings.
6. Long time friends: the Taylers, and the Benedicts (who we don't get to talk to very often).
7. Medium time friends: the other Taylers and the Zemps.
8. New friends: our neighbors the Geists,
9. My other cub scout leaders.
10. Our prophet - President Thomas S. Monson
Deceased People
1. The prophet Joseph Smith.
2. The Founding Fathers of the United States.
3. All my grandparents.
4. The prophets and apostles of ancient and modern times.
5. Adam & Eve for realizing they couldn't stay in the Garden of Eden forever
6. Leonardo da Vinci - he made some wonderful art and some cool contraptions.
7. Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin.
8. Martin Luther King for improving equality among Americans.
9. The 19th century gentlemen who developed the means to turn cocoa beans into tasty chocolate bars.
10. A few of my favorite fantasy authors - Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey
Things About Nature
1. Fall leaves on the mountain.
2. Blue skies.
3. Golden red sunsets.
4. The smell of the air after a good rain.
5. Bird song.
6. That spiders eat mosquitoes.
7. Pretty flowers.
8. The smell of pine needles and dirt.
9. Fruit trees.
10. Vegetable gardens.
Things About Today
1. I got my Christmas cards to the Post Office (I hope they reach people before Christmas).
2. I got to sleep in.
3. I bought Molasses cookies from Paradise Bakery, accidentally dropped them on the floor and the cashier gave me fresh ones at no charge.
4. I have clementines in the house to eat.
5. I got to listen to Christmas carols.
6. I got to visit with one of the sisters I'm assigned to Visit Teach (church calling).
7. I found two beautiful bedspreads, but decided we have enough blankets and didn't buy them.
8. I didn't have to rake leaves or shovel snow.
9. I found some inexpensive holiday cups, plates and bowls to help Christmas be more festive.
10. I read the article on being grateful.
Places On Earth
1. My home.
2. My parents home.
3. My in-laws home.
4. The temple.
5. Utah (I love the mountains and the no smoking in public buildings).
6. The U.S.A. - it's a good country to live in.
7. Cascade Springs - on the Alpine Loop between American Fork and Provo canyons.
8. The Alpine Loop.
9. My living room recliner (especially when I have a good book to read).
10. My husbands arms (best place ever).
Modern Inventions
1. The computer.
2. Television.
3. Flush toilets.
4. Automobiles.
5. Electric lights.
6. Air Conditioning.
7. Forced air gas furnaces and gas water heaters.
8. Airplanes.
9. Microwaves.
10. Sensored traffic lights.
Foods (this is the easiest one)
1. Chocolate.
2. Cheese cake with blueberry pie filling on top.
3. Pretty much any dessert (cake, pie, cookies).
4. Bread.
5. Spinach tortalini with alfredo and marinara sauces.
6. Vegetable Tikka Masala with Naan.
7. Clementines.
8. Grilled cheese sandwiches with creamy tomato soup.
9. Rainbow trout.
10. Clean drinking water
Things About the Gospel of Jesus Christ
1. I can be sealed to my family for time and all eternity in the holy temple.
2. "...that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." 2 Nephi 25:23.
3. Each of us can receive personal revelation.
4. The blessings of tithing.
5. We have a modern day prophet to guide us.
6. We have the scriptures to use as a guide.
7. I know the plan of salvation from the premortal existance to life after death.
8. My husband holds the priesthood.
9. The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
10. God loves each of his children and know us individually.