Fact: I am a goal orientated person (maybe this is clear considering I write a blog about conquering goals) and I like to “make sh*t happen”. I also happen to think I know exactly how things should unfold, and when stuff doesn’t go according to my grand plan,I get a little, well, frustrated. Ok, maybe I get a little mad and I hate being mad.
Because being mad at the universe is soooooo missing the point, right? It is also a very slippery slope for me- I mean, I almost had a meltdown this week at the nail salon because my massage chair was broken (I guess I was really looking forward to it).
I felt like the universe was against me!
When I start to feel all bent out of shape because I am not getting what I think I deserve, I call upon the “other” part of me- the part of me that knows deep down that everything is indeed unfolding as it should. When I look back at my life so far, everything has always unfolded perfectly…even when I couldn’t see it while I was in it.
I was telling my friend, Rachel, all about how I was feeling before we went to a yoga class Tuesday night and she shared this quote with me…
“Praying for a specific outcome implies uncertainty, praying for the highest good implies faith”- Gabrielle Bernstein
So I am going to trust the process, enjoy the ride and stay present.
When I start to feel this way I also like to write a list of things I am grateful for because..gratitude turns what we have into enough.
Grateful List 8/30/12
I am grateful for the love of a man I admire, adore and love. A man who is a true partner to me in every sense.
I am grateful for my family- they are so incredibly supportive and loving.
I am grateful for all the women in my life, my dear sweet friends who challenge me and make me laugh
I am grateful for all the opportunities this blog has brought into my life
I am grateful for my living space 2 blocks from the beach
I am grateful that I find inspiration and joy in the little things
I am grateful for every little, crooked, backwards, happy, joyful, lesson filled path that I have walked down so far in this life
I am grateful I call myself a writer now
I am grateful for white dahlias
I am grateful for my health
I am grateful to be able to take a yoga class everyday if I want to (even if I don’t)
I am grateful to be going to Nepal in November
I am grateful I find humor in so many things
I am grateful for my blessings
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“Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude.” – Joseph Wood Krutch
365til30.com 
Excellent list!
It is really easy to get caught up in things that don’t seem to be going according to “the plan.” I have definitely been in that boat ALL week thanks to a foot injury that hasn’t allowed me to be as active as I want to be. But that’s when you have to focus on the bigger picture rather than all the small details. It really helps. Love the gratitude list! =D
Thanks, Cassy! 🙂
Gabby is absolutely dripping in wonderful reminders & quotes to be grateful for what we have and dream bigger/ask bigger than we think possible. The list is wonderful and I especially love the “living 2 blocks from the beach”! That is a very sweet spot in life!
Hi Kate,
I came across your blog from reading something you wrote on Mike Dooley’s website. I read some of your posts and I have to say I am glad I did stumble across them. The last few weeks I have not been feeling like myself at all and it has seemed like it’s been one thing after another. I do not at all like feeling this way because deep down I do know that I have so much to be grateful for. I believe in the power of the universe and I surely do believe everything happens for a reason. I won’t go on and on and I don’t usually leave messages to someone I don’t know at all but I did want to tell you that your blog is such a delight to read! I love your style of writing because it sounds so real…which is amazing because if I ever sit to write some things down, let it out, I like to be real too! Your post written today was exactly what I needed to read! I make my lists too when I’m feeling down and it’s nice to see I’m not the only one out there who has her days when she needs to stop and get out of her funk! Keep writing, you do it beautifully and you’ve inspiried me to go home and write down my mind chatter later on – it’s good for the soul. Your canadian follower, maria
Hi Maria,
Thank you for such a thoughtful message. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated it! Don’t you just love Mike Dooley? Do you get his “notes from the universe” every morning? I’m a fan of those. So happy you reached out because you inspired me as well! I’m grateful to have you as a reader.
Hope you have a beautiful holiday weekend!
Kate
Hi Kate,
Very cool that you take the time to answer your readers 🙂 i do get his “notes from the universe” and i love them! You’ve inspired me to make a list of my own to follow – things that i’d like to change! Your living proof that you really can turn your “can into cants” 🙂 wish me luck! great pictures ps. on your last post! enjoy the rest of what we have left of the long weekend!
maria xo
Hi Kate,
Very cool that you take the time to answer your readers 🙂 i do get his ”notes from the universe” and i love them! You\’ve inspired me to make a list of my own to follow – things that i\’d like to change! Your living proof that you really can turn your ”can into cants” 🙂 wish me luck! great pictures ps. on your last post! enjoy the rest of what we have left of the long weekend!
maria xo
I can only look back at my own many blessings, look around at all the beauty which, and good friends, who surround(s) me and ahead at all the fine experiences which await me.
So many blessings to be grateful for:)
I definitely have some of these same tendencies…it’s not pretty when my control-freak instincts come out because things aren’t perfect or just how I want them to be! It’s a great reminder to think that even when things aren’t “perfect”, they’re still unfolding as they should.
My good friend told me once that “expectations decrease joy.” When you have an outcome in mind and things go a different way, it brings a negative feeling with it- even if the new outcome is even better. I try to remember to enjoy the ride…
I love that! It’s so very true.
I love the essence of your blogs. Your beautiful ,insightful, humorous writing is an inspiration to read each day!!!!
i enjoyed reading your list of things and people you are grateful to have in your life. i learnt that as they make our life worth living. they are the reasons we get to smile, love, laugh and live each momnet to the fullest. kudos to the way you enjoy each thing in your life!:)
Thank you Pasang:) I’m grateful to have you as a reader as well!
i’m grateful to have gotten to read what you’re grateful for…..
That’s a lovely thing to say:)
well i’m nothing if not lovely