The Practice Project

Today, I'm starting a new project. I'm going to practice two things I want to master. I realize I won't master them within a month, but I think that if I create the habit of practicing them, I will master them in time. These two things are both very important to me - one is a hobby, a passion, and a profession; the other is an attitude.

Every day, for the next 30 days , I will post a picture of something I'm grateful for, and explain why I chose this particular item/person/place. In doing so, I hope to not only improve my photography skills, by making even everyday objects look like art, but also improve my ability to be grateful for the things I have been given. (Note: while I am in Las Vegas in August, it may be difficult to upload pictures and update the blog. However, I will backlog those posts and publish them when I return. I'm sure there will be lots of things I'm grateful for in Vegas? -- yes the question make is on purpose)

I've realized over the past few months, the one thing with which I chronically struggle is unrealistic expectations - of myself, of others, of situations, and of life. I read an incredible article the other day on a blog called "The Simple Marriage", and I have been thinking about the topic of expectations, and their relationship to an attitude of gratitude ever since. In this particular article, the author discusses how expectations actually undermine gratitude. This is not to say that all expectations are bad, or negative, or that we shouldn't hold them to some extent in our lives. However, when we walk around expecting friends, family, partners, or co-workers to do certain things, we are rarely grateful when they happen. Let me allow the authors words to provide a better example:

"We are most grateful for the good things that come our way that we did not expect to happen.

If you expect your spouse to help with the housework, you will be disappointed, mad, sad, or angry when your spouse does not help you with the housework, but you won’t necessarily be grateful when your spouse does help with the housework. Depending on your history together, you may be

Pleased - "I'm glad we're doing this together."

Surprised - "I can't believe you actually mopped the floor!"

Justified - "I do my share and you need to do your share."

Vindicated - "It's about time you started pulling your weight!"

When you are dog tired at the end of the day, and you walk in to find your spouse cleaning the kitchen, or putting the kids to bed when you expected them to be home late – that’s when you feel truly grateful – because you were not expecting the help!"

I love surprises, but I often ruin them by "expecting" them. Prime example - I will be 30 in about 8 months. And I keep hinting to my husband that I want to do something fun, with friends. However, the more I hint, the more I will come to expect from it. So instead, I need to focus on my own journey to 30, and leave it to him to plan any kind of celebration if he wants. I'm really hoping this practice project will help me do just that!

So, with all that being said, I'd like to post my first piece of gratitude.

Today I am grateful for the simple things in life. I am grateful for fresh cherries to eat - one of my favorite summer indulgences. And I'm also thankful that I actually enjoy a lot of foods that are healthy for me. And since I wanted to start off the project with a bang, I added another thing I am grateful for - the third official living room plan I've had since we moved here last summer, and the first to survive past 1 month. I love you Money Tree! Keep growing, and stay green. Perhaps you are the key to my black thumb changing colors. But in general, I am grateful for plants and what they bring to us - fresh food, fresh air, fresh perspectives with their beauty, and a sense of responsibility...to take care of them.

What are you grateful for today?