Thank you for reading this.

My personal coach and I have been working together for seven months.  Each telephone session, we set goals and figure out ways to achieve them.  I love being accountable to her and having deadlines for making things happen in my life.  Granted, everyone should be accountable to themselves, and that should be sufficient.  But some of us need an outside person to not let down, in order to not let ourselves down.  Anyone who’s joined an Anonymous support group or a weight loss program will attest to that.

So.  Here we are, the beginning of another twelve-month cycle.  Another random starting point for us all to refocus, regroup, renew.  The resolutions have been made, the wheels set in motion.  But how do we keep them going?  How do we stay positive and encouraged, excited and motivated?  How do we keep tackling the issues without letting the issues tackle us?

My coach had some advice:  Say thank you.

Motivational speaker and all-around kick-ass person Tony Robbins (one of my heroes) starts each day with what he calls “the hour of power.”  It involves giving gratitude, getting in some physical movement, and refocusing on what you want.  He also encourages visualizing what you want as having already happened.  I like that one.  I like seeing myself in my fully-actualized state.

Now, as to the first part: gratitude.  I told my coach that I felt I was a pretty thankful person – one of my friends nicknamed me “Thankleen” –  that I was very aware of all the things I have to be grateful for, and give thanks for them “at least quarterly.”  She politely suggested that perhaps I could bump that up a wee bit more often.  To, like, daily.

It’s good advice.  Try it some morning.  As you’re rushing around, stressed that you’ll be late for work, stop and think “Man, I’m so thankful I have a job.”  As you’re pounding away on the treadmill, feeling defeated, remember “At least I live in a country where I have the opportunity to become overweight.”  When you’re stuck in traffic, think “I’m so lucky to be able to afford to sit here alone in my own car, much less afford the gasoline.”  When your husband annoys the crap out of you, remind yourself “I’m so glad I have someone to come home to every night.”  And when your kid draws on the wall, think “at least we have walls.”

So… thank you.  Thank you for my health, for my fully-functioning body, for my lavish dwelling, for my owned vehicle, for my parents, my aunt, my job, my talents, my amazing friends.  Thank you for allowing me to be born in America.  Thank you for not making me live in poverty or pain or fear.

Thank you for my sweet, wonderful daughter.  Thank you for all the love I've experienced in my life.  Thank you for letting me wake up alive today.

Thank you for reading this.