| Sometimes the way you start your day | | | | sometimes and you do things when you can. But |
| determines how it runs its course. If you get up | | | | from the first hour of this morning my list would |
| snarling, for instance, you will most likely snarl all | | | | look something like this: |
| day. If you get up fearing what's ahead of you | | | | I appreciate: |
| you will carry that fear into everything you do. If | | | | - a nice message from a traveling friend |
| you get up saying "Good God, it's morning" it will | | | | - cool mornings in an Arizona summer |
| be vastly different than if you start your day | | | | - a neighborhood where walking is safe |
| with, "Good morning, God." | | | | - good health that allows me to go for a brisk |
| One way to start your day on a positive note | | | | walk and do it with ease |
| that will last for the next 24 hours is with | | | | - walking shoes that take care of my feet and let |
| appreciation. | | | | me walk properly |
| The best way to do this is to get a notebook and | | | | - fresh air and sunshine |
| every morning write down at least five things in | | | | - walking meditations |
| your life that you appreciate. Make it current. The | | | | - the freedom to walk anywhere I wish to walk |
| entries don't have to be about great | | | | at any time I wish to do it |
| accomplishments or great ideas - small things will | | | | - people I may meet on an early morning walk |
| give you as big a buzz as the huge. | | | | who almost always smile and say hello |
| For example, this morning I got up, checked email | | | | - a son who can cook gourmet meals |
| and put on my walking shoes. I had an email from | | | | - eggs (one of my favorite foods) |
| a dear friend who is traveling and that set the | | | | - breakfasting on homemade quiche |
| tone for a great day. It was a glorious morning. | | | | - tomatoes that taste and smell like the tomatoes |
| At a time when mornings in Arizona can be 90 | | | | you had when you were a kid (if you're old |
| degrees it was a cool 70, quiet and still at 5 a.m. | | | | enough to have ever had them) |
| What I consider to be as close to perfect as it | | | | - Jack - Jack is always at the top of my |
| can get. I had a great 20 minute walk and | | | | appreciation list but today this is in chronological |
| returned to have a breakfast of quiche my son | | | | order |
| had made the day before and a ripe, fresh | | | | - TV that lets you see things you enjoy, even if |
| tomato. Yummmmmm. I answered email, put a | | | | you can't be present at the event |
| book review on Amazon, and then heard a tiny | | | | - the Internet that lets you explore new and |
| little knock at my door. My grandson, Jack, was | | | | interesting things |
| the first one up and, not wanting to wake up | | | | - and more |
| anyone else, came to see me. (We have a duplex | | | | This represents the first hour of my day and I |
| that has the two units connecting on the inside, so | | | | could find many more things to list - this doesn't |
| it's easy for Jack to go from his dad's house to | | | | begin to cover all the things I can find to |
| mine). | | | | appreciate in this one hour. |
| We had a great time. His six year old passion is | | | | I am psyched for the day. |
| about cars and he loves NASCAR so we turned | | | | How can I start a day with this much appreciation |
| on the TV and watched the SPEED channel, then | | | | and not keep the feeling with me until bedtime? If |
| looked up NASCAR on the computer. We found a | | | | I get pounded on by something negative or |
| map of Phoenix International Raceway and looked. | | | | disruptive, I should be able to survive it with some |
| I showed him were we live and where PIR is. We | | | | degree of grace and ease. |
| looked at pictures and had a running conversation | | | | Appreciation is a key tool for self improvement. It |
| about cars and racing. It was one of those | | | | isn't hard. It costs you nothing except the price of |
| delightful times - a perfect time between a | | | | a notebook. It can change your day and it can |
| gramma and her grandson - that you don't forget | | | | change your life for the better. |
| for awhile. | | | | What do you appreciate? Take some time each |
| Usually I would have my list of things I appreciate | | | | day to be aware and write it down, Notice how |
| done long before now but life takes precedence | | | | appreciation changes your day. |