It’s year six of my taking the Grateful Challenge! Inspired by Spin Sucks, the goal is to set a timer for 10 minutes and try to list 99 things you’re grateful for. (Here are the previous installments: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.)
This year’s installment:
1.My husband, Wayne
2.My daughter, Tenley
3.My son, Wayne Kevin
4.My dad, Seabie
5.Tenley’s significant other, Stewart
6.Wayne Kevin’s significant other, Patience
7.Wayne Kevin having an affordable, safe place to live in Daytona
8.Tenley having an affordable, safe place to live in Valdosta
9.Wayne’s job
10.Tenley’s graduate school and how goal-directed she is
11.Wayne Kevin’s job
12.MY job — the one I love <3
13.Having a fantastic supervisor
14.Having great co-workers
15.Having a job in editing, so ironic since it took me until midlife to be here (although everything happens for a reason, for sure)
16.Extended family
17.My new nephew, Paul
18.Travel!
19.My friend Dan — such a dear friend, seen not often enough
20.Two trips to DC this year
21.A trip to NYC this year ( 🙂 )
22.My SmartBrief partners — the International City/County Management Association (the other six to follow)
23.The Sigma Xi Scientific Honorary Society
24.The National Association of Social Workers
25. The United Nations Foundation
26.BoardSource
27.The National Emergency Number Association
28.The Reserve Officers Association
29.A new brief I get to work on soon: Business Transformation
30.My previous partner (among others): The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association
31.Everything I’ve learned and gained by blogging for 10 years
32.The online community, which has lifted me up, supported me, irritated me (at times) and been more supportive than the word “online” would make you think
33.Parents who provided financial help over the years
36.The buyer of our house (no, don’t know who they are yet but they have to be out there!)
37.Live theatre
38.Seeing “Come from Away” in New York in January
39.Seeing Sara Bareilles in “Waitress” in New York in January
40.The New York Times Readalong Community
41. BroadwayWorld and review opportunities
42.Randi at the Democrat who has given me such great (tough) feedback about my Democrat reviews and still plans to let me review
43.Reading
44.The Spin Sucks crew (where to begin?)
45.Time with Gini Dietrich in July watching Hugh Jackman *live*
46.Laura Petrolino and how she gets me
47.Having a paid-off car (even though it doesn’t have air conditioning)
48.Not that I’m self-promoting exactly, but I’m proud of each video I made for SmartBrief and enjoyed the process. Here they are:
51.Recharge your batteries by subscribing to the ICMA newsletter
52.This blog post I wrote about Hurricane Michael and kids having playgroups that helped them find hope again
53.This blog post about my favorite moments at the ICMA conference
54.Getting to meet Jake Wood of Team Rubicon at the ICMA conference
55.Turning 55 tomorrow!
56.Helping with social media for the Turkey Trot and getting to participate in the Turkey Trot tomorrow — I can’t run it anymore but I’ll be there!
57.A clean bill of health after my colonoscopy
58.The Ration Challenge
59.Getting off of caffeine due to the ration challenge
60.My faith
61.The life of my friend, Duane, who died last Saturday. He taught me so much; he’s gone too soon. I will always love you, Duane.
In keeping with the spirit of the challenge, I stopped at the 10-minute mark. I left all the blank numbers in, because I know are 38 more things for which I can be grateful. Here’s to filling in these blanks …
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Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
You forgot me!
See #14!
Oh, you’re right. I’m grateful for you, too!
Thanks for sharing this challenge. I felt as though I learned a lot about you from reading your list. Lost of family, friends, projects that lift and support others, and some musical theater (my daughter loves _Waitress_ and saw it in London. When I baked on T-day, she kept singing, “Sugar. Butter. Flour.” Also, Happy Recent Birthday!
Oh Waitress is a fave of mine! I’ve seen it twice (once with Sara Bareilles). What a great memory. Thanks for stopping by!