Personal Letter of Gratitude and Thanksgiving for 2009

When I accepted the "What are You Most Thankful for in 2009" assignment, I was certain I could easily write a book on all the blessings I received this year. Once I placed fingertips to keyboard, thoughts rushed through my mind as I rehashed the events of the year.

As it is with human nature, many negative experiences came to mind. I wondered, what was wrong with me that I could so easily tap into a plethora of not-so-great experiences, but drawing a blank on the positives? Then it dawned on me that oftentimes our greatest challenges become the catalyst for gratitude.

For me 2009 started out with the announcement from my adult daughter that she was moving back to Indiana. At only 19 years of age, my mom instincts kicked in and the last thing I wanted was to live 1000 miles away from my only child. Not to mention she is my best friend.

Little did I know by cutting the apron strings, my daughter could find herself, uncover her hidden talents, and begin life as an independent adult. Although I miss her terribly, I am grateful for the loving relationship we have and am proud of the woman she has become.

I am particularly grateful for unlimited long distance, instant messaging, texting, Facebook and MySpace which allow us to stay in close contact each and every day. Her move prompted me to return to my hometown more often and absorb the love and support of lifelong friends and family members.

In March, we were informed the luxury pool home we leased through a property management group had fallen into foreclosure. During the six months we lived there we fell in love with the home, community and enjoyed spending time with our neighbors. I was devastated and angry at being forced out of our home through no fault of our own.

With less than one week's notice to vacate the premises we went into hyper-drive to locate a new rental home. We have two dogs and two cats and it's not easy to find landlords willing to accept that many pets.

We were fortunate to locate an affordable beach house in the quiet, laid-back community of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The homeowner is a southern gentleman who now lives in Hawaii. We have developed a great relationship with him and gained a new friend.

He has taken good care of his rental property and remodeled the entire home just weeks before we moved in. Upgrades included an updated kitchen with brand new appliances. Considering I am a passionate food blogger, having a nice kitchen to prepare recipes was a wonderful blessing.

The beach house is considerably smaller than the foreclosed rental, which forced us to seriously downsize. Prior to our move, we hosted a yard sale and were able to sell and giveaway numerous items no longer needed.

Downsizing was the greatest blessing of all. For years, we have been surrounded by "stuff". Most of it was covered in dust from sitting in boxes stored in closets or the garage. Items that didn't sell were donated to charity or given to friends or strangers who needed things we no longer required.

Holding onto "stuff" keeps you stuck in the past. Letting go of "stuff" opens up space and allows energy to flow freely, which in turn allows one to attract new things into their life. This is a lesson I learned through the practice of feng shui.

This year I was finally able to afford extensive cosmetic dentistry which I had placed on hold for more than three years. My teeth were literally rotting out of my mouth because of a disease known as Sjogren's Syndrome.

Although I wasn't thrilled about the idea of having an upper denture and lower partial, I could no longer endure the pain and embarrassment caused by dental decay. I had been blessed with a beautiful set of natural teeth and losing them one-by-one nearly destroyed my self esteem.

Months of research and dental consultations led me to Dr. Joseph Valenzi of White Wolf Dental Group in Port Orange, FL. Dr. Valenzi and his staff spent several hours consulting with me. They presented a variety of treatment plans, discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each, and treated me with kindness and respect.

Dr. Valenzi provided me with a natural looking upper denture and lower partial. Within a week I was able to eat foods I hadn't been able to enjoy for years. Better yet, I can flash my pearly whites and offer a genuine smile to anyone who needs one.

For the first time in four years, I gladly say "cheese" at every photo opportunity. Not only am I grateful for my smile and ability to eat, I am most grateful for the enormous boost of confidence my new beautiful teeth have provided me.

I am exceptionally grateful for the business opportunities received in 2009. On January 1, 2010 I will be celebrating my ten year anniversary of being self-employed. This year my efforts came to fruition.

I have obtained numerous clients and made dozens of new and influential business contacts. Major brand food manufacturers and food publications have contacted me to sponsor exclusive contests on my food blog.

At present, we have six recognizable brands offering exclusive giveaways to a hobby blog I created to share my passion for cooking. Perhaps my dream of becoming as recognized at the Food Network will come true after all?

I am very grateful for being selected from a host of professional and experienced AC Contributors to become a Community Guide. I truly enjoy helping others and being a guide has given me opportunities to meet new people and expand my knowledge. It has been a pleasure and a blessing to fulfill guide duties and I look forward to serving others within this community for a long time.

Last, but not least, I am grateful for my husband. He tolerates a lot from me. Fortunately, we are both semi workaholics, but we also possess a passion for life and we play as hard as we work. He is my rock. I know he has my back no matter what.

He is my light in the darkness and always has a solution for every problem. He brings me back into balance. He respects me and accepts my imperfections and flaws. He picks me up when I fall down and pushes me when I need a swift kick in the behind. He is my best friend and the love of my life.

Being grateful should not be limited to the holiday season. Certainly there are many tragic events and sorrow that occur throughout life. There are plenty of reasons for people to be consumed with anger and fear. But, in the end, we are all human beings with the same desire for love, affection, appreciation and gratitude. May we all count our blessings on a daily basis and express gratitude to all who cross our path.