Over the past couple of months we’ve been financially stretched due to a whole bunch of extraordinary expenses – some planned, some unexpected… some good, some bad… some fabulous, some terrible. From a large-ish (for us) household investment in a new barbecue and outdoor patio set, to vet bills for poor Grisabella, to the purchase of a cross-country plane ticket for me to attend BlogHer ’14, to preparations for and visiting with our houseguests, to a poorly-timed annual credit card fee, to the final straw of a breakdown of our tankless hot water heater, lately we’ve been riding a rather challenging rollercoaster of emotions and cash flow.
But I have learned – and continue to be challenged to understand – that feeling and expressing gratitude shouldn’t only happen when everything is running smoothly. Gratitude doesn’t always feel warm and fuzzy, and isn’t necessarily manifested as feelgood sentiments about all the stuff that’s right in your world. Sometimes gratitude is grasping at straws and gritting your teeth with determination to recognize and acknowledge the other side of the coin – the good, the positive, the blessings – even in the midst of being frustrated or stymied by an undesirable situation (or two, or three).
Expressing gratitude even needs to happen – and perhaps is most important – when you just don’t feel like it.

Hope you’ll join me in this week’s Gratitude Linkup!
(If you’d like a bit of background on why I started the Gratitude Linkup, check out this post.)
How to get involved in the Gratitude Linkup
- Write and post an entry in your own blog containing your gratitude list for a moment in time.
- Share the URL to your gratitude blog post by clicking the “add your link” button at the end of this post and filling out the information.
- Share the Gratitude Linkup with your blog readers by clicking the “get the InLinkz code” link at the end of this post and copy/pasting the appropriate code into your gratitude blog post.
- Visit some of the blogs listed in the Gratitude Linkup and comment on their posts.
My Gratitude List
In no particular order, here is my own gratitude list for this moment in time. I hope that after reading it you’ll go on to write and share your own!
- Being able to relax in our back yard and enjoy several outdoor meals grilled on the barbecue.
- Having a house, garage, and yard which, while not perfect, are perfect for us.
- Our extra paved parking space beside the garage for guests.
- The time – however short – we were able to spend with Grisabella, the two beautiful boys she left us to care for and love, and having been in a position to have rescued all three from a sad situation.
- The friend who knew we were ready to adopt cats – preferably littermates – and alerted us to the perfect opportunity when it arose.
- The anticipation and excitement of looking forward to attending BlogHer ’14 (less than three weeks until I leave!), seeing a new city, and reconnecting with dear friends.
- The treat of a wonderful, relaxing, fun, full visit with my sister and friend.
- Having the space and capability to host overnight guests.
- The out-of-country travel insurance that’s included in my credit card’s annual fee.
- That – if it had to happen – our tankless hot water heater broke down on a weekday and we were able to get someone in right away to fix it without paying higher weekend rates.
- Having a more consistent temperature and flow of hot water now that the heater is fixed.
- Being able to listen to the music from outdoor concerts as it travels over the river to our house.
- The brand new sidewalks that now line our street (yes, even right outside our house!).
- Gorgeous, non-humid, windows-open-instead-of-air-conditioning weather.
- The constant birdsong that provides a cheerful soundtrack to my days.
- An extra-long weekend that gave me time to rest and also get caught up on some outstanding tasks.
- Interesting discussions with book club friends.
- Living in a vibrant, happening, ever-improving neighbourhood.
- A repeat from last week that bears repeating: That I have everything I need, plenty that I want, and several of my wishes.

from UBC – Yes, often we forget to be grateful for the little things.
Top on my gratitude list today is reading your post.
Have an awesome day!
Retha Groenewald recently posted… Zechariah Reacts to God’s Message
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 6, 2014
You too, Retha! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: BeautyandBeets
July 6, 2014
Visiting from NaBloPoMo! Love the gratitude list! I used to keep a gratitude journal that my hubs and I filled out almost every night, we need to start doing that again. Thank you for reminding me how important being grateful is!
Anna-Marie recently posted… Bad Santa French Toast
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
You are very welcome – thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: Sophie_Bowns
July 6, 2014
Yes; we must be grateful, even for the little things!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
Yes indeed!
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: ellytreehugger
July 6, 2014
Grateful for a cool and wet day…to keep the grass green before an expected week of hot weather! It also gives me the chance to catch up on things that are best done ‘cool.’ 😉
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
Lovely – I’m glad for you! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: drowsymama
July 6, 2014
This is such a good idea! We are in a particularly tough financial season of our life as well and a gratitude list is a good way to keep perspective on what’s important. I’ll be using this as a blog post idea this week. Thanks for the inspiration!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
You are most welcome! Glad I could inspire, and glad you stopped by. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: rvidsigns
July 6, 2014
Couldn’t agree more with you Laurel – gratitude provides great grist of our hard time mills. When I express my gratitude especially during trying times, I am able to shift my perspective and ultimately be grateful that I got up this morning!! Thanks for the reminder.
Sherri Hayter recently posted… Dealing with “Stuff”
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
You are welcome! It really is so important and valuable to get that perspective shift. Glad you stopped by. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
The gratitude list is very inspiring. I never thought of making such a list. Now I WILL make one. Thank you Laurel, for this motivation.
usha menon recently posted… A commodity known as ‘maid’ UBC Challenge day 7
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
You are most welcome. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
I love relaxing on my back deck. Nothing like being able to enjoy the outdoors in peace and quiet. Great list
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
I totally agree, Kathy!
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: kajal_kapur
July 7, 2014
Being grateful even for the slightest of things- we must learn to do that!
I love your weekly gratitude list…its very inspirational.
Kajal recently posted… Repent
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
Thank you, Kajal – glad to be of some inspiration! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: Obsessivemom06
July 7, 2014
Oh reading your gratitude list is addictive. When I read the first part of your post I was wondering what you’ll find to be grateful for.. And there it was that huge list. And so I have the moral – sometimes you have to put things in perspective to be happy. Thank you for that amazing lesson yet again.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
Thank you for your kind words! So glad you stopped by. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: suziecheel
July 7, 2014
Love this, and right now I have a gratitude challenge running on my blog 🙂 where we are doing 5 things each day they we are grateful for. Counting our blessings and giving thanks daily is so inportant
Suzie Cheel recently posted… Day 5: Heart Whisper Gratitude Challenge
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
I totally agree, Suzie! I will have to check out your challenge.
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: twinklingtina
July 7, 2014
Laurel I quite like this gratitude list and link up, I’ll join it soon 🙂
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
Excellent, Tina – the more, the merrier!
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: shilpaagarg
July 7, 2014
“Sometimes gratitude is grasping at straws and gritting your teeth with determination to recognize and acknowledge the other side of the coin”… I needed to read this, today! Thanks for sharing it, Laurel! ♥
Shilpa Garg recently posted… Homecoming
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
You’re welcome, Shilpa! Thank you for letting me know. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: FranceneStanley
July 7, 2014
You’re so right. Despite endless frustrations, most of us can find so much in our lives to be grateful for. When I’m stressed, I think of all the people worse off than I am. I wouldn’t like to be a prisoner, or a sex-slave, or to leave everything behind and escape my own war-torn country. Visiting from NaBlo …
Francene Stanley recently posted… The fascination of treasure from the past.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
Very true, Francene – we really are fortunate.
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: beloome
July 7, 2014
I really enjoy checking out your gratitude lists. Your attention to so many little and big things that make you feel grateful toward them gives me much to ponder upon. Thank you for the much needed inspiration! Hopefully I will be starting my posts on this theme soon and will link up here 🙂
Beloo Mehra recently posted… “Flower in the Crannied Wall”
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
I hope you do join in on the linkup some day – you are always welcome! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
Twitter: suzyq1810
July 7, 2014
Love your last line: I have everything I need, plenty that I want, and several of my wishes. Puts it all into perspective. And you are so right that we can find something to be grateful for even in those “oh why” moments. Nice list. Will link up mine tomorrow.
Suzy recently posted… UBC Jul 7 – Universe Always Answers But Do We Listen?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
Thank you, Suzy – there is always SOMETHING for which to be grateful!
Laurel Regan recently posted… 236 Things That Make Me Happy
“That I have everything I need, plenty that I want, and several of my wishes.” Nothing more perfectly said. Gratitude really is something that brings to the forefront not the things that are hard, but the positivity inherent in the hard at times 🙂
Life Breath Present recently posted… Gratitude Linkup – Week of 6/29/14
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 7, 2014
So very true! And the more one practices, the more natural it becomes.
Trackbacks: