Be Grateful

This was intended to be posted like a few months ago or something… but I got really busy with like boyfriends and dates and stuff, so it was postponed. I only say this because it references “this year,” meaning 2013.

It’s a long post, but it’s about things for which I am grateful, so can it really be too long? Also I put in a bunch of pictures so it’s pretty much like a picture book.

Good listeners: In a world of self-obsessed selfies, subtweets, and status updates, the world is clamoring for attention. Everyone wants to be noticed and “liked.” Everybody, just stop. What’s that Walter Mitty quote that’s circulating right now? “Beautiful things don’t ask for attention," or something along those lines? How many selfies do you REALLY need? Are five Instagram photos of your face in one night really not enough? We get it, we get it. But please stop. Through all of this noise, search for the stillness of a listener. If you find one, keep one. But more importantly, be one.

Musical Things: I have a friend in massage therapy, and one time she was working some voodoo massage magic on my forearm. IT HURT.  She told me there was some sort of muscle there that only musicians and hairdressers exercise, and I can’t do hair (unless of course it is a ponytail—I have like 20 years of practice with those). I don’t care if it’s cliché to be grateful for music, without my instruments I would be a wreck, and I’m grateful that my musician muscle hurt (A LOT). Also, I am grateful for the masseuse.

Honesty: By honesty I mean: being honest with others and being honest with yourself.  Why are we so afraid of telling people how we feel? If we love them, why don’t we tell them? My conclusion: Fear. It can be a terrible dictator, especially of our emotions. And I don’t mean just love, I mean all emotions. Through both a lack and abundance of honesty this year, the juxtaposition has made me grateful. *Pardon the language… but it’s Adele, so can you really be mad?

You heard her. Don’t you be wasting NO time.

Spotify: OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG, PEOPLE. SPOTIFY. If you don’t have it, get it. All that music. It’s just right there. Waiting for you. Downside: want to listen to Nickelback but don’t want anyone to know? Too bad. Spotify is going to tell all your friends. Actually, you want to listen to Nickelback? Don’t worry, nobody will find out, because you probably have no friends. So cut that out.  

Another positive to Spotify: helps end piracy. YAR!! (1:20-1:45)

Soundcloud can also receive an honorable mention.

Books: I’ve always loved to read. It makes you smarter. Take it from this guy:

But books also make you feel emotions. As a result, this year I have emptied many boxes of Kleenex. Here is an example of a book recommendation that I finished a while ago.

BEFORE (I sent this photo to the person who recommended the book):

AFTER:

I also read Harry Potter again. But I will save that for another post.

Forgiveness: I’ve done some pretty stupid things this year. SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE WHO HAS FORGIVEN ME FOR BEING AN IDIOT (I should have hopefully already thanked you in person). I’m grateful for being forgiven, and being able to forgive. Anger, bitterness or grudges do so much more harm to yourself than to the other person. If you haven’t learned this, I’m sorry. “Forgiveness… it’s more than saying sorry.”

And here’s a photo of Ryan Reynolds just because this is a gratitude post:

Tennis Shoes: I will dedicate another post to running one day, but I have run about between like 500-90,000 miles so far this year. That’s like at least 547 marathons or something.

You can just call me Forrest. I don’t mind. Tom Hanks is sexy. And I love beards (but maybe not as long as Forrest’s—refer to Ryan).

Guys, I’m not trying to brag. I’m not fast. But I have to burn up all the extra….energy, somehow, right?

FaceTime: You can’t hate Apple, because then you would also hate love. Because Apple brought us FaceTime, which is the same thing as love. Just within the last few months I have been:

In Hawaii (inside but it’s fine, it was late):

New York Citay:

Falling more in love with this boy:

 And… in Texas (she told me that “dancing was evil and comes from Satan” (okay Footloose) so hence the mean-mug. Also she will hate me for this but she did say she hated dancing):

If you don’t have an Iphone… what is your problem?

I’m also grateful for lots of other things this year like (in no particular order) (also this is not an exclusive list) dark chocolate covered almonds, Harry Potter stamps/mail in general, love, diet dr. pepper with vanilla, sonic, QT, gel nails, mahogany teakwood scented things, the walk-only zone people on campus and their dedication to the cause, Justin Timberlake, the wooden criss-cross peg thing that holds my keys so I don’t lose them (we set a record low this year, people), bangles, blue bubbles (just say no to green), public transportation, airplanes, chick-fil-a (deluxe spicy chicken sammys and cfa sauce), in-n-out, yogurtland, caps and gowns, concerts, karaoke, movie theaters, Tempe Town Lake, green grass, group messages, the beach, knitting needles, the Alamo, musicals, bffs, cake pops, chapstick, mints, rooftops, parents, siblings, cousins, NEPHEWS, fans, clarisonics, Chuck Bass, the desert, bonfires, midnight hikes, Moroccan oil, JESUS, candy crush, beats by dre, beats not by dre, churros, t.h.a.t. team, all clothes stretchy…

P.S. Tell someone you're grateful for them, please. K thanks everyone!