My Gratitude Lists

The first part of this blog is from my Facebook notes of a year ago. The second part is what I wrote a week ago (but have edited during the week.)

My Gratitude List
by Susan Jackson on Thursday, November 25, 2010 at 10:50am
Here are some of the things I am grateful for. These are the ones I thought of, so I am sure there's more.
1. I am grateful for the peace of mind that I feel in my life. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it, but its there.
2. I am grateful for faith and hope. There have been so many times in my life that I have had to rely on faith and hope.
3. I am glad that prayers are answered. Sometimes they aren't answered in the way I thought it would be, but my prayers were answered in the way I needed them to be.
4. I am thankful for those who placed in my life for a reason or a season and I am grateful for being placed in other's life for the same.
5. I am thankful for the simple pleasures in life, especially when I seize the moment to enjoy it.
6. I am glad for home to live in, transportation to get around, a job that helps me meet ends and my health.
7. I am grateful for my family. They are wonderful support system.

Taking a Minute to be Grateful.
November 17, 2011
Thanksgiving is next week and I realize I do have a lot to be grateful for. Probably the first to come to mind is the kindness of others. I don’t have a car and yet, people are willing to give me a ride. Sometimes the kindness is just listening to me vent or sharing chocolate. Probably, the second thing I think of is my job. I haven’t had a raise in over 3 years, but yet I am still gainfully employed. I will take no raise over no job any day. Cabin fever gets old fast. And since it has been cold the third thing that comes to mind is the ability to get warm. Sweatshirts, socks, shoes, blankets, the furnace, a warm building, hot chocolate and other things. And who can forget family, the fourth thing that I can think of. My family isn’t perfect, but they are there for me. My brother takes me to the dentist and my sister calls when I post a concern on Facebook. And Facebook bring the fifth on my list. I have hooked up with quite a few friends from high school, old roommates, former co-workers and extended family too. And with, the sixth thing comes to mind, friends, especially close friends who are like family. The Pughs have blessed my life greatly. And there are friends at work who care about me. Even the bus drivers take the time to care. And I am grateful for my beliefs, which brings the list to No. 7. My beliefs give me an anchor in my life; somehow it makes sense and my beliefs give the ability to exercise faith. As end with the eighth item, I think of a younger Jared. When I asked him years ago what he was grateful, he said his life. I was surprised by his answer, but he was right. Being grateful for your life says a lot. My life probably hasn’t turned out exactly the way I wished it had, but it has good nevertheless. I have been blessed through out my life and for that I am grateful.

GRADITUDE LIST FROM 2007-10

A few years, okay four years after teaching some Sunbeams (3-4 years olds at church), I decided to keep a running list of graditude and not wait until Thanksgiving to do it. As you tell by the list, I kept up with the list quite well, but as time went on - well, I got distracted by life. But since it is November and Thanksgiving is this week, I thought I would share the list that I have forgotten. (Its been over a year since I last updated the list.)

June 3, 2007
I am thankful for my ears. I can hear the car when it has problems with the battery. My ears also hold up my glasses so I can see.
I am thankful for my nose. I can smell things when something is wrong.
I am thankful for my eyes. I can see to read, drive and enjoy the beauty around me.
I am grateful for vans. They provide shade for my car on a hot day.
I am glad there are bus stops by my home; I can still get to work.
I am thankful for my feet, I can go places when I can’t or don’t want to use the car.
I am grateful for my free bus pass from the University. It saves me money, plus wear and tear on my car.
I am grateful for small pleasures. Chocolate cookies and other small pleasures help me seize the moment.

June 17, 2007
I am glad that my Dad still loves and cares for me. I sense his presence when I need him the most.
I am grateful for shelter, especially when it is extreme weather. Protection from the hot in the summer and protection from the cold in the winter.
I am thankful for my family. They are the best support system a person could ask for.
I am thankful for my friends, the Pughs. They are also the best support system a person could ask for.
I am glad that prayers get answered, even when it isn’t what I expected.

June 18, 2007
I am glad for service projects. It gives me that warm fuzzy feeling and it is helping someone out who needs it.

June 30, 2007
I am grateful for those who listen to the spirit. Tracina listened and she and the baby are alive.

July 8, 2007
I am grateful for my pioneer ancestors who never gave up, especially those in the Willie and Martin Handcart companies. Who would I be today?

October 26, 2007
I am glad for weekends. It is nice to have breaks from the mundane work week and the rat race. I am glad for five o’clock. It signals a change of scenery during the week.

November 11, 2007
I am grateful for water. It quenches my thirst, it is cleans me, it helps conquer drought conditions, it soothes me, it helps me cook, it puts out fires, it comforts me when sick, it refreshes me after a rainstorm, it washes my car.
I am glad for newspaper. They keep me informed and enlightened.
I am grateful for books. I can visit the world without leaving my home. I can learn to cope through other people struggles.
I am glad for photos that my family sends to me. I can keep up on the changes that happen to family members.
I am thankful for the friendships I enjoy; those at church, work, school, the neighborhood, the bus, family, relatives, where I do business and chance meetings.
I am grateful for examples. Those who set examples guide me in the right direction and are a good support system.

November 18, 2007
I am grateful for the University of Utah. Not only has it provided me an education, but thru the services available, I have found housing and jobs. I met people who have touched my life. It also provides me with opportunities to serve. There are payroll deducts to Road Home and there’s the Holy War.

September 30, 2008
I am glad that I was let go from Blue Cross when I was. If I was leaving with the rest of my department in December, I would be facing a worse economy. I have a job at the University of Utah and while it doesn’t pay what Blue Cross, I am working.

November 23, 2008
I am thankful for my family and friends. They are my support group. They love me regardless.
I am glad I have a job. The economy has gone south and I get quite a few calls from borrowers who need an unemployment deferment on their Perkins loans.
I am grateful for text messaging, Facebook and instant messaging. They are about the only ways to keep in contact with a teenager or young adult.

November 27, 2008
I am grateful for the things I have. I have what I need.
I am grateful for the simple pleasure of life. Smiles, a piece of dark chocolate, a text message are just a few of the simple pleasures I enjoy.
I am grateful for the kindness of others. A free computer, a roof over my head, etc.
I am glad that Crystal cheers for BYU. It has made the rivalry fun for me again.

July 25, 2009
I am glad for TV. I got to watch the parade on TV instead of getting sunburn watching it.
I am glad for UTA, it gets me around.
I am grateful for reusable grocery bags. They are so kinder to the fingers than plastic bags.

Aug 8, 2009
I am so glad for family. I enjoy their visits.

November 29, 2009
I am grateful for kindness.
I am grateful for my sight and for being able to see sunlight with impaired vision.

December 23, 2009
I am glad for friends who invite us into their homes and for former sunbeams who remember me.

February 8, 2010
I am grateful for those who have passed thru my life.

March 14, 2010
I am glad that the world is small. It is nice to go somewhere and someone you know, knows the same person.
I am grateful for friends and family.

August 15, 2010
I am grateful for those who give me a lift when I need to go somewhere.
I am glad I had the opportunity to drive last week.

Rake & Bag – Another Day of Service

Our ward finally did their day of service as President Erying of the First Presidency asked us to do in April 2011 General Conference. Brother Hamilton, a counselor in the bishopric said, “We were waiting for the leaves to fall.” Our ward leadership decided that the senior citizens of the ward would be served. After many years of serving; it was payback time. There were 2 two hour shifts that ward members could sign up for. Jay signed up for the 10am session and I tagged along. We walked to the house we were assigned. Jay, another man and I helped put Sister Neilson’s lights up. When the people who raking & bagging leaves at a previous house came, we started raking and bagging leaves on her lawn and the house east of hers. When we finished there, our group did her neighbors to the west. Their names weren’t on the list, but they were most grateful to us. They have bad backs and were not able to rake the leaves. Before we were done raking and bagging leaves, Sister Neilson made breadsticks for those who helped. They were The Bomb. Even the youngest boy there ate an armful. I guess his eyes were bigger than his stomach. He reminded me of a much younger Jay, who would always dish up more food than he could eat. I was glad that some parents brought their sons with them. They got teach the value of service thru example. Even though the little boy played in the leaves, he also helped out and experienced an act of kindness and learned the value of work. There is always a reward, even if it isn’t Holladay’s best breadsticks.