A challenege

The same friend that wrote that beautiful piece in the last blog of the passings of this last year, has issued a challenge to the rest of us:

 "Herein lies the challenge - and perhaps the peace - write down ten things you are grateful for this 2009."

Even with the embarrasment of sounding selfish, here I go...

I don't know how, but I'll try and do this. 

1. I'm glad I got to play abroad this year in Singapore, Saigon and Hanoi.  In Singapore, the food and hawker places there were AWESOME.  Oh and IKEA IKEA IKEA.  And the sprained right ankle that became "Barney".   And in Vietnam....the banh mi and the catfish goodness.  Good friends, and crazy nights.

2.  Because of all the traveling perhaps, I'm eternally glad to have been able to learn the true nature of people when shoved into a small breathing and traveling space together, and to maybe try not to do a repeat performance of THAT.

3. I'm glad that I can still play drums and I'm now in a band full of friends.

4. I am grateful to have a home of my own.

5. I"m glad that I've learned that I'm stronger than any health scare that can come my way, even if I get confined in the hospital.  In the end, it really wasn't so bad, since the meds were kickass.

6.  I am grateful for my family, that despite their own crazy, psychotic, nutty, stubbornness that stems from all of them being so darn smart, I see my own shortcomings, potential and normalcy.  Because of this, I'm becoming closer to my siblings and understand them more.

7. I am grateful I got kittens this year.  They've changed my life enormously and are a source of great furry comfort without me having to ask them to give it.

8. I am grateful that I know when a job is making me feel bad about myself, made to feel guilty for thinking I should strive more to reach my full potential, making me feel guilty for my background, and allowed me to stop thinking for myself.

9. I am grateful that because of that awful job, I now have one that is challenging, engaging and with people whose opinions I value and respect. 

10.  I am grateful that C and I can still laugh even with everything that has been thrown at us this year, either together, or individually. 

I guess that wasn't so hard.  :)  Thanks Gang :)