Today was one of those Mondays.  You know, the ones where you wake up thinking it’s going to be an easy day with a manageable list of “to-dos” and not many commitments. Then it happens – the simple things on your list present unexpected challenges and for every one thing you manage to finish, 3 more land on your desk.  By lunch your head is spinning, by the end of the day you feel beaten down and exhausted.

I arrived home, feeling overwhelmed by my day and utterly sorry for myself.   I texted a friend, saying I needed a hug.  I really wanted a drink but instead, started unpacking my bag.  That’s when I came across the bag of spinach that changed my attitude.

Yup, a bag of spinach. A co-worker had brought in a huge bag of locally grown spinach to share. I’d taken just enough for my dinner – I love to saute it with garlic and sesame oil, throwing in some raisins.  Then I pulled out the paper bag with a small and very fresh baguette from August First. That was the moment that I realized today wasn’t just frustrating work.  It was filled with moments to be grateful for:

1. Spinach for dinner
2. Fresh baguettes with cold butter
3. Walking up 4 flights of stairs at work and not getting winded.
4. A virtual hug from my friend in response to my text
5. Finishing a good book this morning.
6. Another co-worker bringing in a box of free stuff that contained the one itty bitty item I had forgotten when I went grocery shopping yesterday. (Score!)
7. The purple hyacinth on my counter smelling divine.
8. Anticipation for a Friday evening that includes dinner and Mary Poppins at the Flynn.
9. My house still being clean a week after Easter
10. The tulips and daffodils that are starting to poke up through the ground.

Number 11 on the 52 Project is to write down a list of 52 things I am grateful for.  I put this down because life is always better if I live it in an attitude of gratitude.  Before today I had a dozen on the list.  It’s easy to skip acknowledging the blessings in our life when things are going well.  However, when life gets difficult, spending 10 minutes noticing the little reasons to smile can change the whole tenor of the day.   Number 11 is on the list to help me be more mindful of joys I experience every day and not get wrapped up in pity. Good habits take more discipline than the bad ones so it’s time to practice counting my blessings.

(And the picture is there just because a kitten makes everything better, even a Monday)