Attitude of Gratitude

This is a prompt I saw from previous years where a writer sets a timer for 15 minutes and writes down everything they’re grateful for in a stream of conscious matter. I’m supposed to only go back and read through and check for typos and duplicates, but leave every idea intact as it is.

The following are the things I’m grateful for in my immediate thoughts over 15 minutes.

1. My Fiance, my partner. Me and them have been through so much in the last 6 years since we started dating, but I wouldn’t trade where we are for anything. I love you.
2. My dad. My dad truly is, I know it’s a cliche, but he is my hero. When I was little and my parents got divorced, he always made sure that he was in my life. When I was 3-6 I saw him 5 days a week and at least 2 of those nights I stayed with him, but it was usually more often than that.
3. My middle sister. She was always around for me and did everything she could to protect me from anything that was going on. I know that me and her didn’t always get along because of our age gap, but I do appreciate everything she did for me. Thank you sis.
4. My grandparents. My mom’s parents took me in for the 7 years after my parents divorced, as well as, my siblings. I don’t know where we would all be without them. I’m sorry for any trouble, no matter how small, that I gave the two of them over the years. They were a large part of raising us and it will hurt a lot when they leave us.
5. My dad’s parents. While I didn’t live them, they both did a lot for me. They cosigned my student loans allowing me to go to college in the first place. They’re helping me with paying for them now. It’s been hard for me, but I am grateful everyday that they didn’t care how I was brought into the world, but they were there for me and never made me feel bad for it.
6. Reading – one of my favorite hobbies; this is true whether reading fiction or astrology books that give me knowledge. I truly love the escape that these books can give me.
7. Writing – This has been the biggest escape I had growing up. I wrote when I was angry, upset, confused, happy, excited or any other emotion. There are so many journals I had throughout the years that I know I would never read, but they helped in some way to process my emotions.
8. My work – I’m a temporary employee at a large paint company that I hope will hire me, but the 2 jobs I’ve had before made me love this one more. I get treated well, the pay is enough that I’m not too stressed about it yet even though I can’t afford to move yet or a car. I enjoy the people that I work directly with. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m ready to be permanent with the company.
9. My cats – I have 2 cats, Oreo and Clementine, that I love having. It felt wrong not having pets when I was in college since the apartments there didn’t allow them. As soon as I could I got 2 cats that I couldn’t see being happy without them. They’re polar opposite in personality and we love them both. They were both rescues of sorts, but I would love them both either way.
10. My friends – I don’t have a lot of friends these days because of moving away from college that I talk to often, but those that do I appreciate so much. I’m ready to spend more time with them whenever they have the time.
11. The lake – on the way home from work every day I’m able to see this beautiful lake/river that I can stare into to see the sunrise and the sunset. It’s one of those things that makes things just a little better even on the worst of days.
12. My college professors – There’s something to be said about how much I developed in the 4 years I was in college. This is especially true for my professors that had to do with music, but I wasn’t a music major. These taught me the most life lessons; this mainly included learning how to focus on what you could control in any given moment.
13. My high school teachers – There were many teachers that looking back I know really wanted me to succeed. In my sophomore year of high school, I had a mental breakdown in English when I found out I wouldn’t be in honors level english the year after. That day I started crying and was shaking so they sent me to the guidance counselor. Looking back, I think I should’ve taken their advice and seen a therapist, but I know my family couldn’t have afforded it.
14. My band directors – Whether in middle school, high school, college, community bands/drum corps; There’s been something special about being able to continue my love of music through each part of my life progression even though it isn’t my permanent field. I can look back at my life and remember where I was at based on my music progress at that point. I will never forget the friends I made, the lessons learned, or the person I’ve become because of those people.
15. The other people in my music groups – There’s something to be said of people that spend this much time on an activity that isn’t a career or even side-gig that makes any money for you. Even though I don’t spend a ton of time practicing, I still have made my closest and best friends through those band related memories. Our relationships just by having gone through the same thing that day as part of the team is something I’ll never forget, but I’m not done playing or marching.