Grateful ...no matter what

Choose to be grateful no matter what .... Is another one of my favourite quotes.. I know I know I have many!!! It's the no matter what part that I like the most. Showing gratitude for the things we have is easy when we have everything we want and when life is working out just how we want it to. In those situations it is easy to be thankful because we feel happiness and joy and those feelings seem to work hand in hand with gratitude. It is a lot harder however, to be grateful in the more difficult, trying times of our lives. Those difficult times cloud our judgement and  that darkness often makes it hard for us to see the the things we have to be thankful for. 

I know this is true... I spent a large part of 2014 feeling sorry for myself because life wasn't turning out the way I wanted it to ... My own negativity stopped me from seeing all the wonderful things I had and still have to be thankful for. Thankfully for me, and those around me who got sick of seeing me walking around with a face like a bulldog chewing on a wasp, I now view life from a much more cheery and Christlike view point. 

Like I said in my previous post life is turning out pretty good right now but when I think about it a large amount of the blessings I have in my life now I had all along. They haven't just appeared they were there the whole time I just stopped noticing them!!!! 

So here are some of the blessings I am grateful for, .... 

1: great family and friends who are always more than willing to dry my tears and feed me chocolate 

2: The temple ... There is no other place on earth where I feel closer to my Heavenly Father than the temple 

3: Twizzlers, lucky charms and twinkles and the people who buy them for me (you know who you are!) 

4: the opportunity to teac youth Sunday school each week.. They are a crazy bunch of people but I love them, they never fail to make me smile and each one of them inspires me 

5: the opportunities I have had and still have to travel and experiences new things... Including the street in Albuquerqe that has my name!! 

6: The never ending love of my saviour 

7: my own business!!! And our gorgeous purple logo!!!!! 

8: the atonement and the new beginnings it has given me 

9: medicine, the NHS and my amazing neurologist ... 

10: the opportunities I have to help others ... Nothing gives me more warm fuzzies than doing something for someone else 

President Monson said regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings 

Sometimes we need to step outside, get some air and remind yourself of not just who you are but who's.