Gratitude List #1

Recently, I had some time off and read through a good portion of my writing. I was struck by how I came across as a depressed, jaded person with low self-esteem.

I even fed a few pieces into ChatGPT, which confirmed that the writing was, in fact, depressing, jaded, and subtly conveying low self-esteem. Actually, it said "self-loathing." That feels a little extreme.

Now that it has that in its system, ChatGPT can only get better at producing depressing, jaded, low-self-esteem answers. All of humanity is headed for a losing streak if I’ve managed to make my negativity virtually viral.

While I don’t suggest judging a book by its cover, it’s safe to say that when you seem depressed even to yourself, you might actually be what you seem. Yes—perhaps I seem depressed and jaded because I am.

Alas, a pivot. Almost fourteen years ago, I was told the cure for self-pity was gratitude. So why not try it again? It worked once before—why not now?

This isn’t a comprehensive list of everything I’m grateful for, just the things I’ve been appreciating lately:

• The sound of my husband snoring next to me.

• The  way he grinds coffee beans in the morning.

• Not worrying about how to pay our bills—a luxury for many right now.

• Fiction books, especially those written for young adults.

• Watching classic sitcoms where the husband and wife truly love each other.

• Writing letters.

• My husband making the turkey and oyster stuffing for Thanksgiving.

• My heart beating strong after a short, fun little dance.

• Hugging my husband while standing.

• Listening to Pitbull songs.

• Long showers.

• Painted toenails.

• Baking sweet treats.

• When it’s cold & the feral cats stay in the heated houses later into the day.

• Sleeping in.

• Being able to buy Christmas presents for my friends.

• Being alive and relatively healthy.

• Doing the Wordle in the morning with my husband.