Me and My Camera: I've Been Challenged!

Gratitude Challenge
Days Nineteen through Twenty-six

Title: Eight Days/Eight Ways
Location:
New City to Poughkeepsie,
to Potsdam, to Lake Placid,
then back to Potsdam, and Poughkeepsie
and to New City again!

I have catching up to do!
So that will be my theme
for these past eight days...
Gratitude shown for catching up
in the following ways.

Catching up with my beautiful son.

Catching up with his childhood fun.

Catching up with unscheduled time away.

Catching up with nature and play.

Catching up with being back home alone.

Catching up with the foreseen unknown.

Catching up with these grateful ways
that I have spent these past eight days!

Gratitude Challenge Day Eighteen
Title: Google Shock
Location: In my bedroom

Woke up today still grateful for meeting Agapi Stassinopoulos yesterday.
During our chat she mentioned she was going to be having a workshop in
March and that I should come. So before I even had my three cups of coffee
this morning I got on my iPad and googled her to see if I could get the details.
Much to my surprise, it turns out this woman writes for the Huffington Post,
oh yeah and her sister, is Arianna Huffington. So today I am grateful for
Agapi and Arianna's mamma for the amazing job she did
with her girls... And for the fact that
I gave Agapi a copy of my book yesterday. Who knows!

Gratitude Challenge Day Seventeen
Title: Hay House Day 2
Location: Javitz Center, NYC

This may be breaking some rules because
I'm not even the photographer today. These photos are of me
caught up with my gratitude for the day. Which was getting to
witness and then talk with the best speaker, with the best message
at the entire 2 day Hay House event.
So today I am grateful for Agapi Stassinopoulos, the author of
Unbinding The Heart-
A Dose of Greek Wisdom, Generosity, And Unconditional Love.
Agapi is a "real" gem, who exudes enthusiasm for life,
and lights up any space that she occupies.
She is in my opinion exactly what this world needs more of!

Gratitude Challenge Day Sixteen
Title: Hay House Day 1
Location: Javitz Center, NYC

No fancy photos today. Just a grab from my iPhone
of the crowd gathering for day 1 of
Hay House authors telling their tales.
Grateful to be here... to hear them.

Gratitude Challenge Day Fifteen

Title: This Moment
Location: Everywhere

I missed a few days. Not only with my gratitude assignment,
but with my commitment to eating healthier foods,
exercising, and all around sticking with plans.
But... I have this moment in which I can regroup,
start over, let go of guilt, make up for lost time,
and get going...again.
So right now, I am grateful for this moment
and what it could be the start of.

Gratitude Challenge Day Fourteen

Title: Valentine's Day
Location: Wherever it is celebrated

On every February 14th, we are automatically
scheduled to remember those we love.
So gratitude for that today, with the hope that
it doesn't take a date on a calendar to remind
us to express it.

Gratitude Challenge Day Thirteen

Title: Little Things
Location: In this world

Sometimes I make the mistake that to be grateful,
something huge had to occur.
But really everything is huge, and so often
overlooked and taken for granted.
So today I am grateful for something little,
that is really huge,
and that I often take for granted.

Gratitude Challenge Day Twelve

Title: Roots
Location: On a walk in the woods

In about one month my family will be moving.
We have spent 21 years living in our current home. It is the
longest I have ever lived in any home, and it
is the only home my sons have known.
It's a bitter sweet time but our roots are there and will
always be. Today, despite all the packing I have to do,
I am grateful for those roots and
the wonderful life that grew from them.

Gratitude Challenge Day Eleven

Title: The Road I Travel
Location: We'll See

This photograph represents my gratitude
for the fact that the road
I travel is a choice that belongs to me.

Gratitude Challenge Day Ten

Title: My Roots

Location: A restaurant where we
celebrated my Dad's 80th birthday

This day and every minute of everyday
I am grateful for the people I am
lucky enough to call my family.

Gratitude Challenge Day Nine

Title: Good Times
Location: A Kitchen Table

Good times with good friends is what I am grateful for today.
Both the human and the furry kind.

Gratitude Challenge Day Eight

Title: Snow Day
Location: New York For Me

Today my gratitude is for snow and it's ability to shut life down
for a day. Allowing for pajama's, naps, wine,
and too many hours on Facebook!

Gratitude Challenge Day Seven

Title: Perspective
Location: Letchworth Village
Pomona, New York

Sorry I got carried away today, couldn't pick just one.
Today I am grateful for being able to see something
from a different perspective than how it originally appeared.

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Confucius

Gratitude Challenge Day Six

Title:
Happy Trails
Location:
Lake Louise
Alberta, Canada

Today I am grateful for all the beautiful places
I have had the good fortune to travel to...
And for those yet to come.
This one is one of my favorites.
Lake Louise
Alberta, Canada

Gratitude Challenge Day Five
Title: Pretty Penny
Location: My living room floor

I am grateful for Penny The Pup
and how easily she makes me smile.

Gratitude Challenge Day Four
Title: Lightbulb Moment
Location: My living room lamp

I am grateful for new ideas
shared and ready for expansion.

Gratitude Challenge Day Three
Title: Word
Location: My kitchen counter

I am grateful for written words
that carry hope.

Gratitude Challenge Day Two

Title: Back Door
Location: My back hallway

I am grateful for a home to keep me sheltered from a storm.

Gratitude Challenge Day one

A friend and I were talking earlier this week about how much negative stuff is put in our face everyday. I am generally not a negative person but with all that we see on the news, the internet, on facebook, and everywhere else you turn, it's a challenge to stay in a positive state of mind. My friend feels when you look at what is good and show appreciation for it, you help to diminish some of the garbage out there.

Her challenge to me was to find something to be grateful for everyday for a year. I said I would. But then she took it a step further and asked me to post it on Facebook so she could be sure I would follow through. Saying and doing are two different things! To make up for all the days of January that I missed the opportunity to express my gratitude, I will bombard you this once. After that it's just one a day.

Since a picture speaks a thousand words and I happen to have an interest in capturing moments in pictures, I decided that would be how I show what I have gratitude for. For those who will be subjected to my assignment... please pardon my appreciation(s). If you can't take it you can always look away.

Here goes.

Title: Leaning Tree

Location: My backyard