Making the Shift from Resistance to Gratitude {Jenny Blake}

by Sam on July 28, 2009

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my health, my family, my friends, my readers, my possessions and many other things in this world — often to the brink of tears. Today I am dedicating this post to appreciating the less obvious gifts in my life. My hope for all of us is that in addition to appreciating our blessings, we can take a step back and appreciate the blessings-in-disguise too.

I appreciate the days I work so hard I can barely remember to eat lunch,
because I feel important, and I enjoy my vacation days that much more.

I am thankful for the chance to lead big, scary projects at work,
because it means someone believes in me and because those
projects push me to grow in ways I couldn’t plan for or predict.

I appreciate my overflowing inbox,
because it means my life and work are abundant,
and that people care.

I was secretly happy when my car broke down,
because it gave me the kick I needed to bike to work
and enjoy fresh, cold air every morning.

I am thankful for my 4-month writers block,
because it helped me reconnect with myself, my message and my work.

I am grateful for the low moments in my life;
the moments of despair, sadness, and disappointment,
because they enable me to be more compassionate as a listener, coach and friend.

I am thankful that I haven’t seriously dated anyone in a year and a half,
because I’ve filled my time with incredibly enriching people and projects.

Heck, I even appreciate being whistled, hooted and hollered at,
because one day that will stop.

I appreciate my imperfections,
because perfection is boring.

I am thankful that I don’t have everything figured out,
because where is the fun in that?

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Appreciative Revolutionary: Jenny Blake (@jennyblake)

Bio: Jenny is a blogger and life coach at Life After College, and also works at Google as a Senior Specialist on the Training & Development team. She is writing a book for college graduates and working toward her vision of being a life coach/author/speaker extraordinaire. She loves gadgets, cupcakes, coffee, yoga, football, baseball, and is obsessed with reading business and personal development books.

Favorite ice cream flavor: Mocha Almond Fudge (with chocolate covered almonds).

I appreciate Jenny’s practical business and personal development tips, her eagerness to help, and her friendly smile!

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Tagged as: Appreciation, bloggers, Gen Y, Learning, Meaning

  • Dunki

    Way to go, Jenny, kicking things off! Your post is awesome. I'm so glad Sam is doing this. As we all work so hard it is easy to forget the good things as we focus on what we are working towards, or what we don't have, or what we have lost, or what went wrong or…you get the picture. This series will make us focus on what we already have right in front of us.

  • Dunki

    Way to go, Jenny, kicking things off! Your post is awesome. I'm so glad Sam is doing this. As we all work so hard it is easy to forget the good things as we focus on what we are working towards, or what we don't have, or what we have lost, or what went wrong or…you get the picture. This series will make us focus on what we already have right in front of us.

  • http://valeriemondesir.wordpress.com/ Valerie M

    I absolutely love this post, Jenny! Thanks for the reminder to be grateful for all the little things… for another 24 hours to enjoy life, the good and the bad (which actually turns out to be good).

  • http://valeriemondesir.wordpress.com/ Valerie M

    I absolutely love this post, Jenny! Thanks for the reminder to be grateful for all the little things… for another 24 hours to enjoy life, the good and the bad (which actually turns out to be good).

  • http://www.smallhandsbigideas.blogspot.com/ Grace Boyle

    Jenny this is beautiful. I always say it's the little things that count and I just loved reading this. Appreciation is so powerful!

  • http://www.smallhandsbigideas.blogspot.com Grace Boyle

    Jenny this is beautiful. I always say it's the little things that count and I just loved reading this. Appreciation is so powerful!

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  • http://www.lifeschocolates.com/ sameve

    Jenny: This is such a beautiful post, and a great way to kick off the Appreciation Revolution! I'm glad you remember to appreciate the important things in life, and I think focusing on the less obvious things for this post really puts things in perspective. We often take things for granted, especially the little things, but your post goes to show that it only takes a few minutes to look around and be grateful for what we have. Thanks so much for sharing this with everyone!

  • http://www.lifeschocolates.com sameve

    Jenny: This is such a beautiful post, and a great way to kick off the Appreciation Revolution! I'm glad you remember to appreciate the important things in life, and I think focusing on the less obvious things for this post really puts things in perspective. We often take things for granted, especially the little things, but your post goes to show that it only takes a few minutes to look around and be grateful for what we have. Thanks so much for sharing this with everyone!

  • andhari

    Love the post, what a fresh way of seeing things other people will totally fuss over.

  • andhari

    Love the post, what a fresh way of seeing things other people will totally fuss over.

  • http://www.lifeaftercollege.org jennyblake

    Thank you so much for the comments, everyone! I am honored to be able to kick-off the Appreciation Revolution – it is such a fantastic (and important) idea. At first I felt selfish writing this, because this post is really about dealing with all my issues (LOL) – but sometimes we are the first to appreciate others and the last to appreciate ourselves or our own challenges. As cheesy as it sounds, I believe there is a gift or lesson in everything if we look for it, and I know I can do a better job of appreciating the challenging times as much as the good ones! Looking forward to seeing your contributions too :D . Thanks again for hosting, Sam, and to everyone else for the great comments and RTs!

  • http://www.lifeaftercollege.org jennyblake

    Thank you so much for the comments, everyone! I am honored to be able to kick-off the Appreciation Revolution – it is such a fantastic (and important) idea.

    At first I felt selfish writing this, because this post is really about dealing with all my issues (LOL) – but sometimes we are the first to appreciate others and the last to appreciate ourselves or our own challenges. As cheesy as it sounds, I believe there is a gift or lesson in everything if we look for it, and I know I can do a better job of appreciating the challenging times as much as the good ones!

    Looking forward to seeing your contributions too :D . Thanks again for hosting, Sam, and to everyone else for the great comments and RTs!

  • http://www.owlsparks.com/ Carlos Miceli

    Touching. I think you're one of the most positive and beautiful people I've ever met Jenny. Thanks for enlightening us with your vision of life.

  • http://www.owlsparks.com/ Carlos Miceli

    Touching. I think you're one of the most positive and beautiful people I've ever met Jenny. Thanks for enlightening us with your vision of life.

  • http://www.owlsparks.com/ Carlos Miceli

    Touching. I think you're one of the most positive and beautiful people I've ever met Jenny. Thanks for enlightening us with your vision of life.

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